Kentucky Foundation for Women facts for kids
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| Founded | 1985 |
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| Founder | Sallie Bingham |
| Type | 501(c)3 Private, Independent Foundation |
| Focus | KFW funds two grant programs, Artist Enrichment and Art Meets Activism, awarding $200,000 in grants annually. They also own and operate Hopscotch House, an artist retreat center. |
| Location | |
| Method | Applications for grants in both categories are reviewed by panels of independent grant reviewers. Each grant review panel consists of three reviewers, two from Kentucky and one from out-of-state, who are all highly qualified artists and activists from a range of disciplines. |
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Key people
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Judith Jennings, Ph.D., Executive Director Sherry Hurley, Hopscotch House Program Director Rae Strobel, Grant Program Administrator Sue Massek, Administrative Assistant Katie Anderson, Hopscotch House Property Manager |
The Kentucky Foundation for Women (KFW) helps artists and supports fairness for everyone. It gives money to artists and groups. It also offers a special place for artists and people working for change to stay and create. KFW shares information and helps different groups work together.
KFW is a special kind of non-profit organization. It was started in 1985 by author Sallie Bingham from Louisville, Kentucky. Ms. Bingham gave $10 million to start the foundation. This was a very large gift for a women's fund at that time. KFW's main goal is to support art that helps make positive changes in society.
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Supporting Artists and Change
The foundation gives money through two main programs each year. These are called Artist Enrichment and Art Meets Activism. Both programs focus on artists and support ideas about fairness and equality. They also look for art that is high quality. People who apply for these grants need to show they believe in fairness for women. They also need to understand how art can help make social changes.
Grant Awards and Social Change
Grant awards usually range from $1,000 to $7,500 for each project. KFW defines social change as removing barriers that hold women back. This includes stopping unfair treatment based on age, background, physical ability, or where someone lives. It also means creating actions, rules, and attitudes that help women.
Between 1985 and 2005, KFW gave out 1,298 grants. The total amount of money given was over $7.1 million.
Hopscotch House: A Creative Retreat
Hopscotch House is a special program of the Kentucky Foundation for Women. It is mainly a retreat center for artists who focus on fairness and equality. Many groups and organizations also use it. These groups work to improve the lives of women and girls in Kentucky.
KFW bought Hopscotch House in 1987. At first, a group of women writers used it. In the early 1990s, other women artists and women's groups could also use the house. Over the years, hundreds of women have stayed there. This includes artists, activists, and groups focused on social justice.
The property looks like a classic Kentucky farm. It is about 13 miles east of downtown Louisville. The house has five bedrooms and six bathrooms. It also has a library with books by women and for research. There is a large living room, a sun room, and a deck. The kitchen is fully equipped so guests can cook their own meals. Artists can also ask for separate studio space.
Other Important Activities
The Kentucky Foundation for Women has also supported other special projects.
National Sculpture Conference: Works by Women
In 1987, KFW helped fund the National Sculpture Conference: Works by Women. This event was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. It honored American women sculptors who were between 67 and 88 years old. Some of the honored artists included Selma Burke, Elizabeth Catlett, and Louise Nevelson.
Collaborative Art Projects
KFW has also supported unique art projects. One such project was a large, collaborative fan. More than 50 artists worked together on it. The fan used needlework, knotting, quilting, and painting. It showed feelings related to women's experiences. Lead artists for this project included Judy Chicago and Ann Stewart Anderson. This fan was shown at the Water Tower in Louisville. It is now part of the Foundation's own art collection.
The American Voice Literary Journal
The Kentucky Foundation for Women published a literary journal called The American Voice. It had 50 issues and featured writers from Kentucky and around the world. The journal was published three times a year from 1986 to 1999.
The American Voice was known for featuring works by famous authors. These included Joyce Carol Oates and Isabel Allende. It also published works by Kentucky writers like Wendell Berry. The journal also helped new writers get started. Early works by authors like Barbara Kingsolver and Naomi Wallace appeared in its pages.
Sallie Bingham Award
The Sallie Bingham Award was created in 1996. It honors people and groups who have done great things. These are people who have helped change the lives of Kentucky women through art. Winners receive $500, a special Ginko pin, and a plaque. The award is given out at KFW Day. This is an annual event held each fall at Hopscotch House.
Past Award Recipients
- Mary Jefferson, author
- Alma Lesch, textile artist
- Ann Stewart Anderson, visual artist
- Laverne Zabielski, author
- Nana Yaa Asantewaa, storyteller
- Pat Buster, poet and longtime KFW staff member
- Lorna Littleway, theatre artist
- Kentucky Feminist Writers Series, Elizabeth Oakes and Jane Olmsted, editors
- Kentucky Women Writers Conference
- Judy Sizemore, poet
- Carridder Jones, author
- Gail Burrus Martin, activist and KFW board member
See also
