Collecting Creativity: Pairing Carl the Collector with Ability-Inclusive Art Activities

The Kentucky Arts Council will offer a free Creative Industry Summit Series on Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. Eastern. Presented in partnership with Kentucky Education Television and Arts for All, this session features “Carl the Collector,” a PBS KIDS series that celebrates the many ways children think, learn, communicate, and express themselves—while building confidence and … Continued

Gov. Beshear: Kentucky Arts Council Awards $1.2 Million in Grants to Nonprofits

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 112 nonprofit arts organizations across the commonwealth will benefit from more than $1.2 million in funding in the 2026 fiscal year through the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Arts Partnership (KAP) grant.  “The arts are essential to Kentucky, our people and our future. Not … Continued

Kentucky Crafted Market: an invitation to wholesale buyers

Dear Wholesale Buyer,  We look forward to welcoming you to the 2026 Kentucky Crafted Market, the premier wholesale buying event for Kentucky-made art, craft and specialty products. This year’s wholesale buyer’s day will take place March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.    The Kentucky Crafted Market … Continued

Carrying Traditions Forward: Foodways, Foraging, and Folk Healing in Kentucky 

The Kentucky Arts Council will host a free webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 11 a.m. Eastern, featuring two traditional artists whose work reflects foodways, foraging, and folk healing practices rooted in eastern and central Kentucky.  This online narrative stage highlights Linelle Rivera Rodriguez and Yani Vozos, both participants in the Kentucky Arts Council’s Folk … Continued

Applications open for new Kentucky Arts Rising Grant  

The Kentucky Arts Council is now accepting applications for the new Kentucky Arts Rising (KAR) Grant, a program created to support small, community-based arts and cultural organizations that provide year-round arts programming for Kentuckians. Kentucky Arts Rising offers $1,500 in operational support to help strengthen and sustain grassroots arts organizations with limited operating budgets. This … Continued

The Kentucky Arts Council Welcomes New Kentucky Crafted Artists

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 10, 2025) – The Kentucky Arts Council has accepted 26 new artists into its prestigious Kentucky Crafted program. The Kentucky Crafted initiative supports visual and craft artists with business training, networking, exhibitions and promotional opportunities to help grow their small businesses.   The program offers participants the chance to showcase their work at … Continued

Emerging Artist Award Recipients FY 2026

Kentucky Arts Council is happy to announce the Emerging Artist Award recipients for Fiscal Year 2026.

Individual Artist Fellowship Recipients FY 2026

Kentucky Arts Council is happy to announce the Individual Artist Fellowship recipients for Fiscal Year 2026.

The Kentucky Arts Council Board to Meet Dec. 5

The board meeting will be held in-person at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea. FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 3, 2025) — The Kentucky Arts Council fourth quarter board meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon ET, December 5 at the Kentucky Artisan Center, 200 Artisan Way, Berea, KY 40403.   The meeting will be simulcast … Continued

The Kentucky Arts Council Awards $466,000 in America250KY Grants

Funding will support 39 arts organizations and 16 artists across the commonwealth FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2025) – Building on the momentum of the New Kentucky Home initiative and the commonwealth’s commitment to commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, the Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) has awarded $466,000 to support artists, arts organizations, communities and cultural institutions in … Continued

Good Acoustics: Sound Fundamentals so You Sound Great

Professional sound expert Heath Eric will share the fundamentals of audio reinforcement to ensure that performers sound their best during live performances. The webinar will include advice on running your own sound from the stage, easy tech setups, and tips and tricks for professional sound.

Arts Access Assistance Grants: Application now open!

The Kentucky Arts Council is now accepting applications for the Arts Access Assistance (AAA) grant, a program designed to support arts and health programming. The arts council is seeking proposals that use arts-based strategies to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and communities, aligning with the goals of Our Healthy Kentucky Home. Grants of … Continued

2025 Education Award: Wilma Bethel

For more than 50 years, Wilma Johnson Bethel has shared her passion for art and creativity with generations of Kentucky students. A native of Mount Sterling, Bethel discovered her love of art at an early age, inspired by a family of makers. From early lessons in observation and imitation, she developed a lifelong belief that every person possesses the spark of creativity.

2025 National Award: Teddy Abrams

Grammy Award-winning conductor, composer, and musical visionary Teddy Abrams is now entering his twelfth season as Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra. Abrams has transformed the ensemble into a national model for artistic innovation, community engagement, and creative renewal.   “By bringing new works to life in collaboration with local musicians from many genres, Abrams is … Continued

2025 Artist Award: Sam McKinney

Kentucky sculptor Sam McKinney has shaped the artistic landscape of the commonwealth. A native of eastern Kentucky, McKinney’s work reflects a profound reverence for the natural world and for the Appalachian region that has inspired him throughout his life. His career stands as a testament to both artistic mastery and enduring dedication to the craft.  

