Arts Council
Kentucky Arts Council Receives $310,500 for Job Preservation in Nonprofit Arts Sector

FRANKFORT, Ky. –The Kentucky Arts Council will receive $310,500 from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the economic stimulus package recently passed by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   These funds will be regranted to Kentucky Arts Partnership organizations for salary support for positions which are in jeopardy and critical to an organization's artistic mission or for previously engaged artists or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which they have been engaged.

"This funding will benefit Kentucky's arts organizations that have been hit so hard in this economic downturn," said Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council. "Typically, arts organizations and presenters depend upon three streams of revenue; corporate and individual giving, foundation and government grants and earned income, like ticket sales.  Arts organizations have trimmed budgets and laid off many workers to respond to the contracting economy.  This funding could mean the difference of keeping the doors open for some organizations."

Qualifying arts organizations have been notified of the jobs preservation grant opportunity and are invited to apply by April 27, 2009, with funds being released by July,  2009.

The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

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