2020 Local Arts Agency and Statewide Service Organization General Program Support

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.

• Director of Community Arts Development, Tennessee Arts Commission
• Directs the Arts Build Communities & Creative Placemaking grant programs and administers operating and project support grants for local arts agencies, presenters, and arts centers
• Previously, Chair, Community Development Network, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies; and Arts Learning Coordinator, Ohio Arts Council
• B.A., Communication and Art, Trinity University and completed coursework towards a M.A. in Policy and Administration, The Ohio State University

• Director of Grants, Louisiana Division of the Arts
• Four years of experience overseeing all grant programs for the Louisiana Division of the Arts, including the implementation of three new online grant systems; previous work experience includes non-profit and corporate management, grant writing, tourism and economic development
• B.S., Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi
  

• Program Director, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
• Oversees the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts and serves as Program Director for Entry Track, Local Arts, Presenting, and Theatre disciplines
• Former Director of Development, Habitat for Humanity serving in both Berks and Lancaster counties; Program Manager, Berks Arts Council; Festival Director of the Greater Reading Film Festival; and Senior Advertising Consultant with the Journal Register Company
• Board member of the Greater Reading Young Professionals and was a member of the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce
• Studied communication design at Kutztown University

• Local Arts Advancement Program Manager at Americans for the Arts
• Develops Americans for the Arts’ comprehensive full-career-spectrum field education offerings to advance competent and informed local, regional and national arts professionals 
• Previous Program Manager for Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA)
• Master of Science Degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University; Bachelor of Music Degree with a concentration in clarinet performance at Towson University