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Kentucky Arts Council To Hold Pikeville Conference

The Kentucky Arts Council is sponsoring a conference Dec. 10 in Pikeville to provide resources, funding information and best-practice strategies for creating and sustaining community-based arts and cultural projects that may lead to tourism and economic development opportunities.

"Leveraging Community: Putting Arts and Cultural Development to Work" will follow the Dec. 9 "Shaping our Appalachian Region" summit in Pikeville recently announced by Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers. That event will focus on the future success of the southern and eastern regions of the state.

"There are communities across the country that have taken a hard look at their surroundings and created opportunities for tourism, jobs and growth by harnessing existing arts and cultural resources," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. "The eastern and southeastern regions of the state have long been known for their strong ties to arts and culture. We want to share tools and resources that might help our Appalachian communities promote their cultural heritage and resources in ways that could benefit them for years to come."

"Leveraging Community: Putting Arts and Cultural Development to Work," will provide participants with information to plan and execute local arts and cultural projects. These projects might be part of a larger initiative in community and economic development plans or may stand alone as collaborative community projects that generate local, regional or statewide interest.

"I hope many of the participants at our Dec. 9 summit will take advantage of this additional opportunity to learn about techniques and resources for community development through arts and culture," said Gov. Beshear. "While the people of the region are exploring ideas and options for the future, the Kentucky Arts Council will provide practical tools they can use to highlight arts and cultural resources in ways that can enhance larger goals."

The conference will bring together national and state arts and culture experts to share innovative approaches for creating and sustaining community-based arts and cultural projects that exemplify sense of place while helping to stimulate growth, and community and economic development.

The event is for community-based groups, organizers, local officials and leaders, policymakers, businesses, artists, arts and cultural organizations, other community stakeholders and members of the general public who are interested in creating innovative projects and collaborative approaches to building stronger communities through arts and cultural engagement.

"The National Endowment for the Arts, through its partnership with the Kentucky Arts Council, is proud to support the arts council's efforts to develop sustainable communities by cultivating the state's arts and cultural resources," said Laura A. Scanlan, NEA director of state and regional partnerships.

The conference will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center in Pikeville. Boxed lunches can be purchased for $10 with payment due the day of the event.

Registration is required and is free and online at  http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Opportunities/LeveragingCommunityRegistration.htm.

For more information and to preview the conference agenda, visit http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Opportunities/conferences/LeveragingCommunityAbout.htm.

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.

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."
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