June 1, 2026
Dear friends of the arts,
As the Kentucky Arts Council prepares for a new fiscal year, we find ourselves reflecting on an inspiring season of work in support of the arts across the commonwealth. We’ve completed our busy panel season and will present recommendations to the Board of Directors later this month. It has been encouraging to see so many strong applications for our programs this year, and we look forward to sending out award letters as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, we are accepting applications for the Kentucky Peer Advisory Network (KPAN) through June 30th. Whether your organization is strengthening leadership, planning a festival, improving marketing efforts, or developing a long-term vision, KPAN offers short-term technical assistance tailored to your needs. Consultancies may be scheduled for one day or over a period of time. Consultancy fees are paid by the Kentucky Arts Council.
While much of our focus this year has been on planning for the future, our 60th anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the work that brought us here. Since the Kentucky Arts Council was established in 1966, we have worked alongside artists, organizations and communities to expand access to the arts across the commonwealth. From the growth of folk and traditional arts programming and community-based initiatives in the 1970s and 1980s to the establishment of the Kentucky Crafted Program in 1982, the arts council’s story has always been one of creativity, connection and service to Kentucky.
The Kentucky Arts Council is also accepting nominations for the 2027–2028 Kentucky Poet Laureate, one of the commonwealth’s highest literary honors. Appointed by the Governor to serve a two-year term, the Kentucky Poet Laureate acts as a literary ambassador, celebrating and promoting the rich tradition of storytelling and writing in Kentucky. In keeping with the position’s broad literary scope, nominations are welcomed for accomplished writers in poetry, fiction, biography, creative nonfiction, playwriting and other literary forms. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 3, with the next Kentucky Poet Laureate to be introduced in April 2027.
For six decades, the Kentucky Arts Council has supported artists, strengthened communities, and championed the value of creativity across Kentucky. As we look toward the future, we remain committed to ensuring the arts continue to thrive in every corner of the commonwealth for generations to come.
Chris Cathers
Executive Director
Kentucky Arts Council
Episode 66: Folklife and Community Scholars
Coming events
Books In Progress Conference June 5-June 6 at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning
REcreation: A Retroactive Exhibit Spanning 30 Years June 5-July 17 at Lexington Art League
Memory Cafe June 9, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Art Center of the Bluegrass, Danville
The Queer Literary Hoedown June 10, 7 p.m. at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning
Come Sing x City Parks with Jeri Katherine Howell June 17, Leslie Morris Park (Fort Hill), Frankfort
Bernheim CONNECT Call for Creatives June 30, Bernheim Forest & Arboretum, Clermont
Gallery in the Garden July 10, 5-10 p.m., Oak Hill Gardens, London
Camp Carnegie July 13-30, Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, Lexington
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory July 17-26, Lexington Children’s Theatre
Minnie Adkins Day July 18, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Little Sandy Lodge, Sandy Hook