State arts leaders gathered Jan. 20 for Arts Day in Kentucky, an annual celebration of the Commonwealth’s arts community and the vital roles it plays in the state’s livelihood. The day is also an opportunity for arts leaders to thank members of the Kentucky General Assembly for their continued support of arts funding through the Kentucky Arts Council.
Rep. Rocky Adkins presented the Rowan County Arts Center with a check for $1,391 for a Kentucky Arts Partnership (KAP) grant awarded by the arts council in July 2015. The funding awarded to Rowan County Arts Center is part of $1.2 million the arts council awarded to 91 nonprofit arts organizations across the state for the 2016 fiscal year.
“Kentucky has excellent arts organizations in every region of the Commonwealth that provide year-round arts experiences in their communities,” said Lori Meadows, arts council executive director. “The state arts agency is proud to partner with Rowan County Arts Center to ensure the arts are made available to all Kentuckians.”
This year’s Arts Day comes during the 50th anniversary year of the establishment of the arts council by the Kentucky General Assembly.
“It’s uplifting to reflect on where we’ve come from 50 years ago and to think about the kind of support we can give to our arts partners today through programs like the Kentucky Arts Partnership,” Meadows said. “We are grateful to the members of the Kentucky General Assembly – then and now – for their collective support of the Commonwealth’s artistic legacy and integrity.”
KAP grants provide operating support on a competitive basis to arts and cultural organizations and community arts programs to ensure participation in the arts is available to the people of Kentucky.
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. The arts council celebrates 50 years of service in 2016.
(story provided by Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet)
