First Lady Jane Beshear awarded Paducah a Cultural District Certification today. Paducah is one of four Kentucky cities to get the award from the Kentucky Arts Council which recognizes towns with a high concentration of cultural amenities. The five cities were chosen for the certification from amongst a pool of 26 applicants.
Press Release Below:
In a significant step toward linking cultural assets and economic development, First Lady Jane Beshear and Madeline Abramson, wife of Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, announced the first five communities to receive Kentucky Cultural District Certification.
The Cultural District Certification program, administered by the Kentucky Arts Council, encourages community engagement and partnerships to build vibrant communities through the arts.
The five communities selected were:
- Berea
- Covington
- Danville
- Horse Cave
- Paducah
An independent panel of reviewers deemed these five communities ready for certification from a pool of 26 applicants. The Kentucky Arts Council will continue working with communities seeking certification, offering technical and planning assistance throughout the year.
“We applaud the work of all the communities that have gone through the application process. They have made major inroads in leveraging their unique cultural assets,” said Lori Meadows, executive director of the arts council. “We can see from most of the applications that substantial partnerships are being formed among arts and cultural entities, businesses and local governments.”
A cultural district is a well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use area of a community featuring a high concentration of cultural amenities that attract local residents and visitors alike. Cultural districts can be found in any type of community, from small and rural to large and urban. Kentucky’s program is designed to showcase each community’s unique character and assets.
For more information about applying for cultural district certification, go to http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Opportunities/NEWaboutCulturalDs.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.
