(Frankfort, Ky.) - Governor Ernie Fletcher has joined President Bush and other governors and mayors from around the nation in proclaiming October as National Arts and Humanities Month. In his proclamation, Governor Fletcher calls on Kentucky citizens "to celebrate and promote the arts and culture" and "to specifically encourage greater participation."

Why celebrate and promote arts and culture? The arts and humanities embody much of the accumulated wisdom, intellect and imagination of humankind and the arts and humanities enhance and enrich the lives of every American. The non-profit arts industry also strengthens our economy by generating $134 billion in economic activity annually and supports the full-time equivalent of 4.85 million jobs across the country.

Greater participation is at the heart of the mission of the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, and is reflected in all of their grants, programs and services. To celebrate National Arts and Humanities Month, the Kentucky Arts Council and the Louisville Free Public Library are co-sponsoring Kentucky Arts Council @ The Library. This pilot project will feature performing and visual artists that are adjudicated into the various Arts Council programs including the Kentucky Performing Arts Directory, Arts Education Roster of Artists, Visual Arts at the Market and the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program or receive funding support in presentations throughout October in all seventeen branches.

The kick-off event at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 7, will feature the Kentucky Opera presenting discussion and musical performances from the cast of THAÏS at the main library, 301 York Street. For free tickets to this event, call the Louisville Free Public Library at 502-574-1644. To check on the schedule of Kentucky Arts Council @ The Library, go the Louisville Free Public Library Web site at www.lfpl.org

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National Arts and Humanities Month is a coast-to-coast collective celebration of culture in America. Coordinated by Americans for the Arts www.artsusa.org, it has become the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation.

The Louisville Free Public Library provides the people of Louisville and Jefferson County with the broadest possible access to knowledge, ideas and information and supports them in their pursuit of learning. With seventeen locations, the library has over 250,000 active cardholders with over 3 million visitors per year.

The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.