2028 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.

• Vice President of Strategy at South Arts, Atlanta, Georgia
• Previously, President, United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County; Executive Director, Raleigh Little Theatre; Managing Director, Joe's Movement Emporium; and Assistant Managing Director, Shakespeare Theatre Company
• 19 people of 2019, Indy Week; Hillsborough Street Hero, 2018; N&O's Tar Heel of the Week, March 2018; Triangle Business Journal's 40 under 40, 2014; and Leadership Raleigh, 2012-2013
• B.S., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Youth Services Manager, Orange County Library System, Orlando, Florida
• Previously, Assistant Manager, Orange County Library System; Assistant Director of AmeriCorps Programs, Heart of Florida United Way; Manager of VISTA School Volunteer Programs, Heart of Florida United Way; Manager of Community Participation (Volunteer Engagement), Heart of Florida United Way
• Facilitated a grant-funded outreach program that targeted specific communities in Orange County; the program partnered with community organizations to supply new book titles to youth in order to promote a love of reading (2021-2022)
• Co-chaired a ""Summer Donations Committee"" charged with collecting donations from community partners; in-kind and cash donations valued at over one million dollars received over four years to support prizes and incentives for library summer reading programs (2019-2022)
• M.P.A, focus on non-profit management, Evergreen State College; B.S., Small Business Management and Marketing, Florida State University

• Arts & Business Council of Miami, Executive Director, Miami, Florida
• Previously, Development Director at Florida Repertory Theatre
• Association of Fundraising Professionals & Planned Giving Council of Lee County
• B.A., University of Michigan in Business Psychology & Business Communications, M.A., University of Michigan in Performing Arts Administration