AGP Executive Report

Immersive Art: BLINK has lit up Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for its 10th year, with installations across more than 30 blocks. A giant, colorful unicorn at The Banks is already drawing crowds; 90 artists were selected from more than 800 submissions. Kentucky Music: My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel looks back on the Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton and the band’s seven-night Fillmore run. Louisville Events: The World’s Largest Bourbon Festival starts Friday, bringing a major celebration of Kentucky’s bourbon culture to Louisville. Coming Up: Historic Eleutherian College’s Oct. 17 fall gathering in Lancaster will pair tours and local history with live music, including original songs by Tabitha Tolbert and Kyla Renae.

Immersive Art: BLINK lights up Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Oct. 8–11, with more than 80 installations, murals and projections across 30 blocks. The free festival also features a night market and drone shows. Film & TV: Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers received the Motion Picture Association’s 2026 Industry Champion Award for supporting film and television production in the state. A feature film is also seeking paid extras in Northern Kentucky. Visual Arts: An Owensboro Convention Center exhibit puts a local artist’s work in the spotlight. Live Entertainment: Aaron Tippin will headline the first outdoor concert at The Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs. Kentucky Opera’s Ben Robinson offers a behind-the-scenes look at The Barber of Seville, while a Bowling Green theater production, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, earns a new review.

Owensboro Art: Frederica Diane Huff’s “Near & Far – An Artist’s Travel Journal” has opened at the Owensboro Convention Center, bringing together work inspired by places from Churchill Downs to the Nile. Art & Conversation: Owensboro-born artist Isaac “Ike” Moody will discuss and sign his new book, Drawn Through, Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. Northern Kentucky Arts: BLINK is lighting up the Covington-Cincinnati area with large-scale installations and events, including a glow run that gave visitors an early look at the art. On Stage: A Bowling Green theater’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is drawing notice for its queer themes and over-the-top style. Kentucky Stories: The latest Kentucky Life spotlights a revived dormant kiln, Maysville history and hand-printed literature; Louisville also welcomes an exhibit honoring the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

BLINK Festival: Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s free, four-day art and projection festival opens Oct. 8, with more than 80 projections, murals and installations across five zones, including Covington. Kentucky Craft & History: This week’s Kentucky Life visits potters reviving a long-dormant kiln, explores Simon Kenton’s story and meets artisans printing Kentucky literature by hand. Stage & Storytelling: Bowling Green’s queer theater production Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is drawing attention, while Guardian Spirit: The Words of bell hooks comes to the Alhambra Theatre on Oct. 16. Kentucky Music: JD Shelburne returns to the Sorghum Festival stage, and Sam Bush is scheduled at the Alhambra on Oct. 16. Local Fashion: A new profile spotlights Samantha Jean Moore, the artist and designer behind Kentucky sustainable fashion brand MOCOCO.

Arts & Community: Notta Gallery turned Lakeland into a night of mystery with “Masks, Murder & Mischief,” an interactive, clue-filled murder story that had guests questioning everyone around them. Arts & Health: UK’s Markey Cancer Center is rolling out wire-free EnVisio breast surgery tech, plus Lee Anne Pope’s “Set Your Screen” campaign urging Kentuckians to talk screenings with providers. Music & Local Culture: Springfield’s 50th Sorghum Festival kept the streets buzzing, with JD Shelburne returning to the stage and the weekend packed with food, exhibits, and performances. Arts Education: UK theatre-and-dance faculty are leading “Move to Connect,” using creative movement and personal storytelling to build mental-health programming across Kentucky. Nature & Outdoors: Copperhead birthing season is winding down in western Kentucky, with experts urging people to avoid misidentifying similar snakes. Sports (Kentucky focus): Kentucky eyes a Top 25 return at home against No. 10 LSU after the Wildcats’ overtime win over South Carolina. Local Notes: Nelson County’s electronics recycling runs through Oct. 9, and St. Gregory Parish hosts a Red Cross blood drive Oct. 11.

Kentucky Arts & Culture: Ayé A. Aton returns to his earthly roots with a focused look at his West and Central African-inspired paintings, tracing how his work shifted from Sun Ra’s Afrofuturism toward more historically grounded mask imagery. Music & Film: R&B legend Freddie Jackson has died at 70, while Memphis filmmaker Jim Weter’s cosmic horror “Dreams of a Dead God” just won Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi at the Chicago Horror Film Festival. Community & Festivals: Mountain Grrl Experience heads to Coal Run Oct. 16-17 with music, food, local artisans, and resources for domestic violence survivors. Local Sports & Spotlight: Kentucky’s Dylan Stewart is back at practice after an indefinite suspension, with his status for Saturday at Florida still “day to day.” Outdoor Life: KDFWR’s updated fish and wildlife regulation amendments are now in effect, including new black bass limits and added lakes for the Fishing in Neighborhoods program. Business/Weather: Vortex Weather Insurance now offers instant parametric rain quotes for eligible Kentucky business risks via its online portal.

