The Kentucky Center was dedicated on November 19, 1983 after the Kentucky General Assembly and then-governor John Y. Brown forged the unique plan to establish a major public/private partnership to build the performing arts center just three years prior. The dedication gala took place in Whitney Hall with attendees Charlton Heston, Diane Sawyer and Lily Tomlin. The newly erected Kentucky Center gained national attention in 1984 when it hosted one of the presidential debates between Ronald Regan and Walter Mondale and then again in 1986 and 1988 when Lonesome Pine went international with 130 PBS stations across America and Channel 4 in England. For the past 29 years the Kentucky Center has been presenting the best quality performing arts in the state of Kentucky. This includes performances by the Kentucky Opera, The Louisville Theatrical Association’s Broadway Series, the Louisville Ballet, the Louisville Orchestra and Stage One. The Kentucky Center also initiated their ArtsReach Louisville program, bringing arts involvement and instruction to community centers throughout the city.