Programs

The Kentucky Arts Rising (KAR) grant program provides support for Kentucky-based arts and cultural organizations, with an average annual revenue of less than $100,000, whose primary mission is to provide Kentuckians with year-round arts programming.

Applicants with average annual revenue of $100,000 or more must apply for Kentucky Arts Partnership (KAP) https://artscouncil.ky.gov/program/kentucky-arts-partnership-grant/, which is designed for larger organizations.

The Individual Artist Fellowship is a highly competitive $7,500 award given to working, professional Kentucky artists who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work. Fellowships are based upon the quality of the work samples submitted by the artist. Fellowship awards are unrestricted and may be used in any way to enhance the artist's career.

The FY2027 Individual Artist Fellowship is open in Literary Arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and play/screenwriting).

Arts Access Assistance (AAA) supports arts programming for underserved populations based on a specific, timely theme that changes with every grant cycle. The arts council is currently accepting AAA proposals for $2,500 or $5,000 that incorporate arts-based strategies to enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities in the commonwealth.

The Arts Miles Directory connects preschool-12th grade schools with field trip destinations that provide high quality artistic experiences. Schools must choose destinations from the Arts Miles Directory when applying for Arts Miles Grant funding. Approved organizations will be in the Arts Miles Directory for three years before requiring reapproval.

The Performing Artists Directory is an adjudicated roster of professional Kentucky performing artists who have an established performance history. It is a marketing program that offers roster artists professional development and a variety of opportunities to promote their performance work, including a detailed entry in the online directory. In addition, the directory is used by in-state and out-of-state presenters and others as a resource for identifying artists for performance bookings and projects. (The Kentucky Arts Council does not provide artist management.)

The Teaching Artists Directory is an online directory of Kentucky artists who produce high quality artistic work and have the skills and competencies needed to work with teachers and students in designing and implementing arts education programs.

The Kentucky Peer Advisory Network consists of arts professionals on the Kentucky Peer Advisory directory available to provide six-hour consultancies to assist eligible organizations and individual artists with board development, grant writing, marketing and promotions, strategic planning, festival planning and other activities. Consultancies may be scheduled for one day or over a period of time. Consultancy fees are paid by the Kentucky Arts Council. 

Kentucky Crafted is an adjudicated program that provides assistance to Kentucky visual and craft artists through marketing, promotional opportunities and arts business training. Visual and craft artists must jury into the program to become eligible for the Kentucky Crafted Market and other sponsored events.

The Kentucky Arts Council coordinates the presentation of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, which recognize individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary and significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the Kentucky Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation.