Arts & Health Grants is sponsored by LexArts. Provides small-scale funding opportunities for projects that impact health and wellness through the arts in Central Kentucky.

Grant Applications Overview - LexArts Cultural Equity Statement Lexington Youth Arts Council Central Kentucky Arts Directory Office and Residential Art Community Arts Development Grants General Operating Support Grants Grant Applications Overview BlueMillion Dev 2026-06-17T13:37:45-04:00 Grants for individual artists & organizations LexArts is proud to support creativity and cultural growth through a variety of grant opportunities for individual artists and arts organizations.

These grants provide vital funding to help bring innovative projects to life, strengthen community engagement, and ensure the arts continue to thrive across Lexington and the Bluegrass region. Explore the options below to find the right fit for your artistic vision or organizational needs. Thank you for your interest in LexArts support!

LexArts is pleased to announce strategic updates to its grantmaking structure, including an adjusted granting cycle and refined funding priorities aligned with evolving community needs. These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to responsible stewardship, transparency, and meaningful investment in Central Kentucky’s arts ecosystem.

The updates were developed following thoughtful review and recommendations from the arts community, LexArts staff and the Board of Directors to ensure our grant programs remain sustainable, equitable, and responsive. LexArts offers Community Arts Development grants that provide funding for organizations and artists to produce or present activities that contribute to the arts and cultural landscape of Lexington/Fayette County.

LexArts will transition to a calendar-year grant cycle for Community Arts Development (CAD) Grants, rather than a fiscal-year cycle. For the 2027 grant period, applications will open in July 2026. This change allows LexArts to responsibly and transparently allocate funds raised during the Fund for the Arts campaign.

LexArts also offers General Operating Support Grants that provide unrestricted general operating funds to arts organizations that demonstrate strong arts mission fulfillment, fiscal responsibility, sound management, and operate on a year-round basis. The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant timeline will continue to follow a fiscal year cycle, with invitations extended to eligible organizations and applications opening in March.

LexArts is dedicated to creating meaningful, measurable, and community-centered impact through the arts. We recognize that strategic investment allows organizations to develop programming that is not only artistically compelling but also deeply responsive to community needs.

To support this commitment, LexArts has established focused areas designed to guide resources toward initiatives that demonstrate the greatest potential for lasting community benefit and impact.

Beginning with the FY 2027 granting cycle, LexArts will introduce the following areas of impact in grant allocation: High-Quality Arts Programming or Beautification General Operating Support (GOS) Grant Timeline Applications Open: March 2, 2026 Application Deadline: April 3, 2026, 11:59 PM Award Notifications: June 19, 2026 Grant Funding Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Community Arts Development (CAD) Grant Timeline Applications Open: July 3, 2026 CAD Grant Workshops and consultations: July Application Deadline: August 7, 2026, 11:59 PM Award Notifications: September 28, 2026 Grant Funding Period: Calendar Year, January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027 Explore our Grant Opportunities Community Arts Development (CAD): Project Grant for Individuals Community Arts Development Project Grants for Individual Artists provides support for artists to produce or present projects with an arts or cultural focus.

Artist lives in Fayette County Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirements × More Information Community Arts Development (CAD) Grants - Individual Artists Projects must be initiated, directed and implemented by the artist, take place in Fayette County, and include a public component.

Projects may include festivals, exhibitions, readings, performances; professionally directed public art projects such as murals, temporary sculptural installations, environmental art; and planning for the redesign of existing public spaces for cultural activities. Grant awards range from $500 – $5,000.

Community Arts Development CAD: Project Grant for Organizations Community Arts Development Project Grants for Organizations provide support for arts, cultural, and other non-profit organizations to produce or present an arts and/or cultural project that contributes to the arts landscape of Lexington-Fayette County.

Nonprofit, 501(c)3 or 509a organization Applicants that do not have tax-exempt status (must contact LexArts by March 10, 2023 for assistance.) Located in Fayette County Proposed project takes place in Fayette County Demonstrated history of providing community focused programs Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility with board approved financial statements.

Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirements × More Information Community Arts Development Project Grant - Organizations All projects must include a public component.

