Highlights & Results - Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2004
Exhibition Opportunity - New York International Gift Fair
2004 Governor's Awards in the Arts
KCMP Jury Session 2004 - Deadlines and Pre-Jury Sessions
Pre-Jury Workshops offered by KCMP and KAC
Letter from Tim Glotzbach - Dean of Kentucky's School of Craft
Kentucky represented on National Craft Advisory Council
Calendar of Events
Governor's Derby Breakfast
Workshop Weekend 2004 - Save these Dates!
Artist Demonstration Schedule - Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Special KET Show - Kentucky Crafted: The Market

The Market has come and gone for another year but work still continues from the CMP staff gathering results and compiling data for an accurate view of its outcome. Preparations for the 2005 Market have begun and CMP staff thanks all involved for making the 2004 Market a success. Here are some of the highlights and results from The Market:

• Attendance
  Kentucky Crafted: The Market, held February 26-29 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center featured 300 exhibitors of craft, 2-D art, food, books and recorded music. Widespread local and regional media coverage was received. The higher admission prices resulted in gate income slightly more than 2003, total attendance is estimated at 8,600, which is down about 15% from last year, attributable primarily to a few days of early spring weather.
  
  Based on initial reports from exhibitors, the audience attending was in a positive buying mode, and sales are projected to be comparable to 2003. Kentucky Craft Marketing Program (KCMP) has received an abundance of positive comments from exhibitors, buyers, and the public in regard to the overall quality of products, appearance of the show, and professionalism of the exhibitors. New exhibitors, who are very attractive to all buyers, seemed to have fared very well. There are good reports of reactions to the product development efforts, and exhibitors being approached to develop new or customized products.
  
  Wholesale trade attendance was slightly higher than last year, with 407 shops attending. Trade attendance may have been somewhat impacted by record snowfall in the east that restricted travel.



• The Product Showcase area, "The Nature of Kentucky," featured products related to the garden. "This was the second year the Market area focused on the garden because of the continuing trend among consumers who purchase these items for their home," said Nancy Atcher, Product Development Coordinator.



• Joining The Market for the first time were 57 new exhibitors, including three in the food section, 29 juried craft participants, 17 out-of-state guest exhibitors, two publishers, four visual artists, one Kentucky organization, and one Kentucky Wood Products Competitiveness Corporation exhibitor.



• The gallery section, back for the second year, featured 48 exhibitors and was comprised of crafts and visual arts that are one-of-a-kind and limited-production items ideal for museums, collectors, and commissions.



• Awards Dinner
  The annual awards dinner, sponsored in part by National Processing Company, on Friday night, February 27, brought together approximately 300 people and featured a silent auction. Speakers included Gerri Combs, Director of the Kentucky Arts Council, Robert E. Gable, Chair, Kentucky Arts Council, W. James Host, Secretary, Commerce Cabinet and Fran Redmon, Director of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program.



• Congratulations To Our Exhibitor Award Winners
  Booth Design award winners were as follows: McDonald Fine Art, (Lexington), received Best Of Show; Schall Studio and Design, (Louisville), received the award for Best Overall Booth Design; Kathleen O'Brien Studio, (Harrodsburg), received Best New Exhibitor; KAE Tile, (Cookeville,TN), received Best New Out-of-State Exhibitor; J & J Pretzel Co., Inc.,(Fort Thomas, Kentucky), received the Best Kentucky Proud Food Exhibitor award, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture; and the Exhibitors' Choice Award went to Theresa Jean Kibby,(Somerset). Tim Hall, Wildlife Carvings, was the recipient of the annual Purchase Award and his work will become part of KCMP's collection.



• Booth Judge/ Workshop Presenter
  The Kentucky Retail Federation sponsored a buyers breakfast and workshop, featuring Linda Hurst, director of exhibits/graphics for Kentucky's nationally acclaimed Corman and Associates, Inc. Lexington, presenting information on visual merchandising to approximately 25 retailers. Linda Hurst also acted as the official 2004 Market booth judge.



• Top Retailer Award Recipients
  The 2004 top retailers recipients were: Bluestem Missouri Crafts, Top Out-Of-State Retailer; The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Top Kentucky Retailer; Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Top Kentucky State Park Retailer; and Liquor Barn, Top Kentucky Proud Food Retailer.
  
  Nominations were made by Market exhibitors and based on quantities of Kentucky Crafted inventory ordered by the nominees, promotional efforts, and positive relationships with vendors.



