what is kentuck?
the short answer:
kentuck is a heaven of a place.
the (slightly) longer answer:
Kentuck Art Center and Festival is an experiential arts and culture economic engine located in Historic Downtown Northport, Alabama. Rooted in 50-years of expertise, Kentuck touches the lives of tens of thousands of people from diverse walks of life in our local, regional, and national communities.
kentuck's mission:
kentuck's mission is to perpetuate the arts, engage the community, and empower the artist.
what does kentuck do?
Kentuck Art Center provides year-round programming with the mission to perpetuate the arts, engage the community, and empower the artist. Kentuck's programming includes opportunities to interact with art and culture seven days a week for free. By offering a portion of Kentuck's programming for free, this expands access to art and culture to our local underserved communities. Kentuck firmly believes art should be for everyone, and we are constantly seeking ways to improve the quality and expand the reach of our programming. The Kentuck Festival of the Arts, held yearly in October, serves as Kentuck's largest revenue generator and informs the organization's budget for the following fiscal year. Scroll down to learn more about offered programs and latest initiatives.
program highlights
the festival
What began in 1971 as a celebration of the City of Northport Centennial and the folkways of yore, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts has grown into a highly celebrated, nationally recognized art festival that attracts more than 10,000 visitors and creates a $5.5 million economic impact on the surrounding community.
The two-day festival has roots in folk art and features 270+ artists, live music, spoken word, activities for children, folk and contemporary craft demonstrations, food trucks, and local craft brews. Kentuck Festival of the Arts was most recently recognized by Alabama Department of Tourism as one of the top-ten events to attend in Alabama in 2018 and by Alabama Magazine as one of the “Best of Bama 2018.” Kentuck has also been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Southern Living, American Style Magazine, and National Geographic Traveler. In 2018, the Festival was named 5th in the nation (based on artists' self-reported sales) in the category of Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artists Magazine. The 52nd Kentuck Festival of the Arts will be held October 14-15, 2023. VIP Packages and Corporate Partnerships are available. Learn More>
exhibitions, art nights, first fridays, and saturday art markets
Kentuck Art Center curates four gallery spaces each year—the exhibits carefully chosen by Kentuck intentionally cross cultural boundaries and biases of age, race, gender, and socioeconomic background. The Museum Gallery and Gallery at Hotel Indigo are open seven days a week and serve as a free platform for engagement, healing, and a feeling of belonging for our community.
503 Main Avenue, Northport
Open 7 days a week, free admission
1922 5th Street, Northport
*Open by request, Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm; Open to the public 5-8pm during Art Nights, free admission
SoNo Gallery - Houses Kentuck's Permanent Collection
1922 5th Street, Northport
*Open by request, Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm; Open to the public 5-8pm during Art Nights, free admission
Kentuck's Gallery at Hotel Indigo
111 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa
Open 7 days a week, free admission
Art Night is our monthly, FREE event that celebrates art, community, and artists. These events serve as the opening reception for our Museum Gallery exhibitions and often include educational Artist Talks, live music, open artists' studios, and more.
Saturday Art Markets occur the third Saturday each month and is the community's chance to shop with some amazing local artists and explore Kentuck's campus. In addition to local artists selling their work, there's a craft station and drum cart for children. This event is free to attend, but we always encourage you to support our local artists.
First Friday at Kentuck's Gallery at Hotel Indigo occur quarterly and serve as the opening reception for exhibitions located at Kentuck's Gallery at Hotel Indigo. These occur on select First Fridays throughout the year and coincide with The Tuscaloosa Art Council's First Friday Art Walk.
