Governor Beshear Presents Economic Stimulus Checks
to Kentucky Arts Organizations
August 11, 2009
From Kentucky Arts Council -
Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
Contact: Ed Lawrence
Communications Director
(502) 564-3757 ext. 473
ed.lawrence@ky.gov
FRANKFORT, KY — Today, Gov. Steve Beshear presented a check for $306,766 to Kentucky arts organizations to preserve jobs in the arts and cultural sector of the Commonwealth. He then presented checks to each of the 18 organizations and to the group of arts workers whose jobs were preserved through the economic stimulus funding. This federal funding is a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided to Kentucky through the National Endowment for the Arts and granted through the Kentucky Arts Council.
"The arts industry in Kentucky has made significant contributions to our Commonwealth as well as local economies by generating tax revenue and enhancing cultural tourism," said Gov. Beshear. “This federal funding will help preserve jobs within our art industry during this critical time when our nation is facing such a tough economic downturn.”
"We were fortunate to have a little over $300,000 in resources from the NEA to fund the 18 organizations that demonstrated the strongest need and best plan to sustain jobs or pay for artists' fees,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council.
The Kentucky Arts Council awarded ARRA grants to the following 18 organizations:
| Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington |
$20,000 |
| Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington, Covington |
$8,943 |
| Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, Louisville |
$20,000 |
| Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Renfro Valley |
$20,000 |
| Kentucky Opera Association, Louisville | $20,000 |
| Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Horse Cave |
$10,000 |
| Kentucky Theatre Association, Lexington |
$7,200 |
| Living Arts & Science Center, Lexington |
$20,000 |
| Louisville Theatrical Association, Louisville |
$20,000 |
| Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, Paducah |
$20,000 |
| Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild, Mayfield |
$12,000 |
| Montgomery County Council for the Arts, Mt. Sterling |
$20,000 |
| Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg |
$20,000 |
| Music Institute of Lexington, Lexington |
$20,000 |
| Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro |
$18,633 |
| Paramount Arts Center, Ashland |
$20,000 |
| Public Theatre of Kentucky, Bowling Green |
$20,000 |
| Walden Theatre, Louisville | $10,000 |
| TOTAL | $306,776 |
Congressional District 6
Kentucky Opera Association, Louisville
Photo (l. to r.) : Lindy Casebier, Deputy Secretary, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet; Todd Lowe, Chairman, Kentucky Arts Council; Deanna Hoying, Director of Education, Kentucky Opera; Tanja Eikenboom, Director of Development, Kentucky Opera; Gov. Beshear; Marcheta Sparrow, Secretary, Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet; and Lori Meadows, Executive Director, Kentucky Arts Council.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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