2019 Local Arts Agency & State Service Organization

Tamara Coffey has been with the Kentucky Arts Council for the past 20 years and currently serves as the arts program branch manager. She manages program staff and directs arts council programs including the Performing Artists Directory, the Kentucky Touring Grant, the Individual Artist Fellowships, the Emerging Artist Awards, the Kentucky Poet Laureate program, and Kentucky Writers’ Day. She previously managed the agency’s organizational support program. Prior to her work with the arts council, she was a middle school writing and English teacher for three years and worked with a professional touring theatre as a producing and administrative associate director for 11 years. She has also managed bookstores and worked in marketing and promotions. She holds an M.A. from Morehead State University in Morehead, KY, and a B.A. from Transylvania University in Lexington, KY.