♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE"- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ARTS IN LOUISVILLE.

FROM ACTORS THEATER... TO BROADWAY...

THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA ...TO THE LOUISVILLE BALLET....

THE ARTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY...

BOTH CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY TOO.

A RECENT STUDY FOUND THE NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURE INDUSTRIES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY GENERATED MORE THAN $500 MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN 2022.

NOT TO MENTION, SUPPORTS CLOSE TO 8,000 AND JOBS AND AND AROUND THE SECTORS.

ONE OF OUR MOST BELOVED TRADITIONS IS KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE...

ENTERING ITS 64TH SEASON OF FREE PERFORMANCES IN LOUISVILLE'S CENTRAL PARK.

THE KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IS THE LONGEST-RUNNING FREE, NON-TICKETED SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES... AND THE OFFICIAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH DESIGNATED BY THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE.

TAKE A LOOK: ♪ ♪ A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN, PEOPLE THINK WE ARE A COMMUNITY THEATER BUT I LIKE SAY WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL THEATER FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S AN 11-WEEK SEVEN PRODUCTION, 64 PERFORMANCE SEASON AND IT'S ALL FREE.

WE BELIEVE, JUST LIKE AT THE GLOBE THEATER YEARS AGO, SHAKESPEARE IS FOR EVERYONE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WHERE FOR ART THOU ROMEO.

>> WE ARE HERE LOCATED IN THE OLDEST VICTORIAN ERA PRESERVATION DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE BROOKLYN WITH TREES.

>> OLD LOUISVILLE IS DIVERSE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, FROM RACE TO AGE TO ECONOMICS AND KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE EMBRACES THAT DIVERSITY.

WE TAKE SOME ARTISTIC LIBERTIES WITH THIS SHOW THAT RELATE TO THIS CITY AND TO THIS COUNTRY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> WITH SOMETHING LIKE ROMEO AND JULIETTE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERHAPS SHOW THE COMMUNITY MAYBE WHAT OUR WORLD COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE END WHEN THOSE FAMILIES BURY THE HATCHET AND THEY LEARN FROM THE TRAGEDY AND THIS LESSON, MAYBE WE CAN, TOO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE UNLIKE ANY OTHER THAT YOU WILL HAVE IN THIS CITY.

>> IT'S TRUE LAY GATHERING PLACE-- IT'S TRULY A GATHERING PLACE IN LOUISVILLE AND MORE AND MORE WE ARE HOPING PEOPLE WILL FIND THAT.

>> MATT WALLACE IS THE PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE.

YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A SIMPLE THEATRE TROUPE TO A TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, WHERE IT IS A TRADITION, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, A FESTIVAL THAT PEOPLE COME FROM ALL AROUND TO SEE.

>> YES, THIS HAS BEEN SO EXCITING AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO LIFE OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS THE 64th ANNUAL FREE KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL KENTUCKY TRADITION AND WE ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING FREE NON-TICKETED ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

FREE.

AND 64th SEASON.

TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS TRADITION.

>> SURE.

>> HOW DID IT START AND WHY IS IT SO FOR KEEP IT GOING.

>> KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE STARTED IN 1949 AS THE CARRIAGE HOUSE PLAYERS WITH DOUG RAIMY, AN OLD LOUISVILLE CARRIAGE HOUSE AND IN THE EARLY SIGNATURES THE GROUP WAS ASKED TO PERFORM SOME SHAKESPEARE IN CENTRAL PARK AT AN ARTS SHOW AND THAT WAS THE SEEDS OF IT AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING EVER SINCE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ALL SUMMER LONG, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE FREE AND THEY'RE ALSO PROFESSIONAL.

WE BELIEVE THE ARTS AND SHAKESPEARE BELONG TO EVERYONE.

SO TO HAVE THAT ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE ARTS EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE TIME KIDS GET OUT OF SCHOOL TO THE WEEK BEFORE THEY GO BACK, WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE IN CENTRAL PARK.

>> YEAH, AND YOU MENTIONED SCHOOLS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THE IMPACT YOU ALL HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO ARTS IN THE SCHOOLS.

TELL BUS THAT.

>> WE ARE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE IN SCHOOL ARTS PROVIDER IN THE STATE.

WE TOURED 81 COUNTIES LAST YEAR AND WE WILL SURPASS THAT THIS WE ARE AND A COUPLE HUNDRED SCHOOLS.

WE'LL SURPASS THAT THIS YEAR.

WE JUST FINISHED THIS YEAR, SERVING ALL JCPS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN ONE YEAR.

