Interview with Becky Miller, Teresa Pope, August 16, 2010

Partial Transcript: Interviewer is Amanda Fickey.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope discuss how they came to work at the Kentucky Community Craft Program, which is part of the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council. Miller worked in a different branch of KCEOC before going to work for the crafts area, and Pope started out volunteering by making crafts such as rugs, and came to be a resident potter.

Keywords: Community Action Agency; Crafts; Economic development; Employment; Jobs; Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC); Kentucky Community Craft Program; Local artists; Pottery; Rugs; Volunteering; Volunteers; Woodwork

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Okay, so let me ask you, um, the Kentucky Community Crafts Program, as a economic development revenue source, has that, has that always how it's been established since, y'know, since you started helping out in '97?

Segment Synopsis: Miller thinks that the Kentucky Community Craft Program was established in 1993, before either she or Pope worked there. Much of their funding comes from a state-given grant called a Community Services Block Grant. They sell crafts for the artisans to provide supplemental income for the artisans, taking a 30% commission for themselves.

Keywords: Commissions; Community Services Block Grant; Establishment; Funding; Funds; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Local artists; Money; Training modules

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Grants and funding; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, and so it's meant to be an incubator model?

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope explain why most of the artisans who sell through the Kentucky Community Craft Program often don't seek aid in establishing their own business, emphasizing that this is supplemental income and that most have jobs or receive a pension or government assistance. Pope also states the expense of maintaining an actual storefront, while Miller describes that these artisans love crafting, not running businesses.

Keywords: Assistance; Employment; Entrepreneurship; Expenses; Hobbies; Incubator model; Jobs; Livelihood; Loans; Responsibilities; Small business administration; Small businesses; Supplemental income

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Okay, well, let me ask you a little bit more about what Kentucky Community Crafts actually does for the artists.

Segment Synopsis: Pope and Miller discuss the workshops offered to artists by the Kentucky Community Craft Program to enhance their artistic abilities, as well as to the public, in pottery and weaving.

Keywords: Advertising; Arts classes; Awareness; Budgets; Colleges; Costs; Development; Equipment; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Marketing; Pottery classes; Profits; Schools; Weaving classes

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky; Workshops.

Partial Transcript: Um, so, in regard to your mission and your purpose, um, it's not only for profit...

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope talks about some of the ways the local community is involved with the Kentucky Community Craft Program, including a fundraiser for a food bank. She talks about local people buying their products.

Keywords: Artist community; Awareness; Barbourville (Ky.); Berea Artisan Center; Bowls; Buy-in; Communities; Community involvement; Community support; Craft stores; Empty Bowl Project; Food bank programs; Fundraisers; Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC); Kentucky Community Craft Program; Missions; Painting; Purchases; Soup kitchens; Southeast Kentucky Harvest; Support; Tourists; Union College

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And so i, is that--you mentioned the impact of tourists.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope discuss the main revenue sources for the Kentucky Community Craft Program. They talk about the possibility of selling their products online.

Keywords: Craft fairs; Craft shows; Demonstrations; E-commerce; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Local; National market; Online sales; Pottery; Profitable; Revenue; Sources; Successful; Teresa Pope; Tourists; Websites

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, well I think, I think it's interesting that you have, um, individuals who are using it to supplement their income.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope discuss the lack of employment opportunities in Eastern Kentucky. They discuss the state of the craft industry in Eastern Kentucky, artists' abilities to make a living, and the need for better marketing of local, hand-made products. They discuss the weaknesses of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program.

Keywords: Co-ops; Cooperatives; Craft industry; Crafters; David Appalachian Crafts; Demand; Eastern Kentucky; Economy; Employment; Employment opportunity; Enjoyment; Expenses; Focus; Future; Happiness; Individuals; Jobs; Juried; Kentucky Craft Market Program; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program; Kentucky Proud; Kentucky-made products; Knox County (Ky.); Local; Making a living; Marketing; Markets; Mary Reed; Money; Products; Purpose; Reasons; Red Bird Mission; Richie Farmer; Supplemental income

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, let me ask you something.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope talk about whether the Kentucky Community Craft Program is a cooperative.

Keywords: Co-ops; Commissions; Control; Cooperatives; Crafters; Decisions; Expenses; Funds; Helping; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Organizations; Profits; Sheltowee Artisans

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Do you ha--are you juried with the Artisan Center, Teresa?

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope talk about the atmosphere at the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman, Kentucky. They discuss the relationships among the various craft organizations in the area.

Keywords: Amanda Combs; Appalachian Artisan Center; Assistance; Atmosphere; Competition; Concepts; Craft industry; Downtown; Handmade; Helping; Hindman (Ky.); Income; Industry; Juried; Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council; Red Bird Mission; Relationships; Revenue

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, well let's talk a little about the Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope discuss the Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council, its membership, and its focus. They discuss the changes in leadership happening at the time of this interview.

Keywords: Changes; Convenience; Focus; Future; Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council; Kentucky Appalachian Craft Fair; Leadership; Locations; Members; Networking; Positions; Purpose; Roles; Sales; Somerset (Ky.); Strategic planning; Successful; Tourism

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, uh, let me ask you another quick question about that.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope discuss the needs of artists and some of the difficulties they face, including a need for marketing knowledge, and costs of equipment. They talk about what they believe will be the future of the craft industry.

Keywords: Access; Berea (Ky.); Classes; Co-ops; Concepts; Cooperatives; Costs; Craft fairs; Difficulties; Eastern Kentucky; Economic downfall; Entrepreneurship; Equipment; Expenses; Focus; Future; Hindman (Ky.); Industry; Information; Jobs; Kentucky Appalachian Craft Council; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Kentucky School of Craft; Marketing; Members; Needs; Pottery wheels; Prices; Purpose; Quality; Retail; Sales; Sheltowee Artisans; Small businesses; Studios; Tourism; Tourists; Training; Trends; Underpriced; Workshops

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, okay, so we talked about this a little bit earlier.

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope talk more about the grants that fund the Kentucky Community Craft Program and the need for better marketing of local, hand-made products.

Keywords: Advertisement; Cutbacks; Expenses; Federal funding; Fees; Focus; Funds; Future; Grants; Kentucky Community Craft Program; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program; Kentucky Proud; Needs; Phyllis George; Products; Purpose; Quality; Return customers; Sales; State funding

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Economic conditions.; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Economic development--Kentucky; Grants and funding; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And so you're not concerned about the quality aspect of that?

Segment Synopsis: Miller and Pope say that they are not concerned about the quality of products produced by the Kentucky Community Craft Program. They discuss the rumor of cheap products made overseas being labeled as locally made. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Crafters; Fears; Juried; Organizations; Overseas; Patterns; Quality; Rumors; Standards

Subjects: Appalachian region; Artisans; Artists--Kentucky; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Communities.; Handicraft--Appalachian Region; Handicraft--Kentucky