FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 5, 2016) - Lydia Bailey Brown will serve as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Arts Council. Bailey Brown was nominated by Don Parkinson, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary, and approved today by the Kentucky Arts Council Board.

"We believe that Lydia Bailey Brown's unique background in business development, arts education and cultural destination consulting will be an asset to this important state agency as it continues to promote the arts and Kentucky artisans," said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Cabinet of Tourism, Arts and Heritage, which oversees the state arts agency. "We are optimistic about the arts council's future."

Bailey Brown previously served as the director of education at the Yorktown Arts Foundation, executive director of the Cultural Alliance of Hampton Roads, sales and marketing executive at Design Master Associates, and director of business development at the Conference Board, a global economic think tank based in New York City. Bailey Brown has years of leadership experience in the arts and culture industry.

"I am honored to serve the citizens of Kentucky in such a key arts leadership role. It's important that the Kentucky Arts Council, an agency firmly rooted in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, works collaboratively throughout the state to strengthen arts education which builds better problem solvers in all walks of life," Bailey Brown said. "The arts invigorate large communities and sustain rural towns, and I am excited to explore how the council can work with community leaders throughout Kentucky to increase cultural tourism. We are well-positioned to widely share the artists and cultural jewels of this beautiful state."

"The Kentucky Arts Council Board is proud to support Lydia as we work together to enhance and promote the arts in Kentucky," said Mary Michael Corbett, Kentucky Arts Council Board chair. "Strengthening Kentucky's creative future requires a collaborative perspective, ongoing commitment and visionary leadership. The Kentucky Arts Council is dedicated to this mission."

The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, fosters environments for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The arts council is celebrating 50 years of service in 2016.