Getting your legislators to back crafts

[genek]

YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STATE LEGISLATORS TO GET PROGRAMS SET UP IN YOUR STATE LIKE THE ONES THAT KENTUCKY AND INDIANA HAVE. BOTH OF THESE SUPPORT THE ART AND CRAFT INDUSTRY, BOTH BRING IN BUYERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCT.



TALK TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND GET THEM TO CONTACT THE KY ARTS COUNCIL THEY WILL HELP THEM AND ADVISE THEM ON HOW TO SET A PROGRAM UP FOR YOUR STATE.



HERE IS A LETTER I RECEIVED TODAY... FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL



Hello Eugene,

I wanted to send you a short message to remind you that Arts Day in Kentucky is next Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. The arts council hopes the event will be well-attended, especially by people like you who do so much every day to shape the arts community in the Commonwealth. I hope you are planning to join us from 1-3 p.m. next Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda for our public celebration of the arts in our state. We’ll have live performances, artist demonstrations, refreshments and much more. Arts Day will also give you a great opportunity to meet like-minded people from across the state and to thank your state legislators for their support of the arts.

If you have any questions about Arts Day in Kentucky, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I hope to see you on Tuesday.

[genek]

The stated amount happened in a three days of sales.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Crafted Program artists and other exhibitors who showcased work at Kentucky Crafted: The Market earlier this year generated economic activity in the city of Lexington surpassing $2 million, according to analysis compiled and conducted by the Kentucky Arts Council.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market is the arts council's annual event produced in early spring featuring the highest quality art, craft, literature, music and food in the state. The majority of exhibitors are visual and craft artists, adjudicated participants of the arts council's Kentucky Crafted Program. A small number of out-of-state artists are invited to the show, as well as publishers and food producers.

"The success of Kentucky Crafted: The Market emphasizes the value people place on high-quality art and craft in this state and beyond our borders," said Gov. Steve Beshear. "Kentucky artists, and The Market, contribute significantly to our state's economy and we will continue to do our part to help the state's artisans strengthen and solidify their business interests."

Total sales during the three-day event topped $1 million and included wholesale orders, retail buyer purchases and artist commissions received as a result of The Market. In addition, the arts council conducted two surveys, one of exhibitors and the other of general admission visitors to The Market. The survey included information about expenditures related to tourism, travel and local spending on non art and craft purchases at The Market. A report detailing the figures is available on the arts council's website.

"More than 10,000 people traveled to the Lexington Convention Center earlier this year to attend The Market, solidifying the interest Kentuckians and out of state visitors alike have in our art and craft industry," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "We are energized by the results of our surveys. These numbers illustrate the impact the state's artists have on our economy overall, but also showcase how important each artisan business is to its own community."

The 2013 Market saw a 14 percent increase in exhibitors, a 25 percent year-over-year increase in gross receipts, and record-setting attendance.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market will be March 7-9, 2014, at the Lexington Convention Center. The first day is open exclusively to wholesale buyers. The next two days are open to the public to shop goods created by more than 200 artists at retail prices, all in one location.

For more information about Kentucky Crafted: The Market, visit http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/2014Market.htm (http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KentuckyArt/2014Market.htm).

[genek]

Shoppers take note: The dates for Kentucky Crafted: The Market have been set for March 8-9.
The market will be set up once again at the Lexington Convention Center located at 430 W. Vine St. in downtown Lexington.
Hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. CT on March 8 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 9. March 7 is reserved for wholesale buyers.
The market offers more than 200 exhibitors of fine art, crafts, books and specialty food products; two days of musical performances and hands-activities.
The Market was chosen as the No. 1 Fair & Festival by readers of AmericanStyle Magazine four years in a row. It has been named a Top 10 Event by Kentucky Tourism Council and a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Parking is available in the High Street and Manchester Street lots.
Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for a one-day ticket and $15 for a two-day ticket. Those 15 and younger are admitted free.

© 2014 Evansville Courier & Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (http://www.courierpress.com/privacy/)

[genek]

GOOGLE Kentucky Crafted, The Market and show the data to your legislator and encourage him or her to do some investigating and explain to him it helps put people to work and to generate income for the state and local levels.

This will help the shop botters to make a good living and to help other arts and craft people.

[genek]

Here is a e-mail that I received today. This is another source for sales is your local agriculture dept.\

Kentucky Proud and Economic Development in Eastern Ky

FROM H (AGR) TO You

Show Details (https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=3l3lqljh11pj3#)
From



To

eking1953@yahoo.com (https://us-mg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=3l3lqljh11pj3#)


Good afternoon,

Thank you so much for speaking with me about Commissioner James Comer’s big announcement for Eastern Kentucky on February 17, 2014 at 10am ET at the Knott County Sportsplex. As I mentioned to you over the phone, we would be honored for you to attend the event and/or bring any products you would like to showcase. Please email Ben.shaffar@ky.gov (Ben.shaffar@ky.gov) by close of business Tuesday, February 11th if you would like to display your products at the event, and he will ensure that we have space reserved for your farm/business.

Additionally, we want to make you aware that we are putting together a report that highlights farms, agribusinesses and agritourism destinations throughout Eastern Kentucky. This report will be available to the public on our website at www.kyagr.com (http://www.kyagr.com). If you have any questions about this report, please contact Holly VonLuehrte at holly.vonluehrte@ky.gov (holly.vonluehrte@ky.gov) for more information.

Finally, you will receive a formal emailed invitation shortly that includes all the information for the event. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you deem appropriate. Just please ask that they rsvp to the phone number or email address listed on the invitation so we can prepare accordingly.

Again, thank you so much for your time and attention and all your support of Kentucky agriculture. We look forward to seeing you, your family and friends in Knott County on February 17th!