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Deadline March 31, 2026

Kentucky Touring Grant

The Kentucky Touring Grant is a matching grant that helps make quality public performances available to the people of the commonwealth. This program provides presenters with support to book dance, music, theatre, and storytelling performers from the Kentucky Arts Council Performing Artists Directory.

Deadline April 30, 2026

Creative Chapters Library Program

The Creative Chapters Library Program (CCLP) grant supports hands-on, sequential lifelong learning opportunities in Kentucky public libraries by funding residencies with artists from the Kentucky Arts Council Teaching Artists Directory. Librarians and artists work in partnership to design and implement the residencies, which may be focused on a specific artistic discipline or explore educational pairings.

LONG SHOT

2026 Governor’s Derby Exhibit

Inspired by the spirit of the Kentucky Derby, the 2026 exhibit invites artists to explore the idea of the “Long Shot.” Artworks should explore the ideas of risk, resilience, and the dreamers who remind us that anything can happen between the gate and the finish line. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly, considering moments of courage, unexpected triumph, perseverance against the odds, and the bold act of believing in possibility.

Webinars and Online Workshops

Creative industry Summit Series

The Kentucky Arts Council hosts webinars and online workshops featuring notable Kentucky artists, best practices for arts organizations, artist professional development, and more.

Kentucky Touring Grant
Creative Chapters Library Program
2026 Governor’s Derby Exhibit
Creative industry Summit Series

Open Programs & Grants

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Application Deadline:

Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant

The Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grant provides up to $4,000 for a Kentucky mentor traditional artist to teach skills, practices and culture to a less experienced artist from the same community during the course of a year.

Application Deadline:

Kentucky Touring Grant

The Kentucky Touring Grant is a matching grant that helps make quality public performances available to the people of the commonwealth. This program provides presenters with support to book dance, music, theatre, and storytelling performers from the Kentucky Arts Council Performing Artists Directory.

Application Deadline:

Arts Miles Program Grant

This grant program enables Kentucky teachers and schools to provide their students with high quality arts experiences by funding transportation to programs provided by organizations in the Arts Miles Directory. Schools may apply for a grant based on the roundtrip mileage from their building to the facility and driver’s pay for up to two buses per field trip. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis between October and March as funding permits.

Note: The Arts Miles Grant is a reimbursement program. Approved awards will not be paid until the field trip has been completed and the final report has been submitted.

We believe the arts should be accessible to all Kentuckians.

The Kentucky Arts Council is the state arts agency and is responsible for developing and promoting support for the arts in Kentucky. The mission of the Kentucky Arts Council is to foster environments for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in, and benefit from the arts.

Upcoming Events

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April 1, 2026

Reading Between the Lines: Common Contract Traps for Individuals in the Creative Sector

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