FRANKFORT, Ky. — An announcement that 107 nonprofit arts organizations across the commonwealth will benefit from more than $1.2 million in funding in the 2024 fiscal year through the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Arts Partnership (KAP) grant.
The KAP grant provides nonprofit arts organizations with unrestricted operating support to ensure that year-round participation in the arts is available to the people of Kentucky.
In fiscal year 2023, the Kentucky Arts Council awarded over $1.1 million to 100 nonprofit arts organizations. In turn, those organizations provided approximately 3.7 million unique arts experiences and collectively leveraged more than $81 million in additional funding. Funding for Kentucky Arts Partnership grants comes from the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“This grant funding will afford much-needed support to the nonprofit arts organizations across Kentucky, allowing them to continue to provide valuable artistic experiences,” said Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “We are proud to support these organizations and look forward to seeing the ongoing positive impact they provide throughout the Commonwealth.”
Support from grants like KAP is important to organizations like Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, which executive director Lexie Millikan said costs $12,000 a month to keep the doors open. Yeiser Art Center received $3,580 in KAP funding.
“In October, we received $2,796 in revenue from membership renewals, sponsorships, gift shop sales and Lower Town Arts & Music Festival vendor applications,” Millikan said. “Kentucky Arts Council funding, along with community support through donations and sponsorships, is vital to our organization.”
“The Kentucky Arts Partnership organizations do the heavy lifting for the arts in their communities, and we are grateful for their hard work and passion to serve, educate and invigorate the commonwealth,” said Kentucky Arts Council Executive Director Chris Cathers. “These grants will help them continue their work growing Kentucky’s arts infrastructure.”
Kentucky nonprofit arts organizations that provide year-round arts programs and opportunities can apply for general operating support funds through Feb. 15. Grants to qualified organizations will support operating costs such as salaries and arts program expenses incurred between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
The competitive grants are awarded annually. A full list of organizations that received funding for the 2024 fiscal year can be found on the arts council website.
