FRANKFORT, Ky. – The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced an award of a State Partnership Agreement Grant of $657,400 to the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. This is an increase from last year’s funding level of $617,300. The NEA State Partnership Grant enhances state funding resources and helps state agencies address fundamental priorities at the state level in areas of arts education and providing access to the arts in rural, inner city and other underserved communities.
“We were pleased to be so competitive this year in this grant category,” said Lori Meadows, Kentucky Arts Council executive director. “Through this partnership with the NEA, we will able to sustain support across the commonwealth for Kentuckians to participate in a wide variety of arts experiences.”
Similar state and regional partnerships in most of the 50 states and six jurisdictional arts agencies across the nation received grants from NEA, targeted to support arts education, cultural tourism and fostering access to the arts.
The Kentucky Arts Council uses these funds for a range of agency activities. Although some allocations go towards administrative costs, the bulk of the funds are used in grants for support of local arts organization programming, artist residency programs in Kentucky schools, community arts development and technical assistance in areas of accessibility and participation building.
For more information about the Kentucky Arts Council’s programs and services, visit their Web site at www.artscouncil.ky.gov.
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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established—bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.