WKU News

The Kentucky Folklife Program is excited to share the news that three Kentucky traditional artists have been recognized as the 2020 Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellows through SouthArts: Roger Cooper of Lewis County (Old-time, Swing, and Jazz Fiddle), Charlene Long of Hart County (Willow and Honeysuckle Basket Making), and Octavia Sexton of Rockcastle County (Storytelling). As lifelong learners AND teachers, Roger Cooper, Charlene Long, and Octavia Sexton are the embodiment of traditional Kentucky artists who remain dedicated to both sharing their talents with others and at the same time working to nurture their own creative spirit. These Kentucky Master Artists, along with six others from North Carolina and Tennessee, will each receive $9,000 from South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts service organization, to continue their lifelong learning and practice. A big thanks to Mark Brown, Folk and Traditional Arts Director of the Kentucky Arts Council (and WKU Folk Studies Graduate Program Alum) for spearheading the nomination process for these deserving Kentucky recipients. More information about the 2020 recipients and about South Arts can be found here.