The Golden Thread: 10 Years of Rural-Urban Exchange

The Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (KY RUX) has been building connections to bring Kentuckians together for a decade! Join us in celebrating this milestone at the Kentucky Center for the Arts for The Golden Thread.

The Golden Thread is an annual forum gathering visionary leaders from various sectors to foster unity across cultures and communities in the Commonwealth. October 19th is National Kentucky Day, and so we're excited to present a showcase of some of Kentucky's best arts and ideas.

This year, Secretary of State Michael Adams and other special guests will talk about Kentucky’s civic health and the importance of working together. They will be joined by onstage performances by Amy Roblero Perez (KY Youth Poet Laureate, Bardstown), an Appalachian folk collaboration between dancer Carla Gover and musician Randy Wilson, and a collaboration with members of the contemporary dance company Pones Inc. (Highland Heights) and the three-piece art rock band Producing A Kind Generation (Louisville).

The heart of the celebration is the "Long Conversation," a relay of short, unmoderated conversations stitched together by themes of commonality and a shared future. This year, the event will be emceed by Chad Benefield (WBKR, Owensboro), and will bring together Jen Algire (Greater Clark Foundation, Winchester), John Bowman (Dream.org, Louisa), Victor Calderon (Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Louisville), Crystal Fox (Mayfield Minority Enrichment Center, Mayfield), Val Horn (Cowan Community Action Group, Whitesburg), Richie Kessler (Forever Green River, Campbellsville), Lamont “Jack” Pearley (African American Folklorist Magazine, Bowling Green), and Dan Wu (Vice Mayor & Council At-Large, Lexington).

These speakers will be joined by our membership network of more than 300 Kentuckians from 65 counties. Together, we will tell the story of our progress in building relationships and collaborations across Kentucky's geographic, racial, and economic divides. Alongside these experiences, we'll host an unprecedented, agenda-setting conversation with some of Kentucky’s luminaries on the potential to advance this cause in the coming decade.

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New this year: The Gold Standard Reception

Attendees have an option to add “The Gold Standard Reception” to their ticket package. The Gold Standard Reception will feature a closed cocktail hour from 3-4 PM ahead of the event with select speakers and performers, and will include a What Chef's Want Kentucky Proud menu with culinary expressions by Chef James Coogle of the Chef’s Table and Lexus Lounge, hosted beverages from West Sixth Brewery and Maker’s Mark, and an exclusive performance with Appalatin musicians Yani Vozos, Marlon Obando, and Steve Sizemore.

The Golden Thread is presented by the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange and Kentucky Performing Arts, with support from Louisville Public Media and many others.

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We invite you to join us. Save your seat today!