Imagine being able to see and touch a diverse mixture of high quality arts and crafts from throughout Southern and Eastern Kentucky under one roof! Then imagine that every work of art presented is hand crafted by artists and crafters from the region. The Kentucky Appalachian Craft Fair will offer this treasure chest of one-of-a-kind pieces on Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky. During this inaugural fair, artists and craftspeople from Southern and Eastern Kentucky will come together to display their talents and offer a variety of works for demonstration and for purchase.

“An event like this allows us to see, touch, and experience a wide variety of the beautiful things crafters from our region make with their hands,” says Pat Bradley, arts and cultural outreach coordinator at The Center. Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center adds, “These arts and crafts are often expressions of our cultural heritage, and are also good for the economy. The individuals who make these works of art are entrepreneurs in the business of art. Their work is unique to them and their environment. Their businesses improve economic conditions, and their products go far to increase cultural pride in our area.”

The Kentucky Appalachian Craft Fair is a collaborative effort of many arts and crafts groups throughout the region. Ms. Bradley has been hosting meetings of these groups over the past two years, with the goals of forming partnerships, supporting the work of each other and supporting the artists and crafters of the region. Through these meetings, The Center has drawn together the talents and organizational skills of art guilds, craft shops and crafts co-operatives within our 42 county service area. The Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council is a direct result of these meetings, and is hosting its first regional fair this summer.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the unique crafts from our region, meet the artists that create these beautiful products, hear the stories behind their work, and watch demonstrations of how some of these crafts are created. Admission for the general public is only $3 per person each day with plenty of free parking. The Center for Rural Development is handicapped accessible. Fair hours are Saturday, June 23rd, 11am until 6pm, and Sunday, June 24th, noon until 5pm. For more information, contact

Ms. Pat Bradley at The Center for Rural Development at pbradley@centertech.com or (606) 677-6000.

“Art is not a luxury item,” Bradley says, “it’s an essential and core element of a successful, healthy and productive lifestyle.”