Copious Notes

At its June meeting, the board of the Kentucky Arts Council drafted a resolution regarding artist pay.

“The Kentucky Arts Council believes that artists should be fairly compensated for their work,” the resolution stated. “Requests for donations for artwork, performances or products, and other business practices not in keeping with the Kentucky Arts Council values statement, are not supported by this state agency.”

Arts Council spokesman Ed Lawrence said the resolution was in response to artists persistently being asked to donate work and feeling uncomfortable saying no to such requests, particularly in the case of charitable causes.

The values statement about compensation says, “Gratis creative services and works, demonstrations, or performances should not be solicited as standard practice.”

In a news release, KAC executive director Lori Meadows said, “While this resolution seems to be stating the obvious, it is a constant challenge to educate the public and organizations that seek the services of artists, that workers in the creative industry should be paid as those in any other profession.”

Heather Parrish as Patsy Cline and Billy W.H. Mason as her guitarist in "Always . . . Patsy Cline." They are also in the band June July, which resumes gigs after "Cline" closes Aug. 2. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Herald-Leader staff.

Wednesday performances are unheard of at Studio Players, but that is what Always . . . Patsy Cline has pushed the Bell Court troupe to do.

After opening night, the theater which regularly presents performances Friday through Sunday, added Thursday shows July 23 and 30. That still left Studio with a 15-page waiting list, so it added shows Wednesdays, July 22 and 29. Studio board member Bob Singleton said those will probably be the last added performances and the wait list is currently closed because it is still so long. The show adds to what has been a very successful 2009 for Studio, which has had sell-outs and added performances for its previous three shows this year starting with The Last of Mrs. Lincoln in February.

Folks who don’t get in to see Patsy might want to check out June July, the band fronted by Heather Parrish who plays Cline and has several members in the Patsy Cline band. The group’s next show is 9 p.m. Aug. 21 at Natasha’s Bistro and Bar, 112 Esplanade, and Parrish says they will be doing some Patsy Cline tunes in their upcoming sets. Admission is $6, and if you miss that one, June July bassist Ethan Hayen says the band is getting swamped with booking requests, so you’ll probably see them around.