**CORRECTION** (3-3-22) It was incorrectly reported the Josephine Sculpture Park Inc. received $250,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts ARPA funding. However, the correct amount of funding was $100,000. The correction has been made in the body of the post.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Mike Berry announced that six arts organizations will receive $650,000 to support economic growth and recovery and that tourism and destination-marketing groups can now apply for $5.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“Kentucky is a destination for so many great art experiences, and it’s important that this industry has the support it needs to continue to attract travelers from around the globe,” said Beshear. “Tourism and arts are huge economic drivers in our commonwealth, and now is our time to invest to ensure Kentucky remains a leader.”
As part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ final distribution of ARPA funding, six Kentucky arts organizations were selected by the NEA to receive $650,000 to support jobs, stabilize operations, purchase health and safety supplies and marketing efforts. The six organizations are:
- Art Center of the Bluegrass Inc. in Danville ($50,000)
- Pioneer School of Drama (or Pioneer Playhouse) in Danville ($50,000)
- Stage One: The Louisville Children’s Theatre Inc. in Louisville ($150,000)
- Josephine Sculpture Park Inc. in Frankfort ($100,000)
- Carnegie Literacy Center Inc. (or Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning)in Lexington ($50,000)
- Central Music Academy Inc. in Lexington ($100,000)
Applications Open for $5.3 million in ARPA Funding
Beshear also announced that applications are now being accepted from tourism and destination-marketing organizations eligible to receive a portion of the $5.3 million in ARPA funding.
“The pandemic has significantly impacted both the arts and tourism industries in Kentucky,” said Berry. “Our cabinet is committed to supporting our partners by seeking investments that will directly foster economic recovery and allow our communities to attract visitors to Kentucky.”
More than 150 tourism and destination-marketing organizations in Kentucky are eligible to receive funding to directly support economic recovery of the tourism industry. Funding will be distributed by the Department of Tourism beginning the week of March 11 and will be based on the respective county’s share of the overall tourism economic impact according to the 2019 Economic Impact Report.
Eligible tourism and destination-marketing organizations can apply here.
Tourism is an $8.9 billion industry that supports economic growth in both rural and urban communities in Kentucky. Throughout the pandemic, the commonwealth has invested more than $13 million in the tourism industry to strengthen promotional and advertising efforts by encouraging safe travel to Kentucky through the development of new marking campaigns.
To keep the visitors coming, in Beshear’s recent budget proposal he directs $200 million in one-time money from the General Fund to pay for badly needed work at Kentucky State Parks. This money will fund essential preservation projects, maintenance, repair and new projects at parks across the commonwealth. The goal is to preserve these assets for their regions and communities while enhancing the facilities to attract more visitors. The Governor’s budget also dedicates $10 million in ARPA funds to boost Kentucky’s tourism industry through a targeted marketing campaign and another $10 million to help nonprofit arts organizations.
The commonwealth has also invested nearly $1.7 million in federal funding in the arts industry to support 120 arts organizations. This also includes an allocation of more than $103,000 directly to 21 Kentucky artists.
Receiving recovery assistance is a game changer, said artist Michelle Hayden in Richmond, because it will allow her to start working immediately with the underserved populations she wants to serve – children, incarcerated people, rural populations and those living in economic poverty.
For more information about funding available to tourism and destination marketing organizations, visit kentuckytourism.com/eda-grant and for more information on funding opportunities for Kentucky artists, visit artscouncil.ky.gov.