The Kentucky Arts Council is making funding available to counties in the Appalachian region for arts projects and activities through its competitive Arts Access Assistance grant, a unique funding opportunity that targets underserved populations in the Commonwealth where the arts are not the primary emphasis.
The Arts Access Assistance grant supports arts programs that serve populations whose opportunities to experience the arts may be limited by age, geographic location, ethnicity, economic status, disability or other factors. Grants are available up to $8,000 with a 25 percent cash match.
"The arts council has facilitated several opportunities for artists, entrepreneurs and communities in the Appalachian region to learn about placemaking, business and funding resources, and other artistic endeavors," said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director.
"The theme for the Arts Access Assistance grant changes each year and this year we wanted to extend our service to include funding opportunities to broaden our support for eastern and southeastern Kentucky,” added Meadows.
"Vibrant Appalachian Communities" is the theme for grants submitted during the fiscal year 2016 cycle. Eligible projects use the arts to celebrate, evoke pride in and call attention to unique community assets. Appalachian counties eligible to apply are those within the 54-county area designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
"There has been much discussion about the influence of the arts in eastern Kentucky and the role it can play in developing stronger communities in our Appalachian region," said Governor Steve Beshear who, along with U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, launched the Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) initiative last year.
"I hope counties will take advantage of this unique funding opportunity to further explore the many ways the arts can increase the quality of life for their citizens,” added Beshear.
Grant guidelines and information are available on the arts council's website at: http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Grants/AAA.htm
The deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2015. Applicants with questions or who need more information may contact Sarah Schmitt, the arts council's arts access director, at sarah.schmitt@ky.gov or 888-833-2787, ext. 492.
The SOAR initiative was launched by Gov. Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers late last year, after a stunning downturn in the coal market exacerbated historic challenges in Eastern Kentucky related to unemployment and poverty.
More than 1,700 Kentuckians attended a one-day SOAR summit in Pikeville in December. SOAR is intended to help the region develop and put into action new locally-oriented strategies to attack those persistent challenges.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, fosters environments 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.
Story provided by Kentucky Arts Council