THAT WAS A FIRST FOR US.

YOU KNOW, EDUCATION IS THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING WE DO.

BUT REALLY THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ACROSS THE REGION WITH CURRICULUM ALIGNED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

>> SO TELL US WHAT THAT ENTAILS.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN SCHOOLS AND I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT KIDS GET OUT OF IT, EVEN IF THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO BE AN ACTOR, IT'S JUST THAT CONFIDENCE BUILDING, TEAMWORK, THERE IS COUNTLESS SKILLS THEY LEARN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE REALLY BELIEVE IN MAKING OUR PROGRAMS INTERACTIVE AND FUN.

WE TAKE SHAKESPEARE OFF THE PEDESTAL AND PLAY WITH IT BUT WE HAVE KENTUCKY HISTORY SHOWS AND U.S. HISTORY SHOWS.

PROGRAMS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME OF THEM ARE YOUNGER STUDENTS ACTING OUT SHAKESPEARE IN THEIR OWN WORD, FAIRY TALE, HIP-HOP SHAKESPEARE AND RENAISSANCE DANCE SHOPS AND FULL PLAYS IN THE SCHOOLS.

A LOT OF TWO ACTOR PRODUCTIONS.

WE ARE WRAPPING UP ROMEO AND JULIETTE TWO ACTOR WITH PUPPETS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE IT FUN AND ACCESSIBLE.

>> AND THAT ISN'T THE ONLY TYPE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH YOU ARE DOING.

SHAKESPEARE WITH VETERANS.

>> YES.

>> SURVIVORSHIP SHAKESPEARE AND SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS.

EXPLAIN THESE.

>> RIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS GOING ON 20 YEARS.

AND THIS IS AT LUTHER LUCKETTE CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX AND THIS STARTED AS A PROGRAM WITH KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE.

WE GET TO SEE THEM PERFORM IN THE PARK.

WE WORK WITH CLUBS, SURVIVORSHIP SHAKESPEARE, SO WE ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A DAY IN THEIR GRIEF CAMPER WITH WE WILL BE USING THE ARTS IN HEALING IN THAT WAY.

WE HAVE LOTS OF COMMUNITY RESIDENCE RESIDENCIES.

WE HAVE 50 PLUS PRESHOWS EVERY NIGHT.

7:15 EVERY NIGHT, YOU MIGHT SEE DOWN SYNDROME OF LOUISVILLE DOING A PERFORMANCE AFTER A RESIDENCY WITH US.

YOU CAN SEE A GREAT CROSS SECTION OF THE TALENT IN THE PARK THIS SUMMER.

>> IT IS JUST SO FAR REACHING.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GO BEYOND THE REGULAR SUMMER PARK SEASON AND BRING OORT LIKE THIS TO OTHER PLACES SAUL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, BRINGING ART LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S JUST ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS AND THOSE MISS CONCEPTIONS ABOUT-- MISCONCEPTIONS WHAT SHAKESPEARE IS.

THESE ARE GREAT STORIES THAT HAVE ENDURED AND RESONATE IN US STILL.

SO WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS JOB, THIS IS MY 11TH SEASON AND A LOT OF FRIENDS SAID OH SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK, YOU JUST HAVE THE YEAR OFF THEN AND...

WAIT A SECOND.

KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE HAS A ROBUST EDUCATION PROGRAM AND WE CAN BE DOING SO MUCH MORE WITH THESE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

AND ALSO INDOOR PRODUCTIONS.

THAT'S SOMETHING IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS THAT WE BRANCHED OUT TO HAVE INDOOR TICKETED SEASON AS WELL.

>> TELL BUS THAT.

THAT'S-- TELL US ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S GETTING READY TO START.

>> WE JUST ANNOUNCED IT.

FOR HALLOWEEN WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A LOT 6 FUN AGAIN WITH AN IMMERSIVE PRODUCTION CALLED UNTIMELY RIPPED.

IMMERSIVE MACABRE MACBETH EXPERIENCE.

SILENT DISCO HEADPHONES, A WORLD PREMIER PLAY GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE ROOMS IN OUR SPACE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN FOR HALLOWEEN.

WE HAD A SOLD OUT PRODUCTION OF ENTER GHOST, A SIMILAR PRODUCTION AROUND HAMLET A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND THEN THIS WILL BE A NEW FIRST FOR US IN JANUARY, WE ARE GOING TO-- WE WILL BE GOING TO ACTORS THEATER OF LOUISVILLE FOR TWO WEEKS.

