what is kentuck?
the short answer:
kentuck is a heaven of a place.
the (slightly) longer answer:
Kentuck Art Center and Festival is a hub for arts and culture with locations in both Northport and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. With 55 years of expertise, Kentuck enriches the lives of people from many different backgrounds, both locally and across the country.
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 offers year-round programs to support the arts, connect with the community, and help artists grow. Through a mix of free and paid activities like Art Nights, Boxes of Joy, and the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, we strive to make art accessible to everyone. When you support Kentuck, you play a key role in building and sustaining an arts community that enriches the cultural fabric of West Alabama. Scroll down to learn more about Kentuck’s programs and new initiatives.
program highlights
the festival
The Kentuck Festival of the Arts started in 1971 to celebrate Northport’s centennial and Southern folkways. It has since grown into a well-known art festival that attracts over 15,000 visitors and has a $5.5 million impact on the local economy.
This 2-day event features:
-
270+ folk and contemporary artists
-
live music
-
spoken word performances
-
kids' activities like tie dye, clay, drawing, paper marbling, and Chinese calligraphy
-
craft demonstrations
-
food trucks
-
local craft beer
The Kentuck Festival is a renowned art festival recognized both locally and nationally as one of the best in the country:
-
Named a top ten event to attend by the Alabama Department of Tourism
-
Voted “Best of Bama” by Alabama Magazine in 2018 and 2024 and 2026
-
Featured in popular magazines like Smithsonian, Southern Living, and National Geographic Traveler
-
Ranked 5th in the nation for classic and contemporary craft shows in 2018 by Sunshine Artist Magazine
The 55th Kentuck Festival of the Arts will be held October 17-18, 2026 at Snow Hinton Park in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. VIP Packages and Corporate Partnerships are available.
exhibitions, art nights, first fridays, and art markets
Kentuck Art Center has 3 galleries on our main campus in Historic Downtown Northport, a gallery at Kentuck at Queen City, and one satellite gallery at Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa. Check the exhibitions page to see what's on view today.
Art Night is our open house event celebrating art, community, and artists. These events are held the first Thursday of select months from 5-8pm at Kentuck Art Center in Historic Downtown Northport. Art Night is always free to attend and family-friendly.
You can expect:
-
Exhibition opening receptions
-
Artists demonstrating their process
-
Educational artist talks
-
Live music
-
Hands-on activities for kids
-
Cob oven pizza
-
Open artist studios
-
Bonus Activity: Kentuck's Clay Studio Drop-In Hours (5-8pm): For $20, create your next masterpiece with 2lbs of clay and glazes! We'll fire your art in the kiln the next day, and you pick it up at a later date.
On First Fridays of select months, Kentuck participates in the Tuscaloosa Arts Council's First Friday Artwalk. These events celebrate the opening receptions of our exhibitions at Kentuck at Queen City, and also include live music and hands-on activities. Many galleries in Downtown Tuscaloosa stay open late and have their own festivities, so be sure to visit this page for more information.
Kentuck's Art Markets are monthly events at Kentuck at Queen City where the community is encouraged to connect with local artists. Families can enjoy craft activities, play on a drum cart, and purchase local art. These events are held the third Saturday each month and are always free to attend.
Wondering what's happening at our free events this month? Click here to find out!
make and learn: workshops and educational outreach
workshops
From Kids' Camps and After School Classes to Stained Glass and Wheel Throwing—Kentuck Art Center is proud to host educational art workshops for all ages. Click here to find your next favorite art class!
permanent collection
Kentuck's permanent collection is housed at Kentuck at Queen City and is on display periodically. This collection aims to physically document the narrative of American Folk Art, as well as Kentuck's Festival, Studio, and Exhibiting artists. These objects reflect the importance of self-taught artists and traditional craftspeople in our culture, and form a history that is the basis for research, exhibition, interpretation, and community engagement.
boxes of joy
Kentuck's Boxes of Joy provides art supply kits and additional arts instruction to youth in underserved communities in Tuscaloosa and Northport. Kentuck partners with several schools and organizations, including Northport Housing Authority, Tuscaloosa One Place Extended Day Program at Matthews Elementary, Benjamin Barnes YMCA, and Martin Luther King Jr Elementary to bring art supply kits to 200 children, ages 5-12. In addition to the craft kits, artists lead in-person activities that provide an opportunity for children to express themselves in a healthy, safe, positive way.
kentuck + benjamin barnes ymca
Kentuck partners with the Benjamin Barnes YMCA throughout the year to bring art supplies and art instruction to children participating in the day camp program at the Benjamin Barnes YMCA in Tuscaloosa's West End Community. This partnership, sponsored by University Lutheran Church, enables Kentuck to deliver more art opportunities that meet the needs of clients where they are, a crucial goal in Kentuck's strategic vision for growth.
field trips & group tours
Throughout the year, Kentuck welcomes groups of all ages to our campus. During these visits, groups have the opportunity to tour our 3 art galleries with a diverse collection of local, regional, and national art. After seeing the galleries, visitors participate in a guided artmaking activity that allows them to express creativity and imagination.
kentuck museum association is a proud member of
.png)
