Arts Access Assistance (AAA) supports arts programming for underserved populations in the commonwealth. Grant proposals for fiscal year 2026 should incorporate arts-based strategies to enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities.  

Goals 

• Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations
• Use the arts to enrich lives
• Promote lifelong learning in the arts
• Increase participation in the arts

Specific theme goals include, but are not limited to:  

• Promoting mental health 
• Encouraging a sense of belonging 
• Responding to specific public health issue(s)
• Fostering resilience 
• Serving those in recovery from natural disasters 
• Serving those in recovery from trauma 
• Benefiting those in recovery from addiction 
• Encouraging social connectedness 
• Combating loneliness and isolation 
• Increasing community engagement 
• Encouraging physical activity 
• Mitigating health risks 
• Promoting health equity and addressing health disparities 
• Promote and provide access 
• Benefiting those in healthcare settings, including healthcare workers, caregivers and patients, and their families 

Deadline to apply: Jan. 12, 2026 

Grant period begins: April 1, 2026 

Grant period ends: Sept. 1, 2026 

Final report due: 30 days after completion; no later than Oct. 1, 2026 

The Arts Access Assistance Program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are:  

• arts and cultural organizations  

• organizations working with professional artists or partnering with arts and cultural organizations 

Proof of Eligibility 

Organizations must currently have, and maintain during the grant cycle, 501(c)(3) IRS tax-exempt status (or equivalent). Provide one of the following acceptable proofs of tax-exempt status. The name on the document must match the organization’s legal name provided on the application and must remain valid through the entire grant period: 

• IRS Determination Letter (or equivalent) that includes date of determination and FEIN.  

• Most recent IRS Form 990 cover page that includes FEIN and the legal name provided on the application. 

Applicants are encouraged to design and complete projects through partnerships with other artists and organizations. For example, an arts organization should have mutually beneficial partnerships  with the proper healthcare and social service organizations capable of addressing the chosen goals and that serve the population benefitting from the programming. A non-arts organization should partner with artists and arts organizations qualified in their discipline(s) and training to design and implement the arts activities proposed. If your project is a partnership, you will be asked to upload a mandatory letter of commitment from the partner and provide a sample of their artistic works or programmatic activities. 

Organizations may request either $2,500 or $5,000.  

Applicants must be registered with the Kentucky Vendor Registration system at the time of application, and the address associated with the vendor number must match that associated with the organization’s profile and grant agreement form. To register for or modify a free Kentucky Vendor Number, visit Kentucky’s Vendor Self-Service. 

Organizations must also provide a current, valid Unique Entity Identifier in their GO Smart profile. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character code used to identify entities registered to do business with the U.S. federal government, obtained through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). 

Funds may not be used for: 

• Indirect costs: Personnel, payroll, benefits, building utility costs, maintenance and grounds keeping, non-project-specific insurance costs, requests designed to reduce or eliminate existing deficits, interest on loans, fines, penalties and/or litigation costs, or other projects that would fall under an organization’s day-to-day operations 

• Fundraising events and other activities intended primarily for fundraising 

• Purchase of equipment, property, library holdings or acquisitions 

• Capital improvements, facility construction, structural renovations and restorations 

• Publications or recordings for commercial purposes 

• Scholarships or other activities related to academic credit or degrees 

• Food, beverages, or other refreshments 

• Expenses incurred before the starting date of the period covered in the grant request 

• Investments of any kind 

• Performances not available to the public 

• Programs that have sectarian purposes 

• The application of new artistic work to historic buildings or structures unless approved by the state historic preservation office as being in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (contact the Kentucky Heritage Council at 502-564-7005 or visit the Kentucky Heritage Council) (https://heritage.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx) 

Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:  

• Artists’ services and fees: Per the Kentucky Arts Council’s core values, artists’ services should represent the majority cost for competitive budgets. 

• Other professional fees and services: Funds may be used for graphic and web design, sound and lighting for performances, and compensation for other project- specific personnel not already employed by the applicant (i.e., see restrictions regarding indirect costs).  

• Materials and Supplies: These are items, unlike equipment, will be exhausted during the grant period. Although books may not be bought for library holdings, they may be purchased to give to participants.   

• Facilities and Space Rentals: Grant funds mat used to rent space not currently owned or rented under a long-term lease by the applicant.  

• Travel: Funds may be used to rent transportation for objects or participants or to pay mileage reimbursement to artists or participants.  

• Communication, Marketing, and Promotion: Funds may be used to pay for advertising, printing marketing materials, or other means of communication  

• Publication: Funds may be used to publish or print in any media, as long as the product is not solely for commercial purposes.  

• Accessibility: Funds may be used to pay American Sign Language interpreters, large print publication, adaptive tools or any service or supply (not equipment) that increases the accessibility of the physical space or program for participants.  

Applications for this program are made through the Kentucky Arts Council GO Smart online grant system. 

