Kentucky Arts Council facts for kids
| State agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1966 |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Kentucky |
| Headquarters | Frankfort, Kentucky |
| State agency executive |
|
| Parent department | Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet |
The Kentucky Arts Council is a special group in Kentucky that helps support and grow all kinds of art. It was started in 1966. This council works to make sure art thrives across the state. It is part of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The money for the council comes from the Kentucky government and a national group called the National Endowment for the Arts. A team of 14 people leads the council. They serve for four years at a time.
Contents
History of the Kentucky Arts Council
Changes in Funding
The Kentucky Arts Council's money for its work has changed over the years. In 2016, its budget was cut by $170,000. This cut happened over two and a half years. Before that, the council had a budget of $3.7 million.
The next year, in 2017, the National Endowment for the Arts gave the council more money. They awarded $746,500, which was a 5% increase from the year before.
New Leadership
In March 2019, Chris Cathers became the new executive director of the council. He had been working as the temporary executive director since 2017.
Honoring Artists
In January 2021, the council celebrated the winners of the Kentucky Governor's Awards in the Arts. Nine people received awards for their artistic achievements in 2020. The ceremony was held online. These awards have been given out every year since 1977.
Support for Arts Recovery
In May 2021, Kentucky received over $800,000 in federal money. This funding was meant to help the state's arts groups recover. It helped them get back on their feet after the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky. The Kentucky Arts Council decided how this money would be given to different arts organizations in the state.