Immersive Art: BLINK returns to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with more than 80 public light and art installations across 30 city blocks, plus NKU students’ “Beyond the Bridge” TANK bus project in Covington. Local Arts & Education: EKU men’s basketball coach A.W. Hamilton launched his children’s book “Dream Big with coach A.W. Hamilton,” aiming to get copies into Madison County schools and all Kentucky elementary libraries. Music in Kentucky: Five students were selected for the Kentucky Music Teachers Association All-State Piano Ensemble at Campbellsville University. Horse-Themed Musical: “Dancer (A Musical in Ten Furlongs)”—about Northern Dancer—heads to a nearly month-long run in Toronto after workshops and Fringe success. Sports & Culture: Kentucky slipped out of the AP Top 25 despite an overtime win over South Carolina, while the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland will again be sponsored by Cygames. Community Events: Historic Candlelight Tour returns to Oak Dale Cemetery, and North Oldham students host an art sale to support Kentucky sexual violence programs.

Motorsports & Community: Will Ford, great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, talked about Ford’s inaugural “Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic,” tying the automaker’s WWII-era service to a new veterans-focused race. Food Safety: PepsiCo recalled 122,000+ cases of 28-oz Gatorade in 37 states, including Kentucky, because of undeclared Yellow No. 5/6 dyes (Class II; no illnesses reported). Arts & Events: BLINK Cincinnati returns across 30+ blocks in Cincinnati and NKY with new installations, a bigger opening celebration, and nightly drone shows. Local Sports Spotlight: Warren East golf coach Justin Spears won the 2026 Stewart Gregory Award, recognizing coaching that builds community and family leaders. Kentucky Football Moment: Will Stein’s Kentucky Wildcats stunned South Carolina 35-34 in overtime, a comeback that made UK history with two straight SEC road wins. Public Service: A Bowling Green restaurant will donate half of Monday dine-in sales to support Trooper Hayden Phillips’ family.

College Sports Shake-Up: Missouri’s rout of Florida sent the Tigers surging to No. 14 in the AP Top 25, while Florida fell to No. 16 and LSU moved into the top 10. Kentucky Volleyball: No. 7 Florida snapped Kentucky’s 28-game SEC streak with a 5-set win, using a late surge to close 15-8 in the deciding set. Kentucky Basketball Buzz: UK’s Big Blue Madness sold out Rupp Arena in 22 minutes, even as one recap questioned whether this year’s spectacle lived up to past mania. Music & Community: Louder Than Life drew 200,000+ to Louisville’s KEC for four days of rock and metal. Local Calendar: Bowling Green’s Love Your Parks Day is set for Oct. 14, with volunteers urged to bring gloves and a trash bag. Arts Spotlight: Monarch Artist Feature: Blakeley Burger is keeping Kentucky traditional fiddle music alive while pushing it forward through new collaborations. Film Casting Call: A feature film filming in Northern Kentucky (Nov. 2–Dec. 12) is seeking paid extras and stand-ins.

College Football (Kentucky angle): Missouri’s 45-17 rout of Florida sent the Tigers surging to No. 14 in the AP Top 25, while Alabama jumped to No. 6 after a 56-23 win over Mississippi State and Indiana slipped to No. 7 despite a 47-15 victory over Rutgers. Kentucky, which had been No. 24, dropped out after its overtime loss to South Carolina. Frankfort & Arts/Community: Frankfort will celebrate Tree Week Oct. 9-18 with events like a twilight hike and stargazing, an all-ages “tree art” club at Josephine Sculpture Park, and a Tree Trivia Night at Mortimer Bibb’s Pub. Music & Youth Performance: Johnson Central High School’s Honor Choir was selected to sing at the 2026 White House Holiday Open House, bringing two hours of Christmas music to the national stage. Public Space Design: Lexington’s StreetFest highlighted the city’s Complete Streets push, including “asphalt art” that helps slow traffic and make streets safer for everyone. Kentuckiana Underground Railroad: Kentuckiana Underground Railroad Project received Lilly Endowment Arts and Culture funding, with local leaders hoping it can grow into a regional learning and tourism destination.

Food Safety: Walmart and Trader Joe’s recalled frozen organic berries (Great Value blueberries and Triple Berry Blend; Trader Joe’s Mixed Berry Blend) due to possible E. coli contamination, with affected lots and “best if used by” dates spanning 2028; Kentucky is among the impacted states. Kentucky Sports: No. 24 Kentucky rallied from a 17-0 deficit to beat South Carolina 35-34 in overtime, with Kenny Minchey throwing for three TDs and hitting the winning two-point conversion to Willie Rodriguez; the win keeps the Wildcats rolling after a big road comeback. Local Community Policing: Owensboro Police is hosting “Cops & Bobbers” Tuesday, Oct. 6 (5-7 p.m.) at Jack C. Fisher Park, offering free fishing gear loaners, bait, and door prizes to help families connect with officers. Arts & Culture (Kentucky): Frankfort will kick off the American Discovery 250 Relay’s Southland leg on Oct. 13 with a send-off ceremony featuring music and family-friendly activities. Fashion & Crime (National): Bay Area clothing designer Bryan and Michelle Walker (Bryn Walker) were found dead after a shooting in Oakland Hills, according to reports.

