The commonwealth of Kentucky boasts an exceptional selection of arts and entertainment options including crafts festivals, music concerts, and a whole lot more. To get your fill of Bluegrass State culture, explore its performing and visual arts, along with other entertaining vacation pastimes while visiting Kentucky.
Crafts
Travelers with a yen for crafts will love Kentucky. Many craftspeople throughout the commonwealth create items by hand, with Appalachian-style folk crafts predominating. Quilts, pottery, glasswork, and textiles are among the types of crafts you'll find.
Regardless of your final travel destination, you certainly can't afford to miss swinging by the city of Berea. Home to Berea College, one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the country, the city's preferred moniker is "The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky." For over a century, Berea has been known as the center of Kentucky folk crafts, now boasting more than 25 galleries and working-artisan studios. The city also regularly plays host to a plethora of arts and crafts events and workshops, as well as festivals for various occasions.
An excellent place to see both arts and crafts is the Kentucky Museum, located on the campus of Western Kentucky University. The pieces are categorized according to the genres of archaeology, art, clothing and textiles, furniture, glassware and ceramics, political memorabilia, quilts, and toys and games. Functional art, rather than only paintings or sculptures, is the name of the game; their quilt collection holds over 130 pieces.
Dance
In keeping with the folk spirit, there a number of places where you can get your fill of Americana, folk, contra, and other forms of traditional dance. For instance, Lexington is home to the Lexington Traditional Dance Association, which specializes in promoting the contra dance style. The Brandenburg-based Kentucky Dance Association was formed in 1991 to foster and maintain interest in folk dancing. Most events they host are open to the public. Those who prefer more modern or international dance styles, or just a spin on the nightclub dance floor, will find places for that, too.
Taking in a dance performance is another option. The Louisville Ballet should not be missed. The only regional ballet company to have performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov, it has a distinguished tradition and should be experienced by fans and novices alike. Several other ballet companies, a modern dance organization, a vintage dance group, dance festivals, and performing arts venues provide other ways to get your fill of dance.
Film
Kentucky has a deep history with the movies, connected through directors, actors, and movie locations.
One of the more famous Kentucky actors to grace the silver screen is George Clooney. The nephew of popular entertainer Rosemary Clooney and son of Nick Clooney, George Clooney has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, wining awards and award nominations for his acting and directing work. Some of his most popular films include Three Kings, Syriana, and Good Night, and Good Luck, as well as the popular Ocean's Eleven trilogy.
The controversy surrounding director D.W. Griffith's career cannot erase the fact that he's viewed as one of the founders of modern cinema, wining praise from actors and directors alike. Though his seminal film, The Birth of a Nation, was widely regarded as racist and bigoted, he worked later to restore his image by directing films that promoted tolerance and unity.
There have been a number of famous films set or shot in Kentucky. Among them is Cameron Crowe's Elizabethtown, set in the small, titular Kentucky town. Filming was done on location in Elizabethtown, as well as in Versailles and Louisville. In addition, Dreamer, starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, was shot almost entirely in Frankfort and Lexington.
Literature
A number of famous writers have emerged from the Bluegrass State. Among the most well-known is Robert Penn Warren, made famous by his 1957 work All The King's Men. This novel garnered him a Pulitzer Prize, but his fame wouldn't end there. He went on to win the Pulitzer twice more for works of poetry – Promises: Poems 1954-1956, which appeared in 1958, and Now and Then, published in 1979. Warren also co-authored two seminal textbooks: Understanding Poetry and Understanding Fiction.
On the opposite side of the literary spectrum is Hunter S. Thompson. Best known for establishing Gonzo journalism, Thompson's most famous work, at least for modern audiences, continues to be Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Written in 1971, it appeared to film audiences in 1998, with stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro in the main roles of Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively. Thompson wrote for Rolling Stone, The Nation, and, toward the end of his life, ESPN online.
Kentucky writers are not limited to literature, however. Academy Award-winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan hails from Louisville. Known for his hugely popular 2000 film Traffic, Gaghan has written or directed five other major motion pictures, including the Oscar-nominated Syriana, Havoc, The Alamo, Abandon, and Rules of Engagement.
Music
Perhaps it's natural for the Bluegrass State to emphasize bluegrass music, or at least to have a definite heritage in the genre. Some of the most famous bluegrass artists have called Kentucky home, including Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, with whom the term "bluegrass" originated.
But other artists and performers have enjoyed success as well, including country artists Dwight Yoakam, Montgomery Gentry, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the Kentucky Headhunters. Acts in other genres have called Kentucky home as well – Black Stone Cherry, from Edmonton, and hip-hop group Nappy Roots, formed at Western Kentucky University. The six group members would be honored by Governor Paul E. Patton with the title of Kentucky Colonel.
Experience the sounds of Kentucky's music scene at festivals, jam sessions, and places like the Kentucky Opry. To learn more about music in the Bluegrass State, visit the International Bluegrass Music Museum or the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Theater
There are a number of well-regarded theater companies and performing arts venues in Kentucky. Two of the most respected, the Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Kentucky Center, are located in Louisville. The Actors Theatre has been open since 1964 and has received numerous awards, including a Tony Award for Regional Theatre. The Kentucky Center routinely hosts popular touring shows and performances of all types, including stage plays, popular stand-up comics, and dance.
Visitors to the Bluegrass State should also make a point to see My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The inspiration for Stephen Foster's song of the same name, the park produces two plays: Stephen Foster – The Musical and Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Visual Arts
There are a number of galleries, museums, and studios for the casual or deeply-interested art fan, many of which can be found in the two largest cities, Louisville and Lexington.
Louisville's Speed Art Museum hosts major exhibitions of all types, while boasting a permanent collection of over 12,000 pieces. It's the oldest and largest art museum in Kentucky.
In Lexington, one can wander around the International Museum of the Horse, dedicated to, that's right, man's other best friend. Exhibits emphasize the role of the horse in history, as well its impact, legacy, and use in modern times.
Kentucky's culture and entertainment bear witness to the commonwealth's ongoing artistic legacy. From theater to literature, music to crafts, the people of Kentucky continue to characterize themselves as both innovators and caretakers – preserving a heritage and defining new boundaries. Whatever artistic form you prefer, you're sure to find something good to entertain yourself with in the Bluegrass State.
