2010 MAYORAL FORUM ON ARTS AND CULTURE
TO BE HELD AT THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Cosponsored by the Kentucky School of Art, the Arts and Cultural Attractions Council,
Arts Kentucky, the Fund for the Arts and the University of Louisville.

The region’s arts and culture community is organizing a debate among candidates for Metro Mayor on Monday, February 8, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bomhard Theater.  The event will be moderated by David Cupps, Executive Director of Arts Kentucky.  The event is free and open to the public.  No tickets are required.  A Meet and Greet with the candidates will follow in The Kentucky Center’s East Room.

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We interrupt this Press Release for a special request:
It is important that the design community be well represented at the mayoral forum on Feb 8th.  We have been asked to submit questions to the candidates in advance.  The first sort of questions will take place this Thursday.  If you have questions you would to ask the candidates, please submit them to Steve Wiser by the end of day this Wednesday, Jan. 27 and he will forward them to the organizing committee.

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Louisville is defined in large part by its vital and thriving arts and cultural communities.  Collectively, these organizations are one of the region’s largest employers, one of its most consistent producers of tourist revenue, and a significant factor in Louisville’s economic health.  Anyone looking to lead Louisville into the next decade must demonstrate a vision for Metro Government’s role in supporting and preserving groups dedicated to arts and culture, and to their unique places in our heritage and our future.  The purpose of the Mayoral Forum on Arts and Culture is to focus attention on this critical aspect of our city in all of its facets – social, economic and cultural – as well as its importance to the growth and diversity of the region.
 
Each candidate will be asked to respond to questions posted by the community on their plans to promote arts and culture in Louisville, in terms of funding, neighborhood development, real estate opportunities, and arts education for both student and teacher development.  To date, all candidates have been invited.

Each candidate will be sent a series of questions one week prior to the event. Candidates will be allowed to make a two-minute opening remark. At that time the moderator will direct questions to the candidates. Each question will be answered by three of the candidates, with 90 seconds allowed for response. In the final 15 to 20 minutes of the forum, candidates will be given an opportunity to give a 90-second response to a question that was not directed to them earlier, or to give a 90-second closing comment.  As time allows, audience questions will be accepted. The audience can submit written questions during the first 70 minutes to ushers in the audience.

The local arts and culture community acknowledges the efforts of the Kentucky School of Art in conceiving and opening the dialogue that resulted in this event.  Louisville’s newest arts organization, the Kentucky School of Art promises to be a vital member of our community, expanding even further our growing arts heritage.