Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, located in Louisville, Kentucky
's "Museum Row" in the West Main District
of downtown
, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to continue the art and craft heritage of Kentucky
through the support and education of craft artists and education of the public. The museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts
and Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency of the Commerce Cabinet.
, then First Lady of Kentucky
and former Miss America
, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft was started to build interest in Kentucky's rich craft and art resources. With the help of Mary Shands, the start of the center began with ease.
In 1984 the organization moved into the lower level of a West Main Street building to have more space for things like a gift shop. When the moved occurred the west district of downtown Louisville had low occupancy rates for the buildings. The location of several museums like the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft helped revitalize this area of downtown.
Since 1984 the organization has presented over 175 exhibitions, reaching approximately 65,000 viewers annually. By 1991 the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation has tried to be a leader in the community of preserving Kentucky's heritage in its arts and crafts. It has held several promotion events to help improve its goal.
Over ten years ago the organization recognized the importance of including educational programming as part of their mission. In 1990 the state's educational system had been restructured resulting in the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). The Museum's educational programs are tightly connected to the KERA goals of combining art education with other subjects such as history, social studies, mathematics and language arts. Over the years, their educational programming has expanded and its focus has continued to increase their work with schools in Jefferson County and throughout the state.
In January 2001 the organization purchased two adjacent buildings on West Main Street in the heart of Louisville's West Main Street Historic District
. Built in the 1880s the building is a four-story cast iron structure with a pastel facade and giant windows. After renovation, the facility provides the organization with 28500 square feet (2,647.7 m²) of interior space in which to operate, spread over four floors and a lower level.
The new facility increased the size and visibility of the Gallery Shop, with frontage on Main Street, and houses three exhibition galleries: the Steve Wilson Gallery, the Mary & Al Shands Gallery, and the Lindy & Bill Street Gallery. The Lindy & Bill Street Gallery, on the second floor overlooking Main Street, is rented for meetings and entertaining. The third floor houses the Education Center and the fourth floor is used for administrative offices.
The Museum is in close proximity to the Louisville Science Center
, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Glassworks
, the Frazier International History Museum
and the Muhammad Ali Center
, which gives the nickname of the area as "Museum Row".
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
's "Museum Row" in the West Main District
West Main District (Louisville)
The West Main District is one of the five districts of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The district, or a portion of it, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as West Main Street Historic District, due to its containment of some of the oldest structures in the city...
of downtown
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to continue the art and craft heritage of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
through the support and education of craft artists and education of the public. The museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts
Fund for the Arts
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, the Fund for the Arts is the oldest united arts fund in the country and has raised over $148 million since its establishment. Mayor Charles R. Farnsley, served as Mayor of the City of Louisville from 1948 to 1953, and first conceived of the Fund for the Arts in 1949...
and Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency of the Commerce Cabinet.
History
Founded in 1981 by Phyllis George BrownPhyllis George
Phyllis Ann George Brown is an American businesswoman, actress and a former sportscaster. She is a former Miss Texas and Miss America of 1971.- Early life :...
, then First Lady of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and former Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft was started to build interest in Kentucky's rich craft and art resources. With the help of Mary Shands, the start of the center began with ease.
In 1984 the organization moved into the lower level of a West Main Street building to have more space for things like a gift shop. When the moved occurred the west district of downtown Louisville had low occupancy rates for the buildings. The location of several museums like the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft helped revitalize this area of downtown.
Since 1984 the organization has presented over 175 exhibitions, reaching approximately 65,000 viewers annually. By 1991 the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation has tried to be a leader in the community of preserving Kentucky's heritage in its arts and crafts. It has held several promotion events to help improve its goal.
Over ten years ago the organization recognized the importance of including educational programming as part of their mission. In 1990 the state's educational system had been restructured resulting in the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). The Museum's educational programs are tightly connected to the KERA goals of combining art education with other subjects such as history, social studies, mathematics and language arts. Over the years, their educational programming has expanded and its focus has continued to increase their work with schools in Jefferson County and throughout the state.
In January 2001 the organization purchased two adjacent buildings on West Main Street in the heart of Louisville's West Main Street Historic District
West Main District (Louisville)
The West Main District is one of the five districts of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The district, or a portion of it, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as West Main Street Historic District, due to its containment of some of the oldest structures in the city...
. Built in the 1880s the building is a four-story cast iron structure with a pastel facade and giant windows. After renovation, the facility provides the organization with 28500 square feet (2,647.7 m²) of interior space in which to operate, spread over four floors and a lower level.
The new facility increased the size and visibility of the Gallery Shop, with frontage on Main Street, and houses three exhibition galleries: the Steve Wilson Gallery, the Mary & Al Shands Gallery, and the Lindy & Bill Street Gallery. The Lindy & Bill Street Gallery, on the second floor overlooking Main Street, is rented for meetings and entertaining. The third floor houses the Education Center and the fourth floor is used for administrative offices.
The Museum is in close proximity to the Louisville Science Center
Louisville Science Center
The Louisville Science Center, previously known as the Louisville Museum of Natural History & Science, is Kentucky's largest hands-on science museum. Located in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown, the museum operates as a non-profit organization...
, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Glassworks
Louisville Glassworks
Louisville Glassworks is a multi-use facility housing three working glass studios , two glass galleries, a Walk-In Workshop and daily tours. Louisville Glassworks is located in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown...
, the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
and the Muhammad Ali Center
Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center, a museum and cultural center built as a tribute to the champion athlete and his values, is located in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown....
, which gives the nickname of the area as "Museum Row".