WE WILL BE ON THE PAMELA BROWN STAGE AND ACTORS THEATER OF LOUISVILLE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST BY OSCAR WILD.

SO ONE OF THE GREAT COMEDIES AND THIS WILL BE PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ACTORS THERAPY OF LOUISVILLE.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE TO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, WE DO TAKE THE ARTS.

WE TAKE SHAKESPEARE OFF THE PEDESTAL AND MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE AND FUN AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WONDER WHAT IT IS, I ALSO, I ASK FOR THEM JUST TO COME ONCE, COME TO THE PARK ONCE THIS SUMMER YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE ONE OF OUR SEVEN PRODUCTIONS AND I GUARANTEE YOU ARE GOING TO COME BACK.

IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND FUN.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR KIDS GLOBE TENT, PRESHOWS, FOOD TRUCKS EVERY NIGHT.

WE HAVE A BROWN FORMAN BAR AND EXCITING FUN PRODUCTIONS.

WE ARE OPENING THIS WEEK WITH ROMEO AND JULIETTE ACTUALLY.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE OFFICIAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

COME OUT AND GIVE US A SHOT.

>> IT'S A REAL VIBE, JUST BEING THERE.

AND THE EXCITEMENT.

>> IT IS, YES.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TO THEM?

>> WE HEAR STORIES ALL SUMMER.

THAT'S WHY I KEEP DOING IT.

I STARTED WITH AS AN ACTOR 23 YEARS AGO WITH THE COMPANY.

AND HEARING THE STORIES OF HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO THEM.

SEEING NEIGHBORS COMING ACROSS THE LAWN WHO HAVE SEEN A SHOW FIVE TIMES BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ON TV AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME OVER AND SIT AND WATCH AN ACT OR TWO.

IT'S EMBEDDED IN THIS OLD LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY.

>> IT IS.

>> AND THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A SEASON PASS AT KENTUCKY KINGDOM, BUT THEY CAN COME AND THEY CAN SEE ALL OF OUR SHOWS AND BECOME A FESTIVAL CONQUEROR WITH THEIR LITTLE PUNCH CARD AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY THERE TO SERVE EVERYONE.

AND JUST LIKE SHAKESPEARE'S DAY.

IT'S A GREAT MIX OF OUR AMAZINGLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY RIGHT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> AND IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP SAYING, IT'S FREE.

HOW ARE YOU MANAGING 64 YEARS OF PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR FREE?

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> YES, WE OFFER IT FOR FREE BUT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, IS PAID.

AND SO WE HIRE PROFESSIONALS AND WE GO FROM A STAFF OF ABOUT 10 DURING THE YEAR TO 80 IN THE SUMMER.

SO WE RELY ON A LOT OF METHODS.

SO DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, GRANTS, SOME GOVERNMENT GRANTS, FUND FOR THE ARTS IS A MAJOR SOURCE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SUSTAINING IMPACT GRANT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO MANY METHODS, BUT WE MAKE IT WORK.

>> YOU DO.

AND SO CULTURAL PASS IS GETTING READY TO COME UP.

SO YOU ALL ARE PART OF THAT AS WELL RIGHT?

>> YES, THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS IN THISSARY.

-- IN THE AREA.

MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE PART OF THE CULTURAL PASS.

FREE AND PAID FAMILIES CAN GET THIS AT THE LIBRARY AND WE HAVE CELEBRATED 10 YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM AND JUST YOU CAN SEE SUCH A DIVERSE AWRY RAY OF-- A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ALL THE DIFFERENT ARTS AND CULTURE OVER THE SUMMER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

HOW PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITH SOME HELP FROM THE ORGANIZATION FUND FOR THE ARTS WHICH YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE IS ONE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE FUND FOR THE ARTS.

TORY PARKER IS THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FUND FOR THE ARTS...

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS IN LOUISVILLE.

FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, TELL US WHAT FUND FOR THE ARTS IS.

>> SO FUND FOR THE ARTS IS A UNITED ARTS FUND, LOCAL ARTS AGENCY.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE TAKE MONEY FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE TAKE MONEY FROM WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS AND CREATE AN ARTS FUND THAT CAN THEN BE REINVESTED IN YOUR LOCAL NON-PROFIT ARTS COMMUNITY.

WE STARTED IN 1949, A LOT LIKE OUR FRIENDS AT KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE.

