Arts leaders came from across the Commonwealth today to celebrate the public value of the arts and to thank legislators for their continued support of the Kentucky Arts Council.

Rep. Jody Richards presented VSA arts of Kentucky with a ceremonial check for $11,946 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council in July 2009. Mary Claire O’Neal, program director, accepted the check on behalf of VSA arts of Kentucky.

“Although the organization is based in Bowling Green, VSA arts of Kentucky serves the whole state with art programs for people with disabilities. The work they do is so important,” said Rep. Richards.

“VSA arts of Kentucky paves the way for people with disabilities to be part of the life of their towns and cities across the Commonwealth. They provide important services in education, professional development and community building,” said Sen. Mike Reynolds, who could not attend.

VSA arts of Kentucky provides statewide arts education and inclusion programs for children and adults with disabilities, offering equal access to the arts. Through participatory involvement with trained professionals, children and adults learn skills and experience new opportunities in the arts. These services are offered in all arts disciplines to help participants realize their fullest potential while encouraging artistic excellence.

State Sen. Mike Reynolds and Rep. Jody Richards congratulated Public Theatre of Kentucky for receiving $6,183 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council in July 2009.

Kentucky Arts Partnership grants provide operational support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to ensure year-round arts activities and opportunities are available to Kentuckians.

“Bowling Green is fortunate to have such an active arts community that the whole region can benefit from.  Public Theatre of Kentucky is certainly an important part of that mix,” said Sen. Reynolds.

“Public Theatre of Kentucky brings quality performances to the stage and enhances the cultural amenities available to the Bowling Green area,” said Rep. Richards.

The Public Theatre of Kentucky promotes the art of theatre throughout the community. In addition to presenting a main stage season of five to six plays a year, the organization operates Sunburst Youth Theatre, a children’s theatre organization that includes training and performance by and for the youth of the community.

State Sen. Mike Reynolds and Rep. Jody Richards congratulated Orchestra Kentucky for receiving $22,355 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council in fiscal year 2010.

Kentucky Arts Partnership grants provide operational support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to ensure year-round arts activities and opportunities are available to Kentuckians.

“It’s great to have the benefits of a fully professional orchestra in our community.  In addition to its mission of ‘changing lives one note at a time,’ Orchestra Kentucky boasts an economic impact of $2 million,” said Sen. Reynolds.

“Orchestra Kentucky provides a valuable service for families in the Bowling Green area.  Their educational programs and family-oriented concerts bring learning and enjoyment together in one package,” said Rep. Richards.

Orchestra Kentucky, formerly the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra, is the only professional chamber orchestra in Kentucky, employing musicians in the region to perform a busy season of subscription concerts and special event performances. The orchestra also fills a pressing need in the region for quality professional string instruction through its Bowling Green String Academy, which has over 130 students.

State Sen. Mike Reynolds and Rep. Jody Richards congratulated the Capitol Arts Alliance for receiving $21,543 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council for fiscal year 2010.

“The Capitol Arts Alliance has effectively used a historically significant building on Fountain Square to bring great theatre, music and visual art to Bowling Green. They also create exhibits for Southern Kentucky Cancer Center and The Medical Center Health and Wellness Classroom. They have shown how art can work to improve environments and enrich the lives of people in their community,“ said Sen. Reynolds.

“The Capitol Arts Alliance provides a great place for both the visual and the performing arts at the Capitol Theatre. More importantly, the alliance is dedicated to arts education. By providing school performances and an extensive acting academy, the alliance helps area youth develop appreciation for the arts and culture in Bowling Green,” said Rep. Richards.

The Capitol Arts Alliance serves the people of 22 south-central Kentucky counties, bringing to life all the facets of the arts from the visual to the dramatic and everything in between. The Capitol Arts Center is home to the Capitol Arts Youth Theatre, a program that offers theatre instruction to young people. The organization also operates two visual arts gallery spaces and provides exhibits at the Cancer Center and the Health & Wellness Center.

State Sen. Mike Reynolds and Rep. Jody Richards congratulated the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra for receiving $4,750 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership competitive grant awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council for fiscal year 2010.

“Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra provides rare opportunities for Western Kentucky University students to collaborate with professional musicians to provide the people of Bowling Green and south central Kentucky with quality arts entertainment,” said Sen. Reynolds.

“A strong arts community is imperative for strong economic development. For over 100 years, the Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra has embodied the best of what we have to offer in education, arts and culture,” said Rep. Richards.

The Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra pools community and university resources to offer the citizens of the Bowling Green area with a symphony orchestra of the highest quality. The orchestra provides educational and performing opportunities for orchestra members and citizens, produces quality concerts of symphonic music and promotes musical literacy in the community and region.

Kentucky Arts Partnership grants provide operational support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to ensure year-round arts activities and opportunities are available to Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities 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.