The purpose of the Performing Artists Directory is to promote, showcase and provide professional development opportunities to a diverse selection of Kentucky’s finest contemporary and traditional performing artists.

• Provide experienced, professional performing artists with opportunities to connect with performing arts venues.
• Provide marketing, promotion and other business training to professional performing artists.
• Support the artistic growth of outstanding professional performing artists.

• Full-time and part-time professional tour-ready artists, companies and groups in dance, music, theater and storytelling may apply.
• Music applicants must primarily perform original music, songs in the public domain or a combination of the two.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Student-based performance groups must perform regularly off-campus for professional fees.
• Applicants must have been full-time Kentucky residents for at least six months prior to the application deadline and remain full-time residents for the program participation period.
• Performing groups must include a majority (more than 50 percent) of Kentucky residents as members.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence or have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work permanently in the U.S.

Applicants must be United States Citizens, lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence or have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work permanently in the U.S.

Applicants must have been legal Kentucky residents for a period of at least six months immediately prior to the application deadline (i.e., legal residency must have begun no later than March 30, 2024, for applications due Sept. 30, 2024).

For proof of residency, applicants must submit a copy of two of the following documents by the application deadline to the address at the end of these guidelines:

• Kentucky driver’s license or Commonwealth of Kentucky identification card that includes the date issued and the expiration date. (Note: The arts council will not accept both a Kentucky driver’s license and a Commonwealth of Kentucky identification card as the required two proofs of residency.)
• Kentucky voter registration verification from the State Board of Elections’ Voter Information Center. You may redact political party information.
• 2022 or 2023 Kentucky State Income Tax Form 740 (full-year resident, income information may be redacted)
• A copy of a Kentucky utility bill (electric, gas or water) from July or August 2024 that includes the applicant’s name and current address

These are the only acceptable forms of proof of residency for this application.

The Performing Artists Directory is an adjudicated roster of Kentucky professional 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.

Applications will be assessed using the following criteria.

1. Artistic Excellence (60 points)
   • Creativity
   • Technical proficiency
   • Professional staging and presentation
2. Performance Experience (20 points)
   • Ability to negotiate performance contracts and communicate technical requirements
   • Performance history
3. Marketing Capacity (20 points)
   • Communication and marketing materials
   • Strategies for using the Performing Artists Directory to increase or expand marketing plan

• Performers whose repertoire consists primarily of covers of contemporary music are not eligible to apply.
• Vocalists performing with prerecorded music are not eligible to apply.

Artist accepted into the Performing Artists Directory must re-apply after three years. After successfully jurying into the program twice consecutively (e.g., FY25 and FY28), artists will be required to reapply only if they fail to respond to requests for updated information, change performance genre or change performer status (e.g., switch from a solo act to a group or vice versa). Artists who leave or who are dropped from the directory for any reason must repeat the application process. If you are uncertain as to whether you need to reapply to the directory, contact the program director.

In addition, Directory performers must comply with all program guidelines and conduct business in a professional manner.

Acknowledge the arts council in all published materials and announcements (print and electronic) including websites, social media, advertising promotions, news releases, printed programs, catalogs, flyers, posters, literature and other publicity. Performers selected for inclusion in the Directory are required to attend a daylong orientation and training on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern, in Frankfort. Returning directory artists are encouraged, though not required, to attend.

• Representation in the online Performing Artists Directory on the arts council website.
• Access to the Kentucky Peer Advisory Network (KPAN), a program that provides consultations in a variety of professional areas such as marketing, promotion, copyright and trademark law, emergency preparedness, event planning, etc.
• Performance and marketing opportunities in association with other arts council programs.
• Promotion and referrals to presenters, community groups, schools, businesses, governmental agencies and others requesting assistance identifying high-quality performing artists.

• Submit the online application no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern, Sept. 30, 2024. Note: The application can take several minutes to upload and closes promptly at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute to submit their applications.

Carefully review the program guidelines and then create a profile in the GO Smart application system and complete the application.

Profile Page

Select Individual as Profile Type. The Performing Artists Directory is a part of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Individual Artists Programs.

Enter your first and last name as required, as well as your phone number and email address. Then create your user name and password. Make a note of these as the Kentucky Arts Council does not maintain application login information and you will need it each time you login.

Applicant Information

Enter your legal name (as indicated on your Federal Tax Return), street address and phone number. Then select Individual Artist as Artist Description and your primary performance genre as Applicant Discipline (dance, music or theatre). Under discipline, you may also select your specific art form (e.g., dance—ballet, ethnic/jazz or modern; music—band, chamber, choral, new, etc., theatre—general, puppet, storytelling, etc.)

To determine district numbers, contact your county clerk’s office or go to https://legislature.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx. Find your congressional district by entering a zip code and, when prompted, a street address. The State Board of Elections’ Voter Information Center website provides this information for registered Kentucky voters.

Click the captcha box next to “I am not a robot” and then submit.

You may now access the application by selecting the “Current Programs and Applications” tab. Find “Performing Artists Directory” and click “START.”

Before moving from one page of the application to another, always click the “Save Work” button at the bottom of the page or your work will be lost.

Promotional Images

Applicants must upload two professional quality promotional images of the performer. Images must be JPG or JPEG format, 72 pixels per inch and at least five inches on the long side.

Work samples are the primary means by which panelists assess artistic excellence. Carefully consider your choice of work samples in relation to the program’s performance expectations.

Applicants to the Performing Artists Directory must submit links that are easily accessible without passwords or codes.

Work samples must support the selected discipline or medium (e.g., dancers must submit links to work sample videos of dance performances only; musicians must submit links to videos of musical performances only).

Panelists will review no more than 10 minutes of submitted work samples. Applicants may edit or use full-length video samples that clearly indicate stop and start times.

Work samples must have been completed within the past three calendar years (for example, for the application deadline of Sept. 30, 2024, eligible work must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2024).

Work samples of applicants applying as solo performers must demonstrate solo performances.

All applicants must submit at least one video work sample of a performance in front of a live audience.

Each submitted link must lead directly to the corresponding work sample. Do not include a page of links as a work sample. (A link to a specific video included on a webpage of samples is acceptable.)

Work sample links requiring a password, login or other access will not be reviewed.

Storytelling, theatre and dance applicants: Submit three video work sample links.

Music applicants: Submit three work samples links, including at least two video and no more than one audio sample.

Applicants are required to respond to criteria about their performances, their experience working with presenting organizations, their current marketing plan and their ideas for integrating the Directory into their plan.

In addition to narrative responses, applicants must include a link to their electronic press kit. Applicants may also upload up to 10 pages of marketing materials used to promote themselves to presenters.

A panel of arts professionals will review all applications according to the performance criteria. Keep in mind that panels may include out-of-state panelists who may be unfamiliar with the state’s organizations, artists and/or communities. Prepare your application with this in mind.

Programs receiving fewer than five eligible applications will not receive a panel review and applicants will be encouraged to apply at the next deadline.

There are no appeals in this program.

Successful applicants will receive a Program Agreement Form (PAF) that will detail benefits and responsibilities as an adjudicated participant of the Performing Artists Directory. Successful applicants must agree to the terms, sign and return the form to the arts council by the date indicated.

Applicants are encouraged to speak with the program manager before submitting their application to the Performing Artists Directory.

Ask questions during Zoom office hours on Monday, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23, 3 p.m. Eastern. Registration required at:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdOCsqzgvGdQaEPQXPN7MUoI247JF5L2R.

Attend a Zoom application webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3 p.m. Eastern. Registration required at:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcOqurzMtHdf16inl5z26aE6rHjyvOnF3.