2025 Milner Award: Steve Wilson & Laura Lee Brown

Entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and champions of contemporary art and Kentucky culture, Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown have redefined how art can intersect with community, hospitality, and conservation. Wilson and Brown have become leading benefactors for cultural and environmental organizations across Kentucky and beyond.  Their work continues to inspire new generations to imagine what’s possible when … Continued

2025 Community Arts Award: Owensboro Art Guild

Founded in the early 1960s by a group of artists and educators seeking connection and shared purpose, the Owensboro Art Guild began with a simple idea: to support one another and to present high-quality art to the public. That vision gave rise to its first juried exhibition in 1963, held in a vacant house on … Continued

2025 Folk Heritage Award: Lakshmi Sriraman

An accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, educator, and visual artist, Lakshmi Sriraman has spent her life preserving and reimagining the traditional arts of South India while enriching Kentucky’s cultural landscape. Through performance, teaching, and community engagement, she has become a bridge between ancient artistic traditions and contemporary expression, embodying the transformative power of art as both a spiritual and social force. 

Applications are open for New Arts Education Grant Program

The Kentucky Arts Council is now accepting applications for the new Creative Chapters Library Program Grant. The Creative Chapters Library Program (CCLP) Grant enables public libraries to implement artist residencies in their year-round schedules. Librarians and artists work in partnership to design and implement the residencies. Proposed residencies may be focused on a specific artistic discipline or explore educational pairings such … Continued

Free Webinar! Kentucky Folklife Magazine: Stories of Community Scholars

The Kentucky Arts Council will host a free webinar on Wed., Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. Eastern/10 a.m. Central featuring stories from the newest issue of Kentucky Folklife Digital Magazine, a publication of the Kentucky Folklife Program. This Creative Industry Summit Series webinar features Yolantha Harrison-Pace of Boyle County and Brenda Bear of Lewis County, … Continued

Free Webinar! Arts Education Milestones: How the Standards Direct the Path

Join Academic Program Consultant Jessica Greene to take a closer look at the Anchor Standards and their unifying elements. Participants will reflect on their own personal milestones in music education. Process components and their purpose as actionable milestones for students will also be explored.

Free Webinar! Advocacy Strategies for Kentucky Investment in the Arts

Join Kentuckians for the Arts board chair Lori Meadows for this important webinar designed to equip nonprofit arts and creative organizations across Kentucky with the tools and strategies needed to advocate effectively.

Governor’s Derby Exhibit is now open!

The 2025 Governor’s Derby Exhibit is now open in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. The work of 44 artists from across Kentucky, curated by the Kentucky Arts Council, will be on display through May 29. The exhibit, which carries the theme “Spring is Here,” opened April 30. Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. … Continued

Kentucky Touring Grant application now open

The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting applications for the FY2026 Kentucky Touring Grant (KYT), a matching grant supporting public performances statewide. The grant helps presenters book performers from the council’s Performing Artists Directory. 

Free Webinar! Confidently Teaching Creativity

Feb. 27, 2025, 10 a.m. Eastern  Discover the process of creating impactful art experiences in schools. Artist Grace Henderson will share her journey of becoming a Kentucky Arts Council teaching artist, and the many things she has learned along the way. Topics will include building connections with educators, designing effective lesson plans, preparing for a residency day, and managing the operational tasks of running a small business. About the Presenter Grace Henderson lives … Continued

Press Release: 28 New Artists Join the Kentucky Crafted Program 

Team Kentucky has accepted 28 new artists into its prestigious Kentucky Crafted program.

June 2024 Board Minutes

2024 Community Arts Award – Individual: Jeffrey A. Reed

Jeffrey A. Reed, music director of Orchestra Kentucky since its founding in 2000, blends classical and popular music, creating authentic experiences that celebrate the soundtracks of music’s greatest decades. His programming spans from the 17th century to the present, honoring milestones and anniversaries of composers such as Beethoven, Mahler, and Stravinsky, alongside icons like Elvis, … Continued

2024 Community Arts Award – Organization: Yes Arts

Founded in 2016, Yes Arts is a community-focused organization dedicated to providing high-quality, low-cost, or subsidized arts programming. By partnering with local artists and community organizations, Yes Arts aims to mobilize the power of community and the arts to disrupt the cycle of addiction and support those at risk of substance use disorders. Yes Arts … Continued

2024 Artist Award: Gregory Turay

Internationally acclaimed tenor Gregory Turay has captivated audiences around the globe with his powerful voice and remarkable artistry. With a career spanning over 20 years, Turay has earned some of the highest accolades in the opera world, establishing himself as a leading figure in the genre. Turay’s repertoire includes many of opera’s most beloved roles, … Continued

2024 Milner Award: Mark Lenn Johnson

Mark Lenn Johnson is the president of Art Inc. Kentucky, a nonprofit arts incubator dedicated to supporting emerging artists across the state. Under his leadership, Art Inc. has transformed from a visionary concept into a thriving brick-and-mortar reality in Lexington’s East End. The organization provides professional development assistance, offering entrepreneurial classes covering a range of … Continued

2024 Award Artist: Yoko Nogami

The 2024 Governor Awards in the Arts commissioned artworks were created by Yoko Nogami, an interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Currently residing in Letcher County, Kentucky, she is a prominent advocate for arts education and accessibility. Nogami serves as the Cultural Arts & Education Director with Cowan Community Action Group, Inc., while … Continued