The Bluegrass Initiative Task Force announced on Wednesday they have enough private funding to hire a full-time director, a position designated to help bring attention to the city’s new self-proclaimed title of Bluegrass Music Capital of the World.
Paul Schiminger, former International Bluegrass Music Association executive director, has been serving as a part-time advisor to the task force. He said the new position would have several responsibilities ranging from working with local leaders and businesses to creating strategies to help launch the group’s initiative further.
“Not many cities have something this authentic, this legitimate, as Owensboro has. Being the Bluegrass Music Capital of the World is distinctive and we can build upon that,” Schiminger said.
Officials hope the new director will be able to bring more bluegrass music professionals and persuade them to move their businesses here — or at the least visit and take part in the economic growth of the city.
The ideal candidate will have some industry expertise in the bluegrass industry, officials said.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be on this journey and to see it progressing like it is and bringing us to this point today,” said Chris Joslin, director of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Joslin said that the director would not be employed by the Hall of Fame, but will be expected to work closely with the nonprofit.
“I think the task force feels like we need someone waking up every day working on this because you can think of a lot of great ideas in the boardroom. Somebody has to execute on that, someone has to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work every day,” Joslin said.
Applications are being accepted now, and Schiminger will be aiding the task force in hiring someone, according to Joslin.