ACTUALLY IN THE BASEMENT OF THE LIBRARY, WE WERE FOUNDED BY MAYOR CHARLES FARNS FLATLEY HE JUST HAD THIS IDEA THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT THESE ARTS INSTITUTIONS THAT MAKE LOUISVILLE SUCH A VIBRANT PLACE TO BE A CREATIVE PERSON AND TO LIVE AND LOVE THE ARTS AND STARTED WITH FIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN 1949 AND HAVE GROWN EVER SINCE SINCE ITS SOUNDING, IT HAS RAISED 200 MILLION BUILT THAT GOES FAR BEYOND.

>> THE IMPACT OF THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WE TABULATE THAT EVERY YEAR FOR OUR ANNUAL REPORT.

THIS PAST YEAR IT WAS WELL OVER 900,000 EXPERIENCES THAT WERE FOSTERED BY THE ARTS INSTITUTIONS AND ARTISTS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT PROMOTE THE ARTS IN LOUISVILLE THAT CELEBRATE THE ARTS AND INVEST IN THEIR OWN ART THROUGHOUT SCHOOLS, THROUGHOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SO ANYWHERE THERE IS AN ARTS ACTIVITY HAPPENING, FUND FOR THE ARTS WANTS TO SUPPORT THAT AND FOOS TER THAT-- FOSTER THAT.

>> SINCE ITS INCEPTION, IT HAS GROWN SO MUCH.

HOW DO YOU ALL STAY WITH THE VISION OF THOSE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS?

LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW THAT YOU THINK THEY WOULD LOOK BACK ON AND THINK WOW, THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT.

>> YEAH, SO AT FUND FOR THE ARTS, WE BELIEVE THAT ART IS A FUNDAMENTAL EXPRESSION OF THE HUMAN CONDITION.

AND THAT ART IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE.

SO WE ARE REALLY MOTIVATED BY THAT BELIEF AND THAT MISSION TO HELP EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE AN ARTIST AND THAT THEY CAN INVEST IN THEIR OWN ART AND IN THE ART AROUND THEM AND THAT GETS THEM INVOLVED IN OUR REALLY VIBRANT ARTS ECOSYSTEM.

SO I THINK WHAT THE FOUNDERS WOULD BE PROUD OF AND WHAT WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF IS THAT THERE IS STILL A REALLY VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY IN LOUISVILLE FROM OUR LIKE LARGEST KIND OF OLDEST TREASURED ARTS INSTITUTIONS, THINGS LIKE THE ORCHESTRA AND THE OPERA AND KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE, THE BALLET, TO SMALLER JUST STARTING OUT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, ARTIST COLLECTIVES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT EVEN SEE THEMSELVES AS ARTISTS BUT WHO TAKE CARE AND PRACTICE IN THAT ARTISTIC EXPRESSION EVERY DAY AND WE ARE INVESTING ACROSS THAT SPECTRUM SO I THINK BROADENING THAT DEFINITION HAS MADE IT REALLY POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO FLOURISH IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY.

>> AND LOUISVILLE HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY A LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO ARTS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ARE ONE OF THE TOM-- WE ARE THE ONLY CITY OF OUR SIZE WITH THOSE KIND OF FIVE MAJOR ARTS INSTITUTIONS AND WE HAVE ALWAYS PUNCHED ABOVE OUR WEIGHT AS FAR AS THE ARTS GO AND WE TAKE PRIDE IN THAT.

>> YOU JUST HAD A RECENT STUDY CONDUCTED NATIONWIDE MEASURING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT.

TELL US WHAT THAT STUDY FOUND AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THAT?

>> SO THAT IS THE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS ARTS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

IT'S DONE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

IT'S CLOAG COLLOQUIAL, THIS IS THE SIXTH ONE THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

IT WAS THE FIRST SINCE COVID.

A BIG YEAR TO FIND, TO GET DATA AND WE WERE ONE OF 400 COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS SURVEY.

WE WENT TO OVER 80 EVENTS, 80 INSTITUTIONS AND DID A FREE SURVEY, JUST ASKING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE ARTS.

AND WE FOUND THAT IN LOUISVILLE, THE ARTS IN FISCAL YEAR 22 GENERATED OVER $517 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.

AND WE FOUND THAT OVER 8,000 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED IN-- THEY GENERATED OVER,000 JOBS.

SO WE-- 8,000 JOBS.

SO WE ARE A POWERFUL SECTOR IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE KNEW THAT, BUT TO FIND THAT ON A NATIONAL SCALE, THAT THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH TRUE AND TRUE FOR LOUISVILLE AS WELL, AND TO FIND THINGS OUT LIKE 80% OF PEOPLE FIND PRIDE IN THE ARTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

THINGS THAT WE HEAR ALL THE TIME BUT HAVING HARD DATA IS REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGING FOR OUR MISSION.

