help kentuck keep the #festivalforever
Out of concern for the health of our community, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel the 49th Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Read the full statement below.
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Dear patrons, guests, volunteers, and supporters:
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Thank you. Thank you for caring about Kentuck. Thank you for sticking with us for 49 years, and thank you for filling out the survey we sent out regarding the Kentuck Festival this year. Passionate responses came in from all corners of the country, and despite the many different opinions, there was one undeniable commonality: every single one of the respondents cared about the arts and the survival of Kentuck. The staff read every single response and took into consideration everything that was said. Truly, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
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The Kentuck Staff and Board of Directors spent an extensive amount of time reviewing local and national medical data, financial projections, and survey responses from the public. We spent hours trying to develop a financially-feasible socially distant festival that would still be the Kentuck Experience—for both our artists and our guests.
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Out of concern for the health of our community, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel the 49th Kentuck Festival of the Arts. This was always a worst-case scenario for our organization—we never imagined it would come to this. The fact is, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts has always continued, no matter what bad times or growing pains our organization or our world was enduring. The Kentuck Festival is our favorite weekend of the year, and we are heartbroken we had to make this decision.
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Besides risking the health of thousands, our survey results and financial projections have indicated that an in-person version of the Kentuck Festival would not be profitable for our artists or our organization. The regulations and extra equipment needed to keep our artists, staff, volunteers, and guests safe would be financially detrimental to Kentuck Art Center & Festival. The socially distanced version of the Festival is not the Kentuck Experience that has come to be known and loved.
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Kentuck is still planning to provide our community with a modified, virtual celebration of our artists. More details regarding this celebration will be announced the first week of August. Many of our artists rely solely on in-person sales for their livelihood and are having trouble pivoting to a virtual method for a variety of reasons. The Kentuck Staff is earnestly looking at ways to make this as successful as possible for our artists, patrons, and our organization.
So, what exactly does this mean for Kentuck Art Center & Festival?
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It means we are in for a rough time. The Festival is our largest source of revenue and represents a significant portion of our budget for the next year. As an organization, we are estimating revenue losses in excess of $200,000. Our 270 artists are losing thousands of dollars of sales they need to make ends meet. Our local businesses are losing a two-day economic impact of more than $5,000,000. Our residents, artists, volunteers, and patrons are losing the joy of art and celebration of community when they need it most. But we will not sit idly by and let the Kentuck Festival—which has become a symbol of creativity and love in our community—slip through our fingers without a valiant fight.
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Introducing: The Kentuck Festival Forever Fund
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This Festival cancellation is the biggest existential threat Kentuck Art Center and Festival has faced in our 49-year history. Kentuck’s Board of Directors and Staff have sprung into action, formulating ways to continue bringing art to our community and empowering our artists. One leg of this plan is the introduction of the Kentuck Festival Forever Fund. The Kentuck Festival Forever Fund will ensure that the Kentuck Festival continues for years to come. Whether you’ve supported Kentuck for 49 years or you were planning to go this year for the first time, Kentuck has called you part of our family, and we meant it. You have stuck with us, and we ask that you continue your support now, when we need it most.
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Your contribution will not only help to secure the future of the Kentuck Festival but will also support our efforts to develop new, sustainable programming that empowers our community and artists. Though we are all navigating tumultuous times, times with many disappointments and much uncertainty, Kentuck offers a comforting respite of positivity. Art—the urge to create it and the inspiration it brings—is not going anywhere. Neither is Kentuck. Our staff is looking towards the future and working ardently on new experiences that fulfill our mission to perpetuate the arts, engage our community, and empower artists. We will continue to be a positive force in our small corner of the world, connecting art with those who love it and offering a safe space for creativity to flourish.
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Your support is crucial to Kentuck’s efforts to adapt and thrive under these extraordinary circumstances. Kentuck has faced other hardships, challenges we have overcome thanks to your love and support. We will get through this together, and our future will be brighter than ever before.
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Throughout all these years, our community has stuck with us. Our organization will get through this because of you.
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If you would like to contribute to the Festival Forever Fund, please click here.
Sincerely,
The Kentuck Staff, Board of Directors, and Festival Steering Committee
help kentuck keep the #festivalforever
To make a contribution to the Kentuck Festival Forever Fund, please click the link below or mail checks to:
Kentuck Art Center
503 Main Ave
Northport, AL 35476
thank you to our donors!