Arts & Community Calendar: The Paul Sawyier Public Library’s Oct. 4–10 lineup spotlights family programming at Josephine Sculpture Park, an adult poetry night with Broadstone Books, and a Kentucky Chautauqua performance featuring “Loretta Lynn – Mem’ries of a Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Local Arts & Craft: Bardstown’s 45th annual Arts and Crafts Festival returns Oct. 10–11 with 250+ vendors, a kids’ area, and live music. Education/Workforce: Nelson County’s UP Center officially opened after renovations, bringing career and technical education programs (like automotive, welding, IT, and carpentry) to students and the community. Horse Racing: Roy H, the two-time Eclipse Award champion sprinter who retired at Kentucky Horse Park, died at 14. Public Safety: A gas station robbery suspect was arrested in Boyd County. Arts Journalism: Investigative reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski spoke at UK’s Joe Creason Lecture on reporting with vulnerable sources. Weather/Weekend Sports: Kentucky heads to South Carolina in SEC football with rain and storms possible around kickoff.

Music & Arts Calendar: Keeneland opened its fall 2026 season Friday, with guests in formalwear and a big fashion moment—plus plenty of non-bettors just there for the food and atmosphere. Local Music Spotlight: Hunter Jordan returns to Pike County this weekend for Beaver Oktoberfest (Oct. 3), after headlining the Pike County Fair earlier this summer. Arts & Entertainment Events: In Miamisburg, “Ghostbustin’ in the Burg” brings Ghostbusters movie screenings, slime, ghost tours, and an Ecto-1-style car show to the Plaza Theatre Oct. 10–11. Community & Culture: Kentucky Opera and other arts groups keep building momentum across the region, while BLINK’s massive entertainment expansion in Covington is gearing up for 2026. Sports (for the arts crowd): Highlands’ football dominance over Covington Catholic and Kentucky volleyball’s SEC win streak are driving weekend buzz. Food & Community: Publix opens its first Owensboro store Saturday at Gateway Commons, with a big community donation to Tri-State Food Bank.

Kentucky Arts & Film: Kentucky Film Office exec director Meg Fister returns home with a mission to make the Commonwealth a bigger destination for filmmakers and Kentucky stories. Local Music: Grant County singer-songwriter Taylor Henry talks about his new album “the first one that is truly mine,” “Evergreen,” and the influences that shaped it. Theater & Culture: UK Opera Theatre launches a Civil War-era song cycle, “Rappahannock County,” kicking off its new season. Community Arts: The Route 66 Centennial Celebration ART Quilt Project lands at the History Museum on the Square (Oct. 7–Nov. 8), using fiber art to tell road-trip stories. Sports-Adjacent Entertainment: “Twilight of the Dead,” billed as George A. Romero’s final zombie chapter, wrapped filming in Kentucky and is led by Kate Beckinsale. Sports Spotlight: Kentucky’s SEC road game at South Carolina (Oct. 4) is set for 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network.

Public Safety Tech: Lexington and partners, with Gov. Andy Beshear’s backing, are launching “Restart a Heart: Lexington” to map 1,000+ AEDs across Lexington/Fayette on the PulsePoint system so devices show up to 911 dispatchers during sudden cardiac arrest. Local Politics & Community: Daviess County Farm Bureau hosted candidate forums for the 8th District Senate seat and judge-executive race, while McCracken County BOE voted to join a multi-district social media lawsuit tied to student harm claims. Arts & Culture: BLINK 2026 is set to light up Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky next week, with new light installations, murals, and big kickoff events. Music Spotlight: Wynonna Judd’s upcoming album The Hard Truth is framed as her most personal work yet, co-written with husband Cactus Moser. Sports (Kentucky ties): Murray High marked Jared Rosa’s 200th coaching win as the Tigers handled business at home, and Kentucky’s No. 1 Frankfort chased a local win streak record.

Arts & Museums: Louisville’s Speed Art Museum welcomes Kathleen V. Jameson as its new director, returning a longtime art leader to guide the museum toward its 2027 centennial. Live Performance: Kentucky Opera’s Ben Robinson is back at the helm as general director and CEO, talking about what live opera can do in a world of “human on a phone” experiences. Sports (Kentucky ties): A judge cleared Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen for a fifth year after a long NCAA fight, a decision that could reshape the Gators’ season expectations. Community & Culture: Lexington’s data center moratorium is framed as a temporary pause—not a ban—aimed at updating local rules. Volleyball in Louisville: Nebraska is set to join Kentucky and other top programs at the inaugural AVCA Match Point in Louisville in April 2027. Local travel & fun: A “Red Hobbit” earth-sheltered stay in Campton is drawing attention as a whimsical Red River Gorge getaway. Business/Tech: Lexington managed IT provider Hensley/Elam says it completed its AI-enabled platform transition.