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

HOW DOES LOUISVILLE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES OR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF IT.

>> LOUISVILLE PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT.

LOUISVILLE IS AN ARTS TOWN, AND WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS AND THIS PROVED THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED POST-COVID, THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WERE SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTED BY COVID.

HOW ARE WE BOUNCING BACK?

ARE WE POST PANDEMIC?

>> THOSE THINGS ARE ALWAYS REALLY HARD TO SAY, BUT I THINK THE PANDEMIC GAVE A LOT OF CONTEXT FOR PEOPLE, GAVE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

IN AN ECOSYSTEM THAT WAS CHANGING WELL BEFORE COVID, THINGS LIKE SUBSCRIPTIONS, TICKET SALES, THINGS LIKE MEMBERSHIPS AND VISITORS, THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN FLUCTUATING AND CHANGING AS OUR WORLD CHANGES, AS THINGS LIKE THE INTERNET COME UP.

AS THINGS LIKE STREAMING SERVICE AS RISE, HOW DO WE, AS A-- HOW DO WE SUPPORT THINGS LEAK PERFORMING ARTS IN A WORLD WHERE NETFLIX EXISTS.

COVID GAVE US A CONTEXT AND TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AT FUND FOR THE ARTS, WE REALLY BELIEVE THOSE ARE INVALUABLE SERVICES AND INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IT BECAME, IN MANY WAYS, FOR MANY INSTITUTIONS AND ARTISTS, A WAY TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO FULFILL THEIR MISSION OR A NEW WAY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MISSION ENTIRELY.

THINGS LIKE BRINGING ART INTO COMMUNITIES OPPOSED TO BRINGING COMMUNITIES INTO YOUR SPACE.

THIMTION LIKE MAKING THINGS WITH WERE AVAILABLE ONLINE.

THINGS LIKE BRINGING SOMETHING INTO A SCHOOL OR MAKING A PROGRAM MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR STUDENTS FROM A LANGUAGE PERSPECTIVE, FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, SO I THINK IT REALLY WAS A MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE IN A POSITIVE WAY AS WELL.

AND IT WAS HARD.

AND IT CONTINUES TO HIT OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS REALLY HARD.

AND THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER.

GO SEE A PLAY, GO TO THE BALLET, BUY A TICKET.

BUT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW HAS THE ECOSYSTEM CHANGED AND HOW ARE WE CHANGING WITH IT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND USE SOME OF THAT CREATIVITY.

ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH MATT IS THE CULTURAL PASS.

AND TALK ABOUT BRINGING THE ARTS INTO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A GREAT THING.

EXPLAIN WHAT IS ACTUALLY IS THE CULTURAL PASS.

>> A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, A MAYORAL INITIATIVE 11 YEARS AGO.

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 11TH YEAR.

FUND FOR THE ARTS, THE ARTS IN CULTURAL ALLIANCE AND THE LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

THE CULTURAL PASS IS A PASSPORT RIGHT NOW THAT YOU, ANYONE AGES 0-21 CAN PICK UP AT THEIR LOCAL LIBRARY.

IT HAS OVER 50 ARTS AND CULTURE VENUES ON IT AND THAT REALLY SPANS THE GAMUT.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE AND GET YOUR PASS STAMPED.

YOU CAN GR TO THE ZOO, THE SCIENCE CENTER, THE FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ALL THESE ARTS AND CULTURE VENUES THAT OFFER FREE PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES TO COMBAT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS.

SO YOU CAN GO, PICK UP YOUR PASS ON JUNE 1 WHEN CULTURAL PASS KICKS OFF RIGHT WHEN SCHOOL ENDS.

WE HAVE A BIG KICKOFF AT THE LIBRARY BRANCH, THE MAIN BRANCH DOWNTOWN AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR SUMMER READING AND GET YOUR CULTURAL PASS AND GO SEE ALL OF THOSE INCREDIBLE VENUES ABSOLUTELY FOR FREE.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> REALLY INCREDIBLE.

AND YOU CAN GET A PRIZE AT THE END OF THE SUMMER IF YOU SEE FIVE DIFFERENT VENUES.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXPLORE SOME THINGS IN LOUISVILLE AND SOUTHERN INDIANA.

>> THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET KIDS INVOLVED, TOO, BECAUSE THEY SURE LOVE GETTING THAT PASS STAMPED.

