859.255.2951 | info@lexarts.org

LexArts Grants

For Dozens of Artists and Organizations

 

To help art come to life and touch lives, LexArts supports regional artists and arts organizations through Community Arts Development (CAD) grants and General Operating Support (GOS) grants awarded on a competitive basis. CAD grants are specific to a program or project, while GOS grants help underwrite and sustain essential infrastructure like workspace, equipment, materials, salaries, and marketing. All grant applications will be reviewed in a public forum in June of each year.

 

For more information, call 859.255.2951 ext. 122 or contact:

Nathan Zamarron, Vice President of Community Arts

Kay’mon Murrah, Community Arts Manager

COMMUNITY ARTS DEVELOPMENT (CAD) GRANTS

Community Arts Development Grants provide funding for organizations and artists to produce or present activities that contribute to the arts and cultural landscape of Lexington/Fayette County.  Community Arts Development Grants are awarded for program or project support.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Organizations and individual artists wishing to submit an application should review carefully ELIGIBILITY to determine whether to apply for Program or Project support.  If you are a first-time applicant or an organization that has not applied for two years or more, it is suggested that you attend a grant application workshop.

FY26 CAD Project: Individual Artists

Welcome to the LexArts Community Arts Grant program. Community Arts Development Project Grants for
Individual Artists provides support for artists to produce or present projects with an arts or cultural focus.
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.

 

More Information 

FY26 CAD Project Guidelines: Individual Artists

FY26 CAD Project: Organizations

Welcome to the LexArts Community Arts Grant program. 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. 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.

 

More Information

FY26 CAD Project Guidelines: Organizations

FY26 CAD Program: Organizations

Welcome to the LexArts Community Arts Grant program. 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. 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.

 

More Information

FY26 CAD Program Guidelines: Organizations

GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT (GOS) GRANTS
General Operating Support 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. First-time applicants must submit a formal “Intent To Apply Form” and required materials to the LexArts offices at ArtsPlace, 161 North Mill Street, Lexington, KY 40507.

FY26 GOS Application

Welcome to the LexArts General Operating Support (GOS) Grant Program. GOS Grants provide unrestricted general
operating support to arts organizations with a year-round program of arts and cultural activities and services.
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.

 

The GOS application can be found at: LexArts.gosmart.org. 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.

 

More Information

FY26 GOS Application Guidelines

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Friday, January 3, 2025 | CAD Applications Open 

Friday, January 3, 2025 | GOS Intent to Apply Open 

Friday, January 3, 2025 | Video Submission (Optional) Open 

Friday, January 10, 2025 | GOS Applications Open 

Monday, February 10, 2025 | Video Submission (Optional) Deadline 

Friday, February 21, 2025 | FY26 CAD / GOS Grant Applications Due 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 10:00 AM | Community Arts Development Grants (Zoom) Review at ArtsPlace 

Thursday, April 9, 2025 | 10:00 AM | General Operating Support Review at ArtsPlace

WORKSHOPS

Friday, January 10, 2025 | 1:00 pm | In-Person CAD Grant Workshop at Central Library Meeting Room B 

Friday, