Interview with Chris Cathers, August 15, 2011

Partial Transcript: The interviewer is Amanda Fickey and the interviewee is Chris Cas--Cathers, um, Program Director at the Kentucky Arts Council.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about working at Eastern Kentucky University as the Director of the Kentucky Artisan Trails Program. He discusses the duties of his position, which involved cultural heritage tourism and working with a lot of artists in the region. Cather also talks about the process of how he was hired to be the Program Director of the Kentucky Arts Council.

Keywords: Craft industry; Craftspeople; Cultural heritage tourism; Economic development project; Hiring process; Kentucky Artisan Trails Program; Kentucky Arts Council; Program directors; Training

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Eastern Kentucky University; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Well, let me, um, go back just for a second.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about a project that he worked on for Eastern Kentucky University in which he helped train artists throughout the region in simple computer skills. He discusses the purposes of the project, some of the places that workshops were held, and how the program helped artists get used computers. Cathers also describes the artists who typically participated in the workshops and their enthusiasm to learn.

Keywords: Computers; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Internet; Technology; Workshops

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Eastern Kentucky University; Handicraft; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: So why don't we, uh, start with what was going on here at the Council when you applied for the position and what Fran had been doing, particularly with the Craft Marketing Program.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the state of the Kentucky Arts Council at the time he was hired, which occurred at the same time that the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program became a branch of the Council. He discusses the merger process and how his business-focused background helped with integrating the two agencies together.

Keywords: Craft industry; Craftspeople; Integration; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program; Marketing and management; Merger process

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business.; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: So are those some of the key shifts that have taken place in how the program would have been directed under Fran and then how the program is being directed now?

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the key shifts that occurred as the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program merged with the Kentucky Arts Council. He discusses how a more business-oriented approach was established in which the organization focused on helping artists to develop successful and growing businesses. Cathers explains that the Council sought to aid craftspeople in making and fulfilling professional goals, adapting to a changing business world, and competing in the market.

Keywords: Adaption; Business-oriented approach; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Growth; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program; Marketing; Professional goals; Revenue

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business.; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Um, it seems like, with Fran, that there was a strong emphasis on creating just this broader geographical lore and creating a national and international market for handicrafts.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the transition of the focuses of the Kentucky Arts Council and Craft Marketing Program. He describes how the organizations reduced the number of craft shows in order to efficiently use funds at the most prominent events and sought to get appropriate buyers to the Kentucky Market. Cathers discusses how the Kentucky Market expanded by including different types of arts, such as musical and culinary. He also talks about how this expansion caused some conflict with crafters, but that the Council wants to fully represent all Kentucky art, not just crafts.

Keywords: Business-oriented approach; Conflict; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Culinary arts; Kentucky Craft Marketing Program; Kentucky Market; Literary arts; Musical arts; Representation

Subjects: Art fairs.; Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business.; Craft festivals.; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Um, well then while you do that, I'll, I'll ask you a question.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about how the Kentucky Arts Council encourages artists to be business entrepreneurs by offering workshops throughout the year and trying to meet the needs of the different levels of artists. He discusses how the Council has been working on developing partnerships for other agencies both in the state and outside it in order to further assist artists.

Keywords: Business-oriented approach; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Images; Pricing; Skills development; Social media; State governments; Workshops; Younger generations

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: This issue of pricing comes up a lot, whether I'm talking to an organizational leader or to a crafter, and there doesn't seem to be a consistent way of teaching people how to price their product.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about how the Kentucky Arts Council has adopted an artist compensation policy in order to ensure artists get properly paid for their work. He discusses other ways that the Council has sought to educate craftspeople about appropriate pricing for their products, such as removing the emotional component and understanding the different levels of costs and prices.

Keywords: Artist compensation policy; Compensation; Costs; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Education; Emotional component; Pricing

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Well let me, let me ask you about how that changes even across the state.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about how artists need to look at the geographic area in which they operate to determine the potential success of their business. He discusses the Kentucky visitor centers offering local craft products for competitive prices and the need to teach artists how to develop their products for the market by critiquing their work. Cathers also explains how the Kentucky Arts Council focuses on helping those artists who want to pursue a business approach by developing the necessary skills.

