August ARTS E-NEWS

Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage sent this bulletin at 08/04/2025 02:12 PM EDT

Photo by Laura Hasselwander Weis Photography, LLC

Episode 56: America250KY: Photography, Theatre, and Quilts

Celebrating the Black Experience Touring Exhibit

The SKyPAC (Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center) in Bowling Green will host the Celebrating the Black Experience exhibit August 8-26. This exhibit celebrates the contributions of people of African descent through the visual arts, highlighting the rich legacy of Black artists and the transformative impact of Black art in the struggle against oppression and racism.

The fourth annual Celebrating the Black Experience exhibit, presented by the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (KCAAH), includes artists from all over Kentucky, and some from Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Florida and Zimbabwe.

A reception will be held August 23, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will be open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Central, and during events on Sat. and Sun.

Apply Now!

Applications are currently open for the Teaching Art Together Grant . The grant enables teachers to implement artist residencies in their classrooms. Teachers and artists collaborate to design and implement the residencies and provide tools that help educators incorporate the arts into their classrooms after the residency is completed. The deadline to apply is September 15.

Aug. 4, 2025

Dear Friends of the Arts,

As we move through the heart of summer, the Kentucky Arts Council invites you to take part in several important initiatives that support, celebrate, and strengthen the arts across the commonwealth and the nation.

We are joining the Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG), a coalition of national, state, and regional arts and culture organizations, in urging artists, organizations, audiences, and advocates to raise their voices in support of federal investment in the arts and humanities.

Earlier this summer, Kentuckians for the Arts traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for increased federal support for the arts. They met with the offices of Representatives Andy Barr, Morgan McGarvey, Brett Guthrie, and Senator Mitch McConnell, where they heard heartfelt stories from staffers about the lasting impact of the arts in their own lives. As part of this ongoing effort, we encourage you to join the National Call to Action from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and the Cultural Advocacy Group (CAG), which urges Congress to increase funding for the NEA, NEH, and IMLS in the FY 2026 federal budget. While the Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed $207 million each for the NEA and NEH, maintaining previous funding levels, floor votes in both chambers are expected this fall, and amendments to cut cultural funding remain a concern. Thank you to the 113 organizations and 815 individuals who signed the NEA letter of support submitted by Kentuckians for the Arts

And speaking of arts opportunities, we are excited to launch a new feature on our website that allows arts organizations to submit upcoming public events for inclusion on the Kentucky Arts Council’s statewide Events Calendar. This is a great opportunity to spotlight the arts programming taking place in your community.

To be considered, events must:

Be at least one month away from the date of submission
Be open to the public
Align with the Kentucky Arts Council’s Mission, Vision & Values
Meet at least one of the following criteria: 1) Hosted or co-hosted by a Kentucky Arts Partner, 2) Funded by a Kentucky Arts Council grant (e.g., Kentucky Touring Grant), or 3) Feature artists in a KAC program (e.g., Kentucky Crafted, Performing Artists Directory, Individual Artist Fellowship)

We recently announced that applications for a second round of America250KY grants are now open! These grants provide funding for artists, organizations, and communities to explore and interpret America’s 250-year history through the arts. Twenty-seven individuals and organizations received support in the first round, and their powerful stories will be featured in this month’s episode of the KyArtsCast. The deadline to apply is August 24. Learn more and apply: America250KY Grants.

Time is running out to apply for Kentucky Crafted, our premier marketing and professional development program for visual and craft artists. This adjudicated program supports Kentucky artists through access to promotional opportunities, business training, and eligibility for events like the Kentucky Crafted Market. The deadline to apply is August 16.

Whether you’re advocating for federal arts funding, sharing your upcoming events, or applying for one of our grant or artist programs, we thank you for being part of the vibrant creative fabric of Kentucky. Your voice, your work, and your support matter.

Chris Cathers
Executive Director
Kentucky Arts Council

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. Participating students must be in grades 9 through 12, and any representative of a Kentucky public or private high school may apply. Each participating school receives an artist residency, hosts their own school championship, and has the opportunity for the school champion to attend the state competition. Registration is accepted until Oct. 3, 2025. The guidelines and registration form can be found here.