>> THEY DO LOVE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE PASS.

AMEND ADULTS GET IN FOR FREE AS WELL.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBILITY FOR EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE PART OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT A GREAT THING FOR THE ARTS COMMUNE, TOO.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE COME HERE FROM OUT OF TOWN AND EXPERIENCE SOME OF THESE AMAZING FACILITIES AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES OUR HOMETOWN FOLKS DON'T EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE COOLEST THINGS OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS ENCOURAGES THOSE PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND BE A TOURIST IN THEIR HOMETOWN I GUESS.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY KNOW IT DOES.

WE DO SURVEYS AT THE END OF EVERY CULTURAL PASS AND THERE ARE SO MANY RESPONSES SAYING WE NEVER, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER THINK TO GO TO THIS PLACE.

OR WE NEVER HAVE TIME TO VISIT THIS PLACE OR, YOU KNOW, COST IS REALLY A BARRIER AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE CULTURAL PASS FREE BECAUSE NOW WE CAN TAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, A DAY OUT WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE TRIP, RIGHT?

AND SO IF IT'S ENTIRELY FREE AND YOU GET YOUR PASS STAMPED THAT OPENS A LOT OF DOORS TO HELP PEOPLE EXPLORE THE MIR YATD OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE TO ENGAGE IN ARTS AND CULTURE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> YOU MENTIONED TOO, SUMMER READING AND COMBAT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS, WHICH IS A HUGE PART OF THIS, TOO FOR KIDS.

>> YEAH, ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, THEY ARE FOSTERED AROUND EXPLORING SOMETHING NEW, TEACHING SOMETHING AND WHETHER THAT'S AN ARTS ACTIVITY, IT CAN ALSO BE A TOUR AT A MUSEUM, OR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING EVEN LARGER LIKE GETTING TO BUILD SOMETHING AT THE SCIENCE CENTER, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY JUST WHATEVER YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, THERE IS SOMETHING ON THE CULTURAL PASS FOR YOU.

>> AND ANOTHER THING YOU GUYS DO, GIVING BACK IS THESE COMMUNITY EVENT MINI GRANTS.

EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE ARE.

>> SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST GRANT INITIATIVES FUND FOR THE ARCE.

DIRECT RESPONSE TO COMMUNITIES ASKING HOW THEY CAN TAKE PART IN ARTS FUNDING IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THIS IS PART OF OUR ARTS NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE.

COMMUNITY EVENT MINI GRANTS ARE SMALLER GRANTS BETWEEN 500 AND 5,000 DOLLARS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT IS FREE AND INTERGENERATIONAL AND HAS ARTS PROGRAMMING.

IT'S IN OUR SECOND YEAR.

BUT THEY ARE OPEN TO ANYONE TO APPLY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A NON-PROFIT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN ARTS ORGANIZATION.

YOU CAN BE A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, AN INDIVIDUAL, A RESTAURANT AS LONG AS YOU ARE PARTNERING WITH SOMEBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PUTTING ON A FREE EVENT THAT HAS ARTS PROGRAMMING.

WE ARE REALLY INVESTED IN INVESTING IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING THE ARTS A PART OF IT.

THOSE ARE OPEN FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

IT'S A ROLLING APPLICATION SO YOU CAN APPLY ANY TIME.

ANYONE CAN APPLY ANY TIME AND THEN THEY'RE ALLOCATED THROUGH THE SEASON.

SO FALL, WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER.

>> WOW.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

SO THAT'S JUST A GREAT WAY TO GET COMMUNITIES TO KIND OF DO THEIR OWN THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING COOL TO DO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT GETS PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR A FUND FOR THE ARTS GRANT, GETS THEM INTO THE FAMILY.

IF YOU CAN APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AND YOU ARE ABARTS ORGANIZATION THAT DIDN'T SEE OURS AS PART OF FUND FOR THE ARTS BEFORE.

NOW YOU ARE ON THE TRAIN AND WE ARE HELPING YOU APPLY FOR LARGER GRANTS, NATIONAL GRANTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> OUR 75th ANNIVERSARY TOE FUND FOR THE ARTS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND GRATEFUL TO LOUISVILLE FOR INVESTING IN THE ARTS FOR 75 YEARS AND HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME.

WE ARE STREEPING AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

PLUS, GIVE US A FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM WHERE YOU CAN SEE SOME BEHIND THE SCENES PICTURES AND VIDEOS FROM THIS AND ALL OF OUR EPISODES.

WE'RE AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