When first accessing the GO Smart application system, applicants must create an organization profile, including a username and password for use when the account is accessed. The Kentucky Arts Council does not maintain username and password information. If you forget or lose your username or password, open the application, click on Login and use the prompt to reset your login information. Do not create a duplicate account.  

To begin the application, login to GO Smart and click on Current Programs & Applications. Go to Arts Access Assistance FY26 and select “Begin Application.” Applicants who have started their application and logged out will login and then select “Edit.” 

• When working through the application, save each page before moving to the next page. Failure to save pages will result in the loss of information. 

• To navigate through the application, use either page links (to move around within the application) or the Previous/Next buttons (to move one page at a time). 

• Use the PDF button at the bottom of the page to view the application as the panelist will view it.  

• Use the Data Field Explanation to complete the Profile (organization type, applicant status and applicant discipline) and Demographics sections. 

Value and Connection to the Arts and Health Theme – 32 percent 

1. Goals: Describe how this project will address the chosen goals through the arts.    
2. Value: Describe the health-related benefits and value that the proposed activities will provide for participants and/or audiences.  
3. Qualifications: Describe the specific qualifications of the organization, project leadership, personnel, and/or partners in addressing thematic goals and serving the project audience.  
4. Assessment: How will program outcomes be measured against goals? (i.e., How will you document project activities, share project outcomes, and evaluate project impact, keeping the chosen goals in mind?)   

Artistic Excellence – 28 percent 

1. Describe the specific artistic qualifications of the organization, project leadership, personnel, and/or partners in addressing the creative goals of the project. Provide work samples that illustrate the artistic merit.  
2. Provide up to five work sample images, PDFs, and/or URLs that illustrate the artistic merit of the organization, particularly its arts programming, and the artistic merit of project artists and creative partners. 

Capacity and Planning – 40 percent 

1. Timeline: Describe your plan to implement the project, with a realistic timeline within the grant period, April 1, 2026, through Sept. 1, 2026, that includes beginning and end dates, with multiple measurable milestones. Include the dates of public events, even if they are tentative.  
2. Budget: Upload a budget using the project budget form featuring eligible expenses and realistic income projections that meet or exceed the grant funding ask. Grant amounts are either $2,500 or $5,000. Per the Kentucky Arts Council’s core values, artists’ services should represent the majority cost for competitive budgets. Do not include ineligible expenses or expenses incurred before or after the grant period. Describe a plan for securing additional funding (if applicable). 
3. Communications: Describe your promotion/publicity plan with appropriate media resources and strategies to reach the target audience(s) effectively. 
4. Accessibility: Explain how activities will foster a culture of belonging, including physical and programmatic accessibility.    

The arts council staff is available to offer the following support, with prior notice and no later than two weeks before the deadline, to ensure program standards and goals are met: 

• Assistance from arts council program directors in selecting appropriate program categories, and in answering questions about programs 
• Consultation regarding applicant eligibility, competitiveness for funding, budget issues, etc. 
• Referrals to potential partners for programs 
• Advice in locating appropriate technical assistance to evaluate and increase applicants’ accessibility and arts participation 

A panel of arts, healthcare, and other professionals with relevant experience will review all applications in accordance with the performance expectations.

Applicants that receive a favorable recommendation enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Agreements cannot be altered without prior approval from the arts council’s appropriate program manager. The address associated with the Grant Agreement Form must match those associated with the organization’s profile and Kentucky Vendor Number. Grantees are required to promptly notify the arts council in writing of any changes in their grant activity. If grantees do not notify the arts council about changes before they file a final report, future funding will be jeopardized. Grants are for the period specified in the approved application. Funds must be spent or committed for activities taking place within the period stated unless an extension has been approved in writing. Funds spent before the period starts are not eligible and must not be included in the budget. 

Funds granted must be used solely for the activities described in the approved application, unless specific approval has been received in writing. Any funds granted but not spent must be returned to the arts council at the conclusion of the grant period. 

Grant agreements must be signed and returned within 30 days. Grant agreement forms received later than 30 days will result in forfeit of payment.  

Affirmative Duty to Report Major Changes 

If funded, all grantees must promptly notify the Kentucky Arts Council in writing of any changes in the artists’ or organizations’ physical or mailing address, phone numbers or email addresses, key project personnel, or any other circumstances that could affect the ability to complete the project by the Sept.1, 2026, deadline.  

Final Report 

The final report for this grant can be found in the GO Smart online grant portal and is due 30 days after the end of project activities and no later than Oct. 1, 2026. Failure to provide a final report by the deadline will result in ineligibility for any KAC program until the report is received.  

Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from the Kentucky Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts in their promotional material including publications, websites, social media, etc. 

Acknowledgment line for Arts Access Assistance 

“The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, supports {NAME OF PROJECT} with state tax dollars from the Kentucky General Assembly and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.”