The range of projects may include but is not limited to exhibitions, festivals, readings, performances, professionally directed public art projects (e.g. murals, temporary sculptural installations, environmental art) and planning for the redesign of existing public spaces for cultural activities. Grant awards range from $500 – $5,000.

Community Arts Development (CAD): Program Grant Community Arts Development Program Grants provide an opportunity for arts, cultural and other non-profit organizations to produce or present arts or cultural programming that will benefit the community.

Annual budget must have exceeded $25,000 for the three previous consecutive years Paid professional full or part-time management Demonstrated history of providing community-focused programs Three-year history of LexArts project support Located in Fayette County Majority of work in Fayette and contiguous counties Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility by providing board approved financial statements or review by a CPA Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirements × More Information Community Arts Development Program Grant - Organizations Grants will be awarded to community organizations for specific programs with an arts or cultural focus that have clear artistic and social benefits and are accessible to the general public.

Programs may include festivals, exhibitions, readings, performances, season of performances and publications supporting artist activities. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $10,000.

General Operating Support Grant General Operating Support (GOS) Grants provide unrestricted general operating funds to arts organizations that demonstrate strong arts mission fulfillment, fiscal responsibility, and sound management and operate on a year-round basis.

GOS funding helps strengthen the overall health of established arts organizations by supporting essential operational needs such as administration, staffing, programming, audience development, and community outreach. By investing in organizational capacity, LexArts aims to help sustain a vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem in Lexington.

The General Operating Support (GOS) Grant timeline will remain in a fiscal-year cycle, as GOS grants are funded by the Lexington–Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). A direct link to the GOS Grant application will be emailed to eligible organizations when the portal opens on March 2, 2026.

General Operating Support I Nonprofit 501(c)3 arts organization Annual budget must have exceeded $250,000 for the last three consecutive years Up-to-date profile on guidestar.

org Paid professional, full-time management At least three consecutive years of prior GOS support Majority of work in Fayette and contiguous counties Provides year-round programming Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility through an audit conducted externally by an actively practicing certified public accountant (CPA) Active participant in the annual Fund for the Arts Campaign Received Kentucky Arts Council Partnership Operating Support grant in FY25 or FY26 Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirements General Operating Support II Nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization Annual budget must have exceeded $50,000 for the last three consecutive years Up-to-date profile on https://www.

guidestar.

org/ Paid professional full- or part-time management Three consecutive years of LexArts Community Arts Development (CAD) Program Support or previous GOS support Majority of work in Fayette and contiguous counties Demonstrates ongoing fiscal responsibility through an audit, or financial review conducted externally by an actively practicing certified public accountant (CPA) as required by the Kentucky Arts Council to apply for KAP funding.

Active participant in the annual Fund for the Arts Campaign Compliance with prior LexArts grants and reporting requirements × More Information General Operating Support - Organizations GOS I awards support Lexington’s largest and most established arts organizations and are $25,000 and above. GOSII awards support Lexington’s growing and mid-sized organizations and are $5,000 to $25,000.

Please note that an invitation code is required to apply. All GOS grant applicants will use the same form and will be assigned to GOS I or GOS II review as appropriate. Friday, April 3, 2026 | 11:59 pm Award Applicant Notification 30 days following completion of grant period For Organizations and Individuals LexArts seeks partnerships with artists and organizations working within arts and health.

Funding is available for projects that impact health and wellness through the arts. LexArts and the Arts and Health Alliance of Central Kentucky promote and integrate the arts into healthcare settings to enhance the well-being of patients, caregivers, and communities.

The Alliance advocates for the use of arts in healing, providing resources and education on the benefits of arts in health, and fostering collaborations between artists, healthcare providers, and community organizations and strives to create a more holistic approach to healthcare that recognizes the importance of creativity and expression in promoting health and healing.

× More Information Arts & Health Grants - Organizations and Individuals For more information, contact Arden Barnes . Arts & Health Grant requests are reviewed on a rolling basis. What types of grants does LexArts offer?

Who is eligible to apply for CAD Project/Program Grants (Organizations)? Organizations must be nonprofit, located in Fayette County, demonstrate community-focused programming, and meet fiscal responsibility requirements. What does CAD funding support?

CAD supports exhibitions, festivals, readings, performances, public art projects, and planning for redesign of cultural public spaces. CAD does not fund activities outside Fayette County, fundraising events, historic preservation, capital equipment, hospitality, or non-public programs. How much can be requested for CAD Project support?

