KENTUCKY ARTS COUNCIL
TIMELINE 1965-2006

1965

• National Endowment for the Arts was created, providing matching grants to state arts agencies.
• Kentucky Arts Commission was created by executive order of Governor Edward T. Breathitt.

1966

• Kentucky General Assembly passes legislation establishing the Kentucky Arts Commission "to develop a broadly conceived state policy of support for the arts in Kentucky."
• Rose Oswald is appointed as the first Chair of the Kentucky Arts Commission.
• William Hull is the first Director of the Kentucky Arts Commission.

1967

• Governor Louie B. Nunn

1971

• Governor Wendell Ford
• James Edgy - Arts Commission Director.

1972

• B. Hudson Milner - Arts Commission Chair.

1974

• Nash Cox - Arts Commission Director.

1975

• Governor Julian Carroll

1977

• Al Smith - Arts Commission Chair

1979

• Governor John Y. Brown, Jr.

1980

• Mary Broecker - Arts Commission Chair

1981

• Mary Shands - Arts Commission Chair
• Kentucky Arts Commission becomes a division of newly formed Department of the Arts in the Commerce Cabinet.
• Offices move to Berry Hill.
• Craft division pioneered by First Lady Phyllis George Brown.
• Lois Mateus - Department of the Arts Commissioner
• Kentucky Arts Commission was abolished and NEA funding frozen.

1982

• New legislation based on the original purpose of the Kentucky Arts Commission was passed by the General Assembly to create the Kentucky Arts Council and funding was restored.
• Al Smith - Kentucky Arts Council Chair

1983

• Governor Martha Layne Collins

1984

• Margaret Travathan - Kentucky Arts Council Chair
• Crit Luallen - Department of the Arts Commissioner
• Anne Ogden - Kentucky Arts Council Acting Director

1985

• Roger Paige - Kentucky Arts Council Director

1986

• Louis DeLuca - Department of the Arts Deputy Commissioner

1987

• Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson

1988

• Dr. Lanette Thurman - Department of the Arts Commissioner and Kentucky arts Council Chair.

1989

• Josephine D'Amato Richardson - Kentucky Arts Council Chair

1990

• Marty Newell - Kentucky Arts Council Director
• Kentucky General Assembly abolished the Department of the Arts and increased funding to the Kentucky Arts Council.
• Kentucky Arts Council and Craft Marketing Program remained in Cabinet for Economic Development.
• Offices move to Fountain Place.

1991

• Governor Brereton Jones

1992

• Government reorganization transfers Kentucky Arts Council and Kentucky Craft Marketing Program to Education and Humanities Cabinet, later renamed Education, Arts and Humanities Cabinet.
• Marilyn Moosnick - Kentucky Arts Council Chair

1993

• Louis DeLuca - Kentucky Arts Council Director

1994
1995

• Governor Paul E. Patton
• Louis DeLuca - Education, Arts & Humanities Cabinet Deputy Director

1996

• Dennis Horn - Kentucky Arts Council Interim Director
• Gerri Combs - Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director
• William Francis - Kentucky Arts Council Chair

1997
1998
1999

• Janrose Tunnell - Kentucky Arts Council Chair
• Offices move to Old Capitol Annex

2003

• Governor Ernie Fletcher

2004

• Government reorganization transfers Kentucky Arts Council (including Craft Marketing Program division and Kentucky Folklife Program inter-agency) to Commerce Cabinet.
• Robert E. Gable - Kentucky Arts Council Chair
• Offices move temporarily to Vest Lindsey House and Bush Building

2005

• Lindy Casebier - Commerce Cabinet, Executive Director, Office Arts and Cultural Heritage
• Offices move to Capital Plaza Tower.
• Todd P. Lowe - Kentucky Arts Council Chair
• Lori Meadows - Kentucky Arts Council Interim Director
• Lori Meadows - Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director

2006