Following up on the success of its inaugural project in 2019, the NKY Chamber of Commerce has brought back the popular NKY Bourbon Barrel Walk, a public art project that features uniquely painted bourbon barrels placed throughout the Northern Kentucky region.
The 2022 project, a partnership between the chamber and The Catalytic Fund, debuted in July with more than 100 barrels custom painted by 69 local artists.
The barrels are located in the entertainment districts of Northern Kentucky’s riverfront cities and will remain in place through August 2023.
“The Northern Kentucky riverfront is, for many, the entry point to our great region. Given our rich bourbon history, the barrel walk is a perfect way to greet and acquaint visitors to the NKY Metro so they can experience all the wonderful things our river cities have to offer,” said NKY Chamber President Brent Cooper. “If the response to our 2019 event was any indication, this year’s Bourbon Barrel Walk should be a ‘spirited’ success, pun most definitely intended.”
The project got earlier this year underway, with area businesses being offered the opportunity to sponsor a barrel. Once the exhibit ends next year, the 83 sponsors can take possession of the barrel and have it moved to a location of their choice. (Sponsors are allowed to use images of the barrels in the marketing or promotional materials, but the artists retain rights to the images of the artwork, so images of the barrels cannot be sold.)
A map of the tour can be downloaded at nkyarttours.com/nky-bourbon-barrel-walk.
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