Keywords: Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Critiquing; Geographic area; Hobbyists; Prices; Skills development; Traffic; Visitor centers

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Well and it's interesting, it seems like a lot of people in regard to time, you know, they're, they're either retired...

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the so-called 'gray economy' in Kentucky. He discusses how the Kentucky Arts Council requires artists to get sales tax ID numbers and fill out income tax forms because the organization wants them to be serious about their business. Cathers explains that the Council seeks the arts and craft industry as a whole to get representation in state and regional economies. He also talks about state welfare programs that support workers in craft shops, but how he has not personally encountered it with the Council.

Keywords: Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Gray economy; Income tax forms; Kentucky Market; Regional economy; Representation; Sales tax ID numbers; State economy; State welfare programs

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: And then to get back to this emphasis on crafters being entrepreneurs.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the topics of the workshops held by the Kentucky Arts Council and how the agency works with artists to develop the next steps in their businesses. He discusses how the Council does not want to set craftspeople up for failure and creates a relationship with artists in order to asses their level. Cathers also talks about the evolution process that occurs with the artists moving to higher levels in their work and businesses.

Keywords: Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Evolution; Levels; Relationships; Workshops

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Well let me ask a follow up question to that. Are there workshops at this point that pertain to how artists should or could possibly work cooperatively?

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about artists working together in cooperatives and how he has not seen it very much in Kentucky, but has heard ideas about them discussed due to economic hard times. He describes the Kentucky Arts Council working with artists partnering together and connecting with universities and other agencies. Cathers discusses the possibility of cooperatives becoming a trend in the craft industry and the problem regarding health insurance that many artists are forced to deal with.

Keywords: Cooperatives; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Economic hard times; Health insurance; Partnerships; Problems; Universities

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Um, well let me ask you, when you think about the industry very broadly right now, uh, throughout the state, who do you think are the key players?

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the key players in the craft industry in Kentucky, such as the Berea Artisan Center and the Kentucky Arts Council. He discusses the reasons that these organizations are very important and the ways that they represent and strengthen the industry in Kentucky. Cathers also talks about how these agencies will continue to help artists in the future, particularly through building more partnerships with other organizations and state agencies.

Keywords: Berea Artisan Center; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Galleries; Key players; Partnerships; Public architectural projects; Relationships; Representation; State agencies

Subjects: Art fairs.; Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Craft festivals.; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Um, so thinking of the industry just in terms of Eastern Kentucky, who do you think some of the big players are that crafters will turn to?

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about how economic development offices and universities are strong players in helping artists in Eastern Kentucky. He discusses some of the other potential important agencies in the region and describes ways that the Hindman Artisan Center could improve in the future, such as by building more of a relationship with the Kentucky Arts Council. Cathers also talks about some of the Council's relationships with different organizations in Eastern Kentucky.

Keywords: Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Eastern Kentucky; Economic development offices; Hindman Artisan Center; Key players; Relationships; Universities

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Well let me ask you one more question, Chris, that I sort of ask across the board to everyone that I go and visit.

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about the issues involved with Kentucky artisan centers and agencies promoting cultural tourism for economic development while nearby are resource extraction industries, such as mountaintop removal. He discusses how, if the story of an artist's craft can be removed from those locations, there are more business opportunities. Cathers explains that art centers need to entice people to visit by having nearby places that appeal to visitors and while individual artists cannot control the locations of resource extraction, they can try to counter it by controlling the stories of their crafts and help people experience it.

Keywords: Artisan centers; Coal mining; Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Cultural tourism; Mountaintop removal; Opportunities; Resource extraction industries; Visitors

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.; Mountaintop removal mining--Appalachian region

Partial Transcript: Um, well with that, is there anything that we haven't discussed or haven't touched on even briefly that maybe should be included in the interview or that you think I should really follow upon or look at, or?

Segment Synopsis: Cathers talks about how he has gathered some information on studies conducted on the Kentucky craft industry and the ways that art agencies have benefited the state economy, artist directory data, and yearly reports of the Kentucky Arts Council. He offers an assessment of his time as Program Director of the Council and expresses the organization's plans for the future.

Keywords: Craft industry; Crafters; Craftspeople; Directory; Kentucky economy; Management; Resources; Studies; Yearly reports

Subjects: Artisans; Artists.; Arts and crafts.; Business; Handicraft; Kentucky Arts Council; Kentucky.