The Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) is calling upon arts organizations and colleges to register for its upcoming Arts College and Career Fair. Officials said the event will attract visual and performing artists in all stages of their careers.
Jill Kohr is the Director of Education and Community Programming with GRAC. She said the fair will give organizations the opportunity to recruit underrepresented groups of artists.
“I went to GSA, Governor’s School for the Arts. I had access to all those college and career fairs for the arts that we see, and they’re seeing the same people,” said Kohr. “Like I said, that’s not an issue, but I know- they know- that there are more people out there that they’re not reaching. So, what we hope they get out of it, is they reach that untapped demographic in eastern Kentucky.”
The fair will welcome colleges from Kentucky and surrounding states to recruit for their arts programs on Friday, September 27. Arts organizations will be highlighted on the fair’s career-oriented day on Saturday, September 28.
Kohr said in eastern Kentucky, it is especially important for organizations to show that people can have a successful career in the arts.
“It’s kind of like the high school college fair bleeds into the career fair. These kids that were in high school and were never given the opportunity to consider going to school for arts programs, grew up to be those adults who don’t think that they can be an artist as a career. And so, the point of this fair is to sort of break that stigma,” said Kohr.
The deadline for exhibitor registration is August 30. There is a booth fee, which can be waived if the organization agrees to host a workshop for guests. Attendee registration is free and open to the public.
Registration is available online at grackentucky.org.