No. 69: Lori Meadows - Board Chair, Kentuckians for the Arts

Lori Meadows, Board Chair of Kentuckians for the Arts and former Executive Director of the Kentucky Arts Council, joins host Kate Savage to discuss the essential role of arts advocacy across Kentucky. Lori sheds light on the dramatic decline in state arts funding—from $4.5 million in 2001 to just $1.8 million today—ranking Kentucky 45th in the nation and second lowest in the South for per capita arts allocation. Together, Lori and Kate explore the challenges of uniting the state’s diverse creative communities, the economic impact of the arts sector, and the ways arts organizations serve broader community needs, from mental health to addiction recovery and veteran support. The conversation also touches on public misconceptions about the arts, the continuing need for collective advocacy, and the transformative power of creative engagement in healthcare and aging communities. Lori shares strategies for making the arts more visible and valued at every level, emphasizing the need to blend compelling data with personal stories in championing the arts across Kentucky.

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