Episode 64: The James Baker Hall Foundation

Each year, the Governor's Awards in the Arts recognize individuals and organizations whose creativity, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact on Kentucky's artistic and cultural landscape. While we spend a great deal of time celebrating the recipients of these prestigious awards, there's another artist whose work is an important part of the celebration. On this month's episode of the Kentucky Arts Cast, host Leeann Potter meets with Jennifer Heller Zurick, an internationally recognized basket maker whose extraordinary work transforms the inner bark of black willow trees into intricate, sculptural vessels.

October is National Arts & Humanities Month. Here in Kentucky, the arts and humanities are deeply connected to how we tell our stories, preserve our history, strengthen our communities, and imagine what comes next. And while the Kentucky Arts Council plays an important role in supporting that work, we are part of a much larger network of people and organizations working across the commonwealth. For this episode, we wanted to broaden the conversation and hear from two people leading that work. Host Leeann Potter sat down with Kay Madrick, executive director of Kentucky Humanities, and Brett Shepherd, president and CEO of Fund for the Arts.

At the Kentucky Arts Council, we have the privilege of supporting artists and arts organizations across the commonwealth through grants, programs and partnerships.  In this episode, we're visiting with three people whose work connects to Kentucky Arts Council funding in very different ways—from bringing live performance to one of Kentucky's state parks, to supporting the development of an emerging poet, to helping share the work of Black Kentucky artists with communities across the commonwealth. Our first stop is Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, where I spoke with Maggy Kriebel about the park's use of a Kentucky Arts Council Touring Grant. Then, we'll meet poet Matthew Parsons of Carter County, a recipient of a Kentucky Arts Council Emerging Artist Award. Finally, we'll hear from artist Kim Dixon, whose work is featured in "Celebrating the Black Experience," a traveling exhibition presented by the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. The featured artwork is "Historiography," by Kim Dixon.  

On this month's episode of KYArtsCast, Host Leeann Potter visits with Andrew Preston, president of the Appalachian Literary Arts Festival. The events take place August 28-30 in Morehead, KY.

On this month's episode of KYArtsCast, host Leeann Potter teamed up with the Kentucky Historical Society to find voices from the commonwealth's rich artistic history. From makers to musicians, Kentucky is a hub for creativity then and now.  

On this month's episode of the Kentucky Arts Cast, host Leeann Potter visits with Delainey Bowers, editor of the Kentucky Folklife Online Magazine, and Camille Maria Acosta with the Kentucky Folklife Program to discuss all the ways they work to document, present, and conserve the diverse traditional culture and heritage of the Commonwealth.  

On this month's episode of KYArtsCast, host Leeann Potter visits with Haley Daugherty and Jennifer Reis.  We'll discuss a new study about crafting prosperity in Appalachia, and the work of NEST, a national organization that supports artists and communities. For more information about NEST, visit Buildanest.org Follow Jennifer Reis at makedocreative.com

On this month's episode we'll visit with Lawrence Pemble, the managing director and president of the James Baker Hall foundation. We'll talk about the organization and meet Willie Davis, the winner of the 2025 Book Award for his novel, "Honeysuckle Season."  Later, we'll talk with two James Baker Hall grant recipients, Melissa Helton with the Hindman Settlement School's Ironwood Writers Collective and Amy Le Ann Richardson, with Bloodroot Writers Collective.

On this month's episode of the KYArtsCast, we'll visit with Kentucky Crafted artists David Napier and Teresa Webb, as well as the Kentucky Proud producer Richelle Cox, as they all prepare for the annual Kentucky Crafted Market.  The Market is taking place this coming weekend, March 6th through the 8th, at AllTech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.  March 6th is open to wholesale buyers only, and there are a few days left to register as a buyer. You can find out more information about how to register on our website artscouncil.ky.gov. Get a sneak peek at all the exhibitors, performers, and activities at the Market: https://artscouncil.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/KYCraftedProgram2026-1.pdf  

On this month's episode of the KYArtsCast, host Leeann Potter visits with Emily Hudson and Lamont Collins, who have each created centers celebrating African American heritage in their communities.