Celebrating 40 Years of
Public Support for the
Arts
The Kentucky Arts Council joins the National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA) in celebrating 40th Anniversaries. When the NEA was created
in 1965, the partnership between federal and state arts agencies was born. In
addition to its own direct grants, the Arts Endowment began to fund state arts
agencies, allowing them to disperse federal funding to state and local arts
agencies. In 1965, only a few state arts agencies existed. In response to the
NEA offer to every state of a $50,000 matching grant, the Kentucky Arts
Commission was created by executive order of Governor Edward T. Breathitt. The
following year, 1966, the General Assembly passed legislation establishing the
Kentucky Arts Commission. The enabling legislation stated its purpose: "to
develop a broadly conceived state policy of support for the art in
Kentucky."
Over the 40 years, the opportunities to participate in
the arts have grown exponentially. From the national perspective, there are now
56 state arts agencies, including all the states and territories. Collectively
they sponsor the work of over 2 million artists and nearly 16,000 non-profit
arts organizations. State arts agencies provide more than half of all
public-sector funding for the arts in America.
In Kentucky, the Arts Council awards over 500 matching
grants annually to artists, schools, libraries, community organizations and
arts organizations totaling $3.3 million to develop vibrant communities,
provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1
in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15
in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and
other levels of government.
Since that meager beginning in 1965, the Kentucky Arts
Council has been the guiding force for building an arts infrastructure that is
supportive of artists, inclusive of all Kentuckians and integrated into
education and community life. For this we celebrate 40 years of public support
for the arts.
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