Kentucky Craft History & Education Association

THE KENTUCKY CRAFT TRADITION

Kentucky boasts a rich craft heritage and an active community of contemporary craft artists and entrepreneurs. Nationally recognized institutions that fostered Kentucky's craft culture have produced craft leaders and model programs. A unique part of the state's cultural identity, crafts are interwoven throughout Kentucky's rural agrarian traditions, integrated into the development of creative communities, and contribute significantly to its current economy and tourism industry. The Kentucky Craft History and Education Association documents this proud craft history.

KCHEA'S MISSION

 KCHEA identifies the people, documents, and objects of Kentucky craft history and promotes the acquisition of crafts by existing state repositories. KCHEA encourages research, makes resources available, provides technical assistance, and advocates for the preservation of craft history. KCHEA facilitates collaboration with organizations to create public awareness about the role of crafts in the education, culture, economy, and history of Kentucky. KCHEA engages in partnerships with other organizations in crafts, and the arts, education, and humanities to present Kentucky’s craft history to diverse populations. KCHEA works to expand access to craft collections and resources through digitized formats and technology.

KCHEA'S PROGRAMMING

Craft Luminary Oral Histories

The purpose of the Craft Luminary program is to document and preserve through oral history interviews the personal histories of craftspeople and individuals who have made significant contributions to Kentucky’s craft community. KCHEA has placed more than 60 oral history video interviews and transcriptions with the oral history collection of the Kentucky Historical Society. This collection represents interviews with craft artists, organizational representatives, and government leaders that have been part of Kentucky's contemporary craft movement. More than 80 video interviews have been conducted as part of KCHEA's Craft Luminary Program. More recently they include a series with folk artists and luthiers. Future plans include documenting all of the Rude Osolnik award winners, members of craft cooperatives, organizational leaders, and leaders in traditional and decorative craft production. There are many more stories yet to be documented and this is an ongoing priority for KCHEA. 

Educational Programming

 PUBLIC EDUCATION:

KCHEA recently presented the exhibit “Kentucky Craft Luminaries: Sharing the Stories” featuring a signature work from each of 21 craft artisans that have been interviewed over the last seven years. The exhibit’s educational format presented a studio photograph and bios for each of the artists, a video compiled from numerous interview clips, and an educator’s guide connecting classroom activities to Kentucky’s curriculum standards. KCHEA plans to tour the exhibit to other venues across the state promoting awareness among Kentuckians of crafts’ contributions to the state’s cultural landscape and history. 

ARTISAN EDUCATION:

In March 2015, a workshop “Craft History: Preserving Your Personal Legacy” was presented to craft artisans wanting to document and plan for the preservation of their records. KCHEA plans to present a series of legacy workshops in conjunction with the luminary exhibit. KCHEA is also determining the process for placing artisan materials and artifacts with state historical repositories. This information will be offered through the workshop and KCHEA’s website.