Governor Steve Beshear Presents Economic Stimulus Checks to Kentucky Arts Organizations

Aug. 13, 2009 - PRLog -- FRANKFORT, KY — 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
Center for Great Neighborhoods of Covington, Covington
Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, Louisville
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Renfro Valley
Kentucky Opera Association, Louisville
Kentucky Repertory Theatre, Horse Cave
Kentucky Theatre Association, Lexington
Living Arts & Science Center, Lexington
Louisville Theatrical Association, Louisville
Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center, Paducah
Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild, Mayfield
Montgomery County Council for the Arts, Mt. Sterling
Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg
Music Institute of Lexington, Lexington
Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro
Paramount Arts Center, Ashland
Public Theatre of Kentucky, Bowling Green
Walden Theatre, Louisville

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Contact:
Ed Lawrence
Communications Director
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
(502) 564-3757 ext. 473
ed.lawrence@ky.gov

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