Adelaide Drennen
Adrienne Wiggins
Agnes Wozniak
Alexander Brown
Alison Hudnall
Allison Kavanagh
Allyson West
Alma Wolff
Alyssa Fleming
Amanda Klein
Amber Williamson
Amber Wiseman
Amy Collins
Amy Durant
Amy Sides
Amy Traylor
Ana-Lee Murphy
Ann Gibson
Anna Lyle
Ashley Kavanagh
Austin Price
Bambi Smith
Barbara & Lex Grimes
Barbara Lee Black
Bea Powell
Bear Jones
Becca Murdoch
Becky & Bruce Atkinson
Beth & Daniel Western
Beth Chapman
Beverly Phifer & Frank Wingard
BF & Robin Hollingsworth
Bobby Prince
Brian Bohanan
Brooklyn Chickering
Bruce Berger
Cara Desvigne
Carol & Dwight Lammon
Carole Jayne
Carrie Kerr
Cathy Lovett
Charlotte Gattozzi
Cheryl Crispino Gill
Chris Armstrong
Christine Colburn
Christopher Greenman
Christy Diane Bobo
Cindy Holt O'Neil
Claire Collins
Claudia Dreifus
Cokie Thompson
Craig McMillin
Craig Wilkes
Dale Fleishmann
David & Dianna Shaw
David Merzbacher
De Wells-Middleton
Deane Kellogg
Debo Groover
Deborah & Fred Keene
Deborah Crocker
Deborah O'Keeffe
Dee Bozeman
Deirdre Lewis Mason
Denise & Dan Feinstein
Dennis & Carolyn Dahl
Dr. Joe & Frances Fritz
Dr. Stephen & Pamela Burgess
Elizabeth & Price McGiffert
Elizabeth Brock
Elizabeth Lahart
Elizabeth Papish
Elizabeth Swift
Ellie Craven
Elliot Panek
Emma Knapp
Erika Harvell
Erin Brooks
Francine Marasco
Frannie James
Gail Cook
Gayle Hurley
George Taylor
Glenda & Charlie Hood
Glenda Kilgore
Grace Soyon Lee
Hillary Sletten
Holly Terrell
Jack Carey
Jake Asuit
Jamie Bennet Poole
Jan Pruitt
Jane Archer
Janet Beerman
Janice Eubank
Jason & Melissa Guynes
Jeanie Holland
Jennifer Cooper
Jennifer Jo Davidson Davis
Jeremy Butler
Jill & Mickey Miller
Jill Friedman
Jim E. McLean
Jim Merrell
Jim Kopp
Jim Nolan
Jim Weaver
Jimmy Criddle
Jo Anne Gentine
Joan Rasmussen
John Burgess
Josh Eyer
Julie Friedman
Julie Noble
Julie Schwarz
Karl Stelzer
Kate Beck
Kathy Grissom
Kathy Oths & Bill Dressler
Katie Grayson
Kay Smith
Kayla Moring
Kelley Montgomery Sartain
Kent Ambler
Kerry Leasure
Kiera Gillock
Kim & David Hudson
Kim McKinney Reid
Kimberly Sartain
Kip Ramey
KL Grayson
Kristy Andrews
Kylie Henson
Landon L. Nichols
Lara Townsley
Laura Crum
Laura Millican Parker
Lee Hallman
Lee Thomas & Anne Sondergaard
Leigh Ann Hurst
Linda & Charlie Munoz
Linda James
Lindsay Fishbaugh
Lindsey Elmore & Jennifer Collins
Lisa Rains Underwood
Madeleine Hill
Marcia Weber
Margaret Luttrell
Maria Crawford
Marion During
Martha Ban
Martha Hocutt
Mary Jacquin
Marysia Galbraith
Meg Strickland
Meredith Parks
Mia Fiterman
Micah McKibben
Michael Holt
Michelle Michaels
Michelle Ottley
Michelle Woodward
Mike Chatham
Mikie Blumentritt
Mojo & Phillip Weaver
Monte Perry
Nancy Eaves
Oleg Skuja
Pat Parker
Patricia Patterson
Paul & Kitty Whitehurst
Paul Andrews
Paul Huber
Rachel Hammonds
Rachel Wagner
Randy Shoults
Ray & Camille Brignac
Rebecca Allen
Rebecca Ballard
Rebecca Bethea
Rick Lovelady
Robert Hughes
Robert Lanoux
Robert Olin
Robin Metz
Robyn Davis
Ronald A. Wilson
Roy Donaldson
Sam Collins
Sandee House
Sarah Miller
Sarah Scott
Sarah Verzino
Shannon O'Neil
Sharon Carey
Sharon & George Shelton
Shay Lawson
Sheila Crawford Hayes
Sheila Snow-Croft
Sherri Gilbert
Sonja Weber
Sonya Lang
Stacey & Joseph Messina
Stacy Morgan
Stephanie Kirkland
Steve & Susan Johnson
Steve Smith
Susan Duff-Koniak
Susan Fleming
Susan Goostree Allen
Susan Herndon Caples
Susan Lyons
Susan Shoemaker
T.R. Reed
Teresa Ledbetter
Teresa Merriman
Terri Vogl
Terry Corrao
Tom Henry
Trish Shantz
Turner Woods Cargile
Valerie Piette
Vicki Grossman Wyrick
Vicki Turnage
Victor Edwards
Walker Ferry
Wendy & Joel Rawlings
William F. Hawkins
Woodworkers Association of West Alabama
Wyatt & Becky Collins
Xander Booker
Did you know you can make a donation in honor of someone? You can! The following are donations in honor of:
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The Artists of the Kentuck Festival from Michele Clark
The Asman Family from Natalie Asman
Amy Echols from Carl & Pat Clements
Arch Pike from Susan Brown Freeman
David L. Abel from Susan Brown Freeman
Ellen Goode from Susan Brown Freeman
Georgine Clarke from Susan Brown Freeman
James Morris, Jr. from Brian Gray
Glenn House, Sr. from Sandee House
Davey Williams from Hank Lazer
David R. Mauritson from Eleanora Mauritson
Candy Stephens from Deborah Parker & Steve Burch
Chaney Daniel Partrich from Barbara Partrich
Amy Echols from Bobby Prince
Amy Echols from Cathy Randall
Helen Elledge Riner from Celesta Riner
James Morris, Jr. from Joshua & Rebecca Rothman
Harriet & Carl Adams from Susan Rue
Brandon Cooper from Susan Rue
Sharon Wise from Gary Wise
James Morris, Jr. from Bryant Bank
Ellis Teer from Janet Teer
photos from the 2019 kentuck festival