Mary Potter
Thursday, December 1, 2016 3:14 pm

Frankfort, Ky. (November 18, 2016) - Gov. Matt Bevin today announced 11 new members to the Kentucky Arts Council and a reorganized structure that reflects the growing importance of the Kentucky Arts Council in commerce, tourism and the entertainment industry.

The reorganization of the Kentucky Arts Council reduces the size of the board from 16 to 15 members, with at least one member representing each of the following areas: education, economic development, and workforce development. It also requires the appointment of members with who have the ability and experience to provide broad management and direction in the operation of the Council, while representing the diverse interests of the arts community.

Executive Director Lori Meadows resigned from the post she held since 2005. She had been with the Council for twenty years. Also off the board is Darlene Mazzone, whose Paducah Life magazine just won the media award in the Governor's Awards.

"The reorganized Council strikes the appropriate balance of expertise in the arts and entrepreneurship," said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Cabinet of Tourism, Arts and Heritage. "The new arts council will focus on ensuring that Kentucky artisans have the skills and knowledge to develop and successfully sell their products."

According to the state press release, the reorganized Council will promote and achieve greater economy, efficiency and improved administration. Critics allege that sales and economic development will be the primary focus of the KAC. Creative arts and fine arts will suffer. The emphasis on crafts is perceived as a step away from support for art for art's sake.

Returning members include:

• Mary Michael Corbett, of Louisville, will serve as Chair for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2019.
• Paul Fourshee, of Cadiz, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2019.
• Everett D. McCorvey, of Lexington, will serve as Vice Chair for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2018.
• Andrea Rudloff, of Bowling Green, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2017.

Newly appointed members include:

• Douglas Adams, of Whitesburg, will serve as the representative for education with a term expiring Nov. 18, 2018.
• James Boler, of Adolphus, will serve as the representative for workforce development for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2020.
• Dior Cotton, of Louisville, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2017.
• Jean Dorton, of Paintsville, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2019.
• Elizabeth Griffith, of Owensboro, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2018.
• Lindsey Jaeger, of Union, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2018.
• Sallie Lanham, of Frankfort, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2017
• Luanne Mattingly, of Maysville, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2020.
• Nathan Mick, of Lexington, will serve as the representative for economic development with a term expiring Nov. 18, 2019.
• Angela Rice, of Winchester, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2020.
• Janice Turpen, of Somerset, will serve for a term expiring Nov. 18, 2019.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, fosters environments 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. The arts council is celebrating 50 years of service in 2016.

This reorganization will not result in any increased expenditures to Kentucky state government.