February 10, 2010 Contact: Ed Lawrence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Communications Director
502-564-3757, ext. 473
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Arts leaders came from across the Commonwealth today to celebrate the public value of the arts and to thank legislators for their continued support of the Kentucky Arts Council.
Rep. Reginald Meeks presented the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival with a ceremonial check for $27,347 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council in July 2009. James F. Wilson, interim executive director, accepted the check on behalf of Kentucky Shakespeare.
Kentucky Arts Partnership grants provide operational support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to ensure year-round arts activities and opportunities are available to Kentuckians.
“It is not often that you can receive something of such great value for free. The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ is quality arts entertainment for the people of Louisville at no cost, making it accessible to anyone and everyone who wants to participate,” said Rep. Meeks.
“Not only does Kentucky Shakespeare Festival provide the city with great annual events, they work tirelessly in schools during the rest of the year to assist teachers in using the arts to teach a variety of areas, including conflict resolution, through professional development and residencies,” said State Sen. Denise Harper Angel, who was unable to attend.
Kentucky Shakespeare Festival provides free classical theatre performances to over 12,000 audience members each summer. The organization's programs engage children, educators and others in Kentucky all year long in the literature and history of Shakespeare's plays and the discipline of the performing arts. Kentucky Shakespeare Festival has toured in all of Kentucky's 120 counties.
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.
Click on link below to download print-quality photo.
http://artscouncil.ky.gov/ArtsDay/photos/KyShake.jpg
Photo 1 Caption: L. to R. Lindy Casebier, deputy secretary, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet; Rep. Reginald Meeks; James F. Wilson, interim executive director, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival; and Lori Meadows, executive director, Kentucky Arts Council