A founder and co-director of Paducah’s Lower Town Arts and Music Festival is stepping back from his position.
Michael Terra has helped organize the festival for 7 years. He says he’s taking a smaller role in order to focus on his ceramics profession. His wife Victoria will continue to direct the event.
Terra says he expects the festival to continue for several decades.
“I have no worries about the sustainability of the event. To borrow a phrase from the government, it’s too big to fail, if I can say that. It has become important to so many members of the community, I can’t see it failing,” Terra said.
Terra says the festival has a large economic impact on the city, attracting 16,000 people and bringing in upwards of $300,000. Paducah Planning Director Steve Ervin says the city contributes $15,000 cash to offset festival costs and $40,000 in in-kind services.
Terra says he will continue as director through the upcoming festival and hopes another community member will step into a leadership position for the 2017 festival.