Kentucky: Kentucky Crafted

David Napier’s “Happy Spooning” was a popular booth at the Kentucky Crafted Market in 2024. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Arts Council

The Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) recently accepted 28 new artists into its prestigious Kentucky Crafted program, an initiative that helps visual and craft artists to grow their creative enterprises. Among the goals of the program are:

encouraging the production of superb art and craft products handmade in Kentucky;
helping Kentucky visual and craft artists sell their wares regionally, nationally and internationally; and
promoting Kentucky as a leading producer of high-quality art in order to enhance tourism and economic development.

Artists enrolled in this adjudicated program are featured in KAC’s artist directory; are widely promoted to businesses and wholesalers; gain access to exhibition and sales opportunities; and receive professional development that helps them hone their marketing practices and business skills, from wholesaling strategies to tax preparation, digital marketing, business planning and more.

The Kentucky Crafted program also offers participants the chance to showcase their work at one of the state’s most highly anticipated annual events: the Kentucky Crafted Market. This juried art show has been held each spring since 1982. It features more than 120 artists and attracts nearly 10,000 visitors, making it a major driver in the state’s creative economy. The market features an abundance of Kentucky visual arts, traditional arts, crafts and publisher booths along with two days of live music, artist demonstrations, local food producers and family-oriented art activities. Awards are given for Best Booth Design, Excellence in Accessibility and Best in Show.

For more information, contact Dave Blevins, the Kentucky Crafted program director and market producer.