Credit Courtesy Arts Council
The Kentucky Arts Council has expanded its annual Arts Day to a weeklong event, and it will all be done virtually due to the pandemic.
Traditionally, the event has brought Kentucky artists and arts leaders to the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort for a celebratory day of performances, demonstrations, and a photo opp with the arts community and lawmakers.
But this year, Kentucky Arts Council executive director Chris Cathers said they wanted it to be about more than simply celebrating the arts.
“As we began to talk about it as a staff, we kept coming up with workshops and ideas and performances and connections that we can make,” Cathers said. “And we were like, this is more than what we can do in one day.”
Credit Kentucky Arts Council
Gov. Andy Beshear, in his opening remarks, said the nine honorees demonstrate “the irreplaceable value the arts play in contributing to our communities, education and economy,” even during a global pandemic that has disrupted the arts and culture sector.
“Kentucky artists have embraced these challenging times to transform and broaden our way of thinking through our shared love and appreciation of the arts,” he said. “Your ability to think outside the box has yielded creative solutions, allowing the arts to continue to thrive in Kentucky.”
The state has given out the Governor’s Awards in the Arts since 1977 to acknowledge the contributions of Kentucky artists, arts and culture businesses and arts patrons, said Kentucky Arts Council executive director Chris Cathers, who was master of ceremonies.