The Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen
Our Mission & History
The mission of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen is to establish art and craft as a vital influence by promoting excellence through education, collaboration, leadership and service.
These are the core mandates under which the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen was created by Governor Bert T. Combs in 1961. As an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Kentucky Guild strives to fulfill this mission through educational workshops, public events, and by bringing attention to the impacts the arts have on Kentucky's economy and culture.
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KGAC's first headquarters was located in two L&N Railroad cars that hosted offices, gallery space, and classrooms. These cars would spend weeks at a time in different Kentucky communities. In March of 1961, the first Kentucky Guild fair was held on the Berea College campus as a fundraiser for the organization. Berea was chosen as KGAC's permanent headquarters in 1968 because of its central location, proximity to Berea College, and the community's numerous working artisans.