• Emeritus Honorees
  In recognition of long-term dedication to personal craft development and an exemplary level of accomplishment, three businesses were designated Kentucky Crafted Emeritus honorees and granted lifetime honorary juried participant status by the Craft Marketing Program. The three craft businesses honored were as follows: The Wooden Utensil Company, (Shirley Smith), Pine Knot; Berea College Craft, Berea; and Sarah Frederick, Studio Potter, (Sarah Frederick), Louisville.



• Fly the Buyer a Continued Success!
  For the ninth consecutive year, the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, brought in retail shop owners and buyers from around the United States to Kentucky Crafted: The Market, 2004, through its "Fly the Buyer" program. Seven buyers received complimentary airfare and accommodations to attend The Market. Due to close proximity to the show, the eighth buyer received driving expenses. They represented galleries and shops with products ranging from two-dimensional art to fine crafts. The "Fly the Buyer" guests included: Sharon Yurkanin, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA; Marion Whitley, American Folk Art Museum, New York, NY; Jay Winer, Artcraft Collection, Savage, MD; Susan Johnson, Mercer Museum Shops, Doylestown, PA; Christopher Clark, Raymond Clark Contemporary Fine Craft, Charleston, SC; Richard Dabrowski, Shaker Workshops Catalog, Ashburnham, MA; Frank Burkhauser, Spirit of the Artist Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; and Kelly Thomas, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, NC.
  
  "Attending The Market was a terrific and very productive experience for me. The Fly-the Buyer Program made it possible for me to attend this year and is a great asset not only for buyers like myself but for Kentucky also. I found 10 new artist's work that I will be introducing to my customers here in the Charleston, South Carolina area. I will be returning to this market in the future," said Christopher Clark, co-owner of Raymond Clark Contemporary Fine Craft, Niche Magazine's Top 100 Retailers of American Craft, 2003.



• Cultural Stage and Arts Council Booth Sales
  Live entertainment on the Cultural Stage featured 13 acts, most of whom were new members of the Kentucky Arts Council's Performing Arts on Tour Directory.
  The Kentucky Arts Council's Marketplace booth represented 35 individual writers, musicians and music groups who were juried into the Kentucky Performing Arts Directory or who have received a Kentucky Arts Council Fellowship Award. For these 35 individual artists or music groups, the KAC's Marketplace booth experienced a considerable increase in wholesale orders for CD's and books making this year's sales better than 2003.



• Thank You Volunteers
  Over 76 volunteers contributed their time in various areas of the market, including many juried participants of the KCMP and staff from the agencies of the Commerce Cabinet.



• Silent Auction
  This year's Silent Auction brought in approximately $3400 for new exhibitor scholarships. Artists contributed 104 items for the auction making it one of our best years. Many thanks to everyone who contributed and bid on items!



• 2004 Market Teachers' Seminar
  This year's professional development teachers seminar, Crafts Across the Curriculum, attracted 38 attendees from Elementary, Middle and High School Educators. Workshop participants interacted with some of Kentucky's finest student craftspersons. Continuing Education Certificates were issued to participants.



• Montana Delegation Visits Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2004
  Two years ago, at their request, Gerri Combs, Kentucky Arts Council executive director made an impressive presentation to the Montana Art Council, while serving as a grant panelist and sparked the decision for a Montana delegation to visit Kentucky Crafted: The Market, 2004.
  
  "Montana looks to Kentucky Crafted: The Market as the finest model in the country for this type of event. The Montana Arts Council, which is the official arts agency for the state, is very interested in considering this type of program for our region. Montana is now working in the area of cluster economic development, and "creative enterprise" is one of the priorities set by the state, with the craft market of particular interest to us," said Arlynn Fishbaugh, executive director, Montana Arts Council.
  
  The delegation that came to Kentucky included two Montana legislative leaders, Senator Jon Tester and Representative Monica Lindeen. The state's economic leaders also attended, including Chief Business Officer for the state of Montana Dave Gibson, director of commerce Mark Simonich, incoming chairman of the Montana Chamber of Commerce Susan Munsinger, arts council chairman Bill Frazier, Blackfeet traditional artist and arts council member Jackie Parsons, international art dealer Geoff Sutton and Western States Arts Federation board member Keith Colbo.
  
  Fishbaugh adds, "The Kentucky Arts Council and Kentucky Crafted are known throughout the country as outstanding programs. We look forward to learning from the masters and experiencing Kentucky's marvelous artists, too."
  
  "For many years the Kentucky Craft Market Program has consulted with numerous representatives from other states and countries in helping model their programs. Tamarack, West Virginia; Handmade In America, North Carolina; Armenia, Argentina, and Canada, have all looked to Kentucky for structuring their programs. The Montana delegation is the largest number we have hosted at one time and we are honored they chose to attend The Market," said Fran Redmon, Kentucky Craft Marketing Program Director.

