A MILLION REASONS WHY THE ARTS

                 ARE IMPORTANT TO THE BLUEGRASS

         Campaign for the Arts surpasses goal of $1 million

LEXINGTON, Ky., June 7, 2006 – The LexArts Campaign for the Arts has surpassed its goal of $1 million to benefit arts groups throughout Central Kentucky.

“This is a very gratifying result,” said James M. Clark, President and CEO of LexArts. “It was a stretch goal and the businesses and individuals in Central Kentucky met the challenge. They spoke to the importance of the arts to our way of life.”

The total stands at $1,013,000, Clark said. The annual campaign got off to a running start in February with more than $282,000 from corporations and individuals who participated in the Pacesetter Campaign. In addition, Mayor Teresa Isaac announced her recommendation of a $350,000 allocation from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government, which is in the pending budget.

“The support of the Pacesetters and local government will always be vital,” noted Clark. “In addition, the workplace giving campaign really grew this year. Under the leadership of Sam Barnes of Fifth Third Bank, it is up by 12 percent over 2005, with seven sites still to report.

“The support exhibited in this campaign energizes the entire arts community,” said Clark. “We have some exciting plans for the next 12 months. One of our focuses will be more professional development and capacity-building for the groups we fund. We want to give them the technical assistance they need to become more robust organizations. We also look forward to the growth of our summer theater program for children, the return of Best of the Bluegrass (April 2007), and working toward Horse Mania 2010.”

In 2005, the campaign raised $980,000. Among the things this enabled LexArts to do in the past year were:

• • provide support to more than 40 arts and civic organizations in the region;
• • increase funds available for community arts projects by $40,000, or 9 percent;
• • present Arts Showcase Weekend, a three-day festival of more than 40 free events for all ages in a wide array of venues,
• • establish the Bluegrass Printmakers Cooperative at ArtsPlace,

• • fund the Youth Arts Scholarship program for young people living in Lexington Housing Authority properties, and
• • create the LexArts Card for donors of $52 or more, offering discounts from 22 arts organizations, restaurants and retail establishments.

LexArts promotes and funds a diverse array of cultural and civic organizations serving people throughout the Bluegrass, including Explorium, Singletary Center for the Arts and the Women Writers of Kentucky.

Through a unique public-private partnership, LexArts manages two facilities, ArtsPlace and the Downtown Arts Center, on behalf of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. This benefits a wide range of arts groups by providing convenient, attractive and affordable space for creative activities.

* * *

LexArts is Central Kentucky’s premier cultural development, advocacy and fund-raising organization. Its programs provide the resources necessary to ensure high quality arts and cultural offerings for residents and visitors, enhancing the quality of life in the region. As both the area arts council and arts fund, LexArts provides a wide range of programs and services designed to integrate the arts into our daily lives, including Horse Mania, Gallery Hop and ArtScene.

LexArts was formed in July 1989 by the merger of the Lexington Council of the Arts (founded in 1972) and the Fund for the Arts (founded in 1984). LexArts services arts organizations, artists, and educational institutions. Visit LexArts online at www.lexarts.org.

CONTACT: James M. Clark

President & CEO, LexArts

255-2951