Awards typically range from $500 to $5,000. What are LexArts’ priority areas? Arts Equity, Arts & Health, Youth Arts Engagement, Community Arts Engagement, and High Quality Arts Programming/Beautification.

How are CAD applications evaluated? Criteria include Community Impact (40%), Program Planning & Evaluation (40%), and Artistic Merit (20%). What is GOS and who can apply?

GOS stands for General Operating Support and these grants provide unrestricted operating support to year-round arts organizations meeting eligibility criteria. There are currently two levels of GOS grants, GOS I and GOS II. GOS II provides grants to organizations that meet eligibility criteria and have an annual budget of $50,000+ for the last three consecutive years.

GOS I requires an annual budget of $250,000+ for the last three consecutive years and three years of GOS II support. Are applications reviewed publicly? Yes, CAD applications are reviewed in public forums.

Applications are managed through the LexArts website. What documents should organizations prepare? IRS determination letter, financial statements, project budget, artistic samples, and marketing/evaluation plans.

Can CAD grants pay staff time? They may cover project-specific personnel but not general operating costs. Give yourself ample time to plan, write, re-write and review the application with LexArts’ Community Arts Services staff.

This includes developing the application, gathering artistic documentation and all supplemental materials. The application process will require the dedicated efforts of one or two individuals in your organization. The GOS grant application will follow the guidelines and questions provided by the Kentucky Arts Council.

Attend a LexArts grants workshop and if so desired, schedule a one-on-one consultation for additional assistance. Write the application narrative sections in a Word document and then cut and paste into the online application. Format the narrative so that it is reader-friendly (e.g. space between paragraphs, bullets, etc. if space permits.)

Check and double-check your application for spelling and mathematical errors. Have a reader not familiar with this grant application review it for content, clarity, and budget and other errors. Submit your application days before the submission deadline as technology challenges are possible and input errors occur more often when applicants are rushed.

When preparing the application save as you go. Although our grants portal does auto-save your progress, please be aware that the program may time out.

FY 2025-2026 Grant Allocations General Operating Support I and II Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra $40,000 Lexington Children’s Theatre $75,000 Lexington Philharmonic Society $75,000 The Lexington Theatre Company $30,000 The Living Arts & Science Center $65,000 Allegro Dance Project Inc. $12,500 Bluegrass Youth Ballet $20,000 Central Music Academy $10,000 Kentucky Ballet Theatre $20,000 Lexington Art League $10,000 Community Arts Development, Program African American Forum $10,000 Antagonist Production Company $10,000 Casa de la Cultura Hispana de Lexington $10,000 Chamber Music Festival of Lexington $7,500 GreenRoom Exchange $10,000 Headley-Whitney Museum of Art $5,000 Lexington Chamber Chorale $5,000 The Lexington Singers, Inc. $5,000 The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center $10,000 Community Arts Development, Organization ActOut Theatre Group $2,500 African American Arts Association $2,500 ARTISTIC HANDS SHAPING A NEW SOCIETY (AHSANS) $2,500 Bluegrass Film Friends $2,500 Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society $2,500 Common Good Community Development Corp $2,500 Community Inspired Solutions Inc. $2,500 Downtown Lexington Corporation dba Downtown Lexington Partnership $2,500 Faulkner Morgan Archive, Inc. $2,500 Harstad Fine Arts Series, Inc. $2,500 International Book Project, Inc. $1,000 Kentucky Humanities Council Inc. $2,500 Kentucky State Poetry Society $2,500 Lexington Children’s Museum $2,500 Lexington Writers Room $2,500 March Madness Marching Band $2,500 Movement Continuum, Inc. $2,500 SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE ASSOCIATION INC $2,500 Tahlsound Music Festival, LLC $5,000 The Well of Lexington, Inc. $2,500 Community Arts Development, Individual Babita Shrestha Moreland $2,500 Charles F.

Moreland $2,500 Constance Gullette Grayson $2,500 Daniela D’Ingiullo $1,000 Gloria Cecilia Arteaga-Hinton $2,500 Jonathan M McFadden $2,500 To access the Final Report Form , please use the link below: At the corner of Mill and Church.