Exhibition Opportunity at the New York International Gift Fair, August 14-18, 2004

Plans are well under way for this exciting opportunity in New York City. Since 1985, the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program has been exhibiting in the Handmade section of this show, which has enabled many Kentucky craft businesses to expand into the national giftware industry. It has been a corner stone to building awareness about Kentucky's multi-million dollar craft industry. While the show is not for everyone, it is an excellent way to test your products in a national venue at less expense than you would incur on your own - not to mention a waiting list for the show of several years.

This is the largest wholesale tradeshow for the giftware industry in the United States. Approximately 45,000 buyers attend, of which 2,500 registrants are international. Also, major trade press and sales representatives visit the show. Some wholesale experience (The Market, Buyers'Guide, other wholesale trade shows) is necessary before approaching this market. If you think you would like to participate in this exciting opportunity with other KCMP juried participants and staff, please contact Vallorie Henderson by email, vallorie.henderson@ky.gov or phone, 888-592-7238, ext. 4811, to request a questionnaire that will help identify if your products have market readiness, potential for wholesale marketing on a national scale, and are a good fit for the giftware market. Participants for the August show will be determined by June 1, 2004

2004 Governor's Awards In The Arts

On March 11, 2004 the following persons associated with the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program received the commonwealth's most prestigious awards in the arts: Bill and Josephine D' Amato Richardson (Milner Award); Arturo Alonzo Sandoval (Artist Award); and Lestel Childress (Folk Heritage Award). Linda Fifield created the awards entitled " Fire on the Mountain," that each person received.

Josephine Richardson is a Kentucky Collection Retailer, and served previously as chair for the Kentucky Arts Council. Arturo Alonzo Sandoval is also a recipient of the Rude Osolnik Award presented jointly by the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program and the Kentucky Museum of Art + Design. Lestel Childress and his wife Ollie, were original juried participants in the Program and Kentucky Crafted Emeritus honorees. Linda Fifield is currently a KCMP juried participant.

Kentucky Artist Deadline For Annual Jury Session

The Program's annual jury session is scheduled for June 7-11, 2004, and is open to all Kentucky residents creating traditional and contemporary crafts in ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood, paper, mixed media, or natural/organic materials. Judging is based on quality standards for originality/authenticity, technique, and design.

Once participants are accepted into the juried portion of the Craft Marketing Program, they have an opportunity to participate in wholesale and retail venues, such as the New York International Gift Fair; Kentucky Crafted: The Market; the Governor's Derby Breakfast; and The Kentucky Collection. Participants also may use the "Kentucky Crafted" logo, attend educational workshops, exhibit at the Capitol, and receive technical assistance for their business and craft.

For the first time, applicants can prepare a jury application online. (Click here for Information & Links) Applications must be typed and printed on your home computer and mailed or delivered with your entry. Persons without a computer can visit their local library or the Craft Marketing office to complete the application, or call KCMP to request an application be mailed to them. Slides of artisans' work WILL NOT be accepted this year.

The deadline for mailed entries is Wednesday, June 2, 2004. Jury samples being hand delivered must be dropped off ONLY on Monday, June 7 (9am - 3:30pm, EDT) and picked up Friday, June 11 (1pm - 3:30pm EDT). The jury process will again be held in the Farnham Dudgeon Civic Center, 405 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Meeting Rooms A, B, & C.

Pre-jury Workshops

The Kentucky Arts Council will host pre-jury workshops (schedule below) for the Kentucky Craft Marketing and the Visual Arts at the Market Programs. These joint sessions are for Kentucky For Craftspeople and 2D artists that are interested in pursuing wholesale and retail sales of their work as well as product development derived from their original work. Staff from both programs will be on hand to discuss the qualifications and jury process. Registration is required and free to all interested artists and For Craftspeople.

Visual Arts at the Market - Heather Lyons, Individual Artist Program Director of the Kentucky Arts Council, will discuss the Kentucky Arts Council programs and grants available to individual artists and will focus on Visual Arts at the Market and the application and jurying process for this program. Artists interested in applying to the program may bring samples of their artwork for review and discussion.

June 1 is the deadline for a brief Intent to Apply form and July 1 is the deadline for the Visual Arts at the Market application. Complete Guidelines/Instructions and Application forms are available on the KAC Web site. artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog3/vam_gdl.htm

For more information about the Individual Artist Programs please visit the KAC web site or contact Heather Lyons at 502/564-3757, ext. 4827 or heather.lyons@ky.gov

Kentucky Craft Marketing Program - Charla Reed, Outreach and Training Coordinator of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, will discuss the application and jury process as well as the history and participation benefits of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program. Artists interested in applying to the program may bring samples of their artwork for review and discussion. (schedule below)

Click here for a complete handbook and introduction to the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program. For more information about the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, contact Charla Reed at 502/564-3757, ext. 4815 or charla.reed@ky.gov

Representatives on the 2004 Jury Panel
In-state jury panelists Kathy West, owner and buyer of The Promenade Gallery, Berea; Tim Glotzbach, director of The Kentucky School of Craft, Hindman; and Victoria Faoro, executive director of The Kentucky Artisans Center at Berea, will join the three out-of-state jurors, a category that has been part of the jurors' panel since the jury session was instituted in 1982. Jurors for 2004 are: Hal Stevens, Hal Stevens & Associates, State/National Trade Show Organizer, Columbus, OH; Carole Summers, HandMade in America, Asheville, NC; Susan Abramovitz, Shade, OH, Out-of-State Craftsperson.

An additional juror, a juried participant of the Craft Marketing Program, will again be included on the panel in the event of disparity or borderline scores. Staff of the Kentucky Folklife Program will provide advisory support in determining the authenticity of traditional and folk crafts, especially from diverse cultures.

The Mentor Program
The mentor program will continue assisting jury applicants whose scores fall within a few points of the qualifying score. Those applicants will be referred to KCMP juried participants, who will assist them in understanding how to bring their work to the standards required by the KCMP. After successful completion of the Mentor Program, applicants will be accepted into the juried portion of the KCMP and granted all the benefits therein, without having to wait an additional year to re-jury. During the mentor process, the applicants participating will attend the KCMP wholesaling workshop and the Market orientation.

Prejury Workshop Schedule for the Kentucky Craft Marketing and the Visual Arts at the Market Programs.

April 13, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Glema Mahr Center for the Arts - Madisonville

May 3, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Somerset Community College - Somerset

May 6, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Morehead State University - Morehead

May 11, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Elizabethtown Community College - Elizabethtown

To register or for more information please contact:
Melissa Nesselrode
Kentucky Arts Council
888-833-2787, ext. 4800
melissa.nesselrode@ky.gov

Friends,
First, I must tell you how much I appreciate the support you have shown for the KSoC. Legislators and other areas of government at the state level have commented on the vast amount of mail they received concerning support for the school. The success of this venture is now and has always been due to the support of people like you. I sincerely thank you.

The good news:
Our thanks to Governor Fletcher who has identified $20+ million (I believe) new dollars to assist the universities and the community college system and to the legislators that continue to support the KSoC and higher education. As a result, there is now operational support for the School of Craft in the college budget. We anticipate being able to resume the interview process for faculty in the near future. Although budgets will remain tight for the next biennium, we will be opening in August with our first classes. The Legislators must still approve the budget, but I thought you would be pleased to know that we have cleared this hurdle. I ask that you also continue to encourage the legislators to support the KY Arts Council and its allied programming. Kentucky has been wise in the past to build the arts, and I have to believe that the state will continue to do so. The School of Craft is not the only arts organization to suffer from the budget crunch.

What must we do now?
Because of the prior publicity regarding a funding loss for the KSoC and its resulting closure, the perception exists that the School is closed for good. It is affecting student enrollment as interested students have been looking elsewhere. I hope you'll help me in spreading the word, especially to individuals who would be interested in pursuing the degree programs. We have scholarship money available and will be accepting 15 students into the Jewelry/Metals program and 15 into the Wood/Furniture program for the fall term. Please encourage interested parties to contact us.

Thanks again for your continued support and I will send additional information as it arrives.

Tim Glotzbach, Dean
Heritage and Humanities
The Kentucky School of Craft
Hazard Community & Technical College
63 Education Lane, P.O. Box 1497
Hindman, KY 41822
606-785-1055
606-785-0268 fax
Tim.Glotzbach@kctcs.edu

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is sponsoring the HandMade Institute's development of the Craft Advisory Council as a recommendation from their Roadmap of Tourism and Craft. Fran Redmon, KCMP program director, and Cheryl Stone, executive director of CEDET, are Kentucky representatives serving on the council that held its first Meeting in Asheville, March 25. The purpose of this landmark Council is to guide initiatives and provide input on quality programs that build creative economies and communities through arts and crafts, initially, in Appalachia. Specifically, the Council will advise and assist in creating a prototype Trade Apprenticeship in Craft and build entrepreneurship through Arts/Crafts Business Incubators, both projects funded by ARC.

In order to obtain the most accurate report on this year's Market, we need your evaluations. Please send them in as soon as possible! Thank you!

We would like to encourage you to take advantage of the extranet portal of the Kentucky Calendar of Events. This web-based user-friendly calendar and listing of Kentucky attractions is produced by The Kentucky Department of Travel and is accessible to any entity that would attract tourists from near or far. Also, customers that go the Arts Council's Web site www.artscouncil.ky.gov looking for arts activities can access the calendar directly from a Calendar of Events button located at the bottom of the front page.

The Kentucky Calendar of Events, kytourism.com/events.aspx , has proven itself as a successful marketing tool; the challenge now is to be sure that arts organizations take advantage of the opportunity and populate the database driven Web site through the extranet portal.

The extranet site is easy to use and only takes a few minutes to make entries. Here are a few tips for getting started.

• Navigate through the Calendar of Events site to get an understanding of how it is organized from the perspective of the tourist or user.
• To access the "backdoor" of the Web site (industry portal), go to http://www.kytourism.com/industry. You will see a navigational bar on the left. Scroll down and click on Extranet. This takes you to the log-in page. You must initially register by entering your user name and establishing your own password. This is your key to making entries.
• You might notice right above the login dropdown boxes, a line in blue that says EXTRANET Training Manual. Click on this for step-by-step instructions on making entries as an attraction or an event or both. It's a good idea to make a printout of the Extranet Resource Manual for easy reference while making entries.
• Once your entries are made they go to a pending file. Entries are usually approved and launched within twenty-four hours. You are responsible for providing accurate information, and once you start entering information you cannot go back to make corrections. Editing can be done once the listing is posted, if you are the originator of the listing. Once you have completed your listing, be sure to click FINISHED.
• Taking advantage of this is really easy but it takes a commitment on the part of your organization and a little planning to ensure that entries are done as routinely as press releases or any other regular marketing activity.
• NEED HELP? Don't be shy. There are a number of resources to help get you started. You can call your local tourism entity for information on extranet training sessions that are being offered. If you want to just dive in and then find yourself stuck while making entries, you can contact the Webmaster Mary Boden at 502-564-4930 or mary.boden@ky.gov
.

The Governor's Derby Breakfast will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2004, from 7 am to 12 noon. This exciting event is returning to the new Capitol grounds this year with twenty-eight CMP juried members exhibiting their work. Watch for more detailed information regarding the Derby Breakfast in your local newspapers.

Kentucky Craft Marketing Program & Kentucky Museum of Arts + Design with assistance from Polyform Present, "CRAFTWORKS...Inspiring Creativity."

Held at the Kentucky Museum of Arts + Design, 715 W. Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky, 40202 Friday, August 6 (9:00 - 5:00), Saturday, August 7, ( 9:00 - 5:00), EDT.

Each half and full day workshop is designed to teach traditional and contemporary techniques of the following media: polymer clay, woodworking, clay, glass, fiber, and jewelry. Regional and nationally known craft artists will lead presentations, demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

A Kentucky craftsperson will be honored at a dinner on Friday evening, 6:30 p.m. , August 6, 2004, with the Rude Osolnik Award. (Location TBA) This 9th annual award is presented for outstanding contributions to the Kentucky craft community.

The conference will be held in conjunction with the Art Car Weekend & Louisville's First Friday Gallery Hop. Art Cars from all over the country will be at KMA+D. These transformed cars take art "to the streets" as they celebrate their uniqueness with traveling block party, hands-on workshops and live music. The Gallery Hop along Main and Market Streets and the arts district is Friday evening 5:00 - 9:30 pm. TARC Trolleys stop at various galleries, studios, museums and restaurants.

For registration and more information, contact KMA+D (502) 589-0102 or visit their website www.kentuckyarts.org

April 3 - Saturday WOOD TURNING - Gerald Cooper, Berea, Kentucky
April 10 - Saturday SCROLL SAWN JEWELRY - Janet Burch, Crestwood, Kentucky
April 17 - Saturday WATERCOLOR PAINTING - Pat Ritter, Burkesville, Kentucky
April 24 - Saturday- PLYING YARN - Lin Oglesby, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gwen Heffner
Information Specialist
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
975 Walnut Meadow Road / PO Box 280
Berea, KY 40403
Phone: 859-985-5448 ext 230
Fax: 859-985-5449
kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

KET 2 showcased a variety of talented artists at Kentucky Crafted: The Market. The special 2004 KET production hosted by Mel Rexroat aired on Tuesday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m. (EST)

Hope many of you got to see it!

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Contact information listed here is correct as of March 2004.

If you would like your information included in a future issue of the Newsliner for Juried Participants, please e-mail: Beau.Haddock@ky.gov