02/20/2026
KMEA sent out this message any help with this endeavor would be positive for Fine Arts Education. Consider helping out! Please like and share this post.
Arts Supporters:
This is urgent, because we are nearing the end of the current Kentucky legislative session. Calling your legislator today would be advisable!
Rep. Steve Bratcher has filed bill HB 591, which would enact a requirement for the Kentucky Department of Education develop career pathways focused on the arts to be offered locally and administered through Career and Technical Education pathway programs.
The Kentuckians for the Arts, and KMEA, urge you to call the office of your House representative, express support for the bill, and urge your representative to vote in favor of it.
You came determine who to call by
Going to this map (https://kmea.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fb2cd9e9255fce0c99710dcd&id=bec6862438&e=c792ec0df8)
Clicking on the "House" button
Clicking the spot on the map where you reside
Then, click on your House member's "View bio page" link. On the next page you will find a phone number. If you call, a staffer will answer, and you may say something like, "This is [your name], and I live in Rep. [House member's name]'s district. I am calling in support of Rep. Bratcher's HB 591 that would develop career pathways focused on the arts."
That's it. Simple. Calls are better than emails. Today is best.
Below is a rationale for this position that you may wish to read, but above is the essence!
Sincerely,
John Stroube, Executive Director
KMEA
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The arts are a powerful form of communication and reflect the thoughts and beliefs of those who produce them. There is no better way to enhance creative thinking than to engage in art making. The transfer of those creative skills developed through the arts carry into every phase of life.
The creative industry thrives in Kentucky, playing a significant role in building and sustaining the economic vibrancy of communities across the Commonwealth. The industry creates jobs forKentuckians who spend money locally, pay taxes, and contribute to the quality of life where they live.
The respective roles of K-12 education in introducing young people to the arts as well as to design and media, and of post-secondary education in developing their skill sets in targeted creative fields, are undoubtedly important to Kentucky’s need to provide a skilled and creative workforce.
Based on 2023 data collected by the U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the arts, the Kentucky arts and cultural sector was $6.92 billion industry in Kentucky, generating 2.5% of the state’s GDP, and 2.43% of Kentucky’s workforce. There are 51,094 jobs in Kentucky related to the arts and creative industry.
Jobs available in the arts and creative industries include both part-time and full-time workers. Some may have careers in fields outside the arts while continuing to produce artistic products to gain additional income and/or express their talents. These workers often develop skills during their elementary and secondary school years and may or may not have attended college. Due to the creative skills of these workers developed in their public education, these individuals are in high demand across all industries. Others engage in full-time work in the arts and creative industry that may or may not require that they attend college to earn a degree in an artistic field.
Considering the impact that the arts have on Kentucky’s economy, we do have a responsibility to help students attain the skills necessary to participate in this robust industry. Arts College and/or Career Ready Pathways in Kentucky public schools would provide the appropriate avenue for the many students who wish to have a career in the creative industries of our state. There is a demand for skilled workers in visual arts and design, entertainment areas such as dance, music, and theatre, media and communications, arts education, and related fields in the military, not only in Kentucky but worldwide.
For these reasons, we strongly support HB 591 sponsored by Representative Steve Bratcher, which would enact a requirement for the Kentucky Department of Education develop career pathways focused on the arts to be offered locally and administered through Career and Technical Education pathway programs.
