Last night, the newly formed James Baker Hall Foundation held their initial event at The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Kentucky. The event included an announcement of the James Baker Hall Book Award and partnerships with the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County and the nascent Bullitt County Artist Guild.

Foundation President, Lawrence Pemble and Director Michael Hall announced the establishment of the James Baker Hall Book Award which will be given out yearly. “Our intention is to grow the James Baker Hall Book Award into a top tier literary award,” stated Hall. “Kentucky writers have held a reputation extending far beyond the borders of our commonwealth for over 150 years. We want to support the next generation of great Kentucky writers. We will guide and encourage emerging writers to pursue their art, providing them with space to create where their creativity is valued and supported. We believe creating art is a sacred act.”

The two county outreach programs announced will also directly support more young writers. The Hindman Settlement School is the seedbed of the Appalachian literary tradition, and founder of the Appalachian Writers Workshop. In 2022, they expanded to address young writers by creating the Ironwood Writers Studio and the Visiting Writers Residencies for Appalachian high school students. The James Baker Hall Foundation will provide funding to the program initially for three years to increase the number of high schools and students participating.

The second outreach partnership with the Bullitt County Artist Guild and their creative writing program in the Bullitt County Detention Center is based on the groundbreaking work of poet, activist, and educator Bobbi Buchanan. The program has had life-changing results for many participants and the foundation is excited to see it continue and grow. The James Baker Hall Foundation will provide funding to the program and associated initiatives including an arts center and training programs for approaching incarcerated populations with therapeutic writing tools.

“We are looking to help other organizations in Kentucky with successful models to support writers. We want to help them help as many writers as they can. These are important voices we need to hear. My father would be very pleased with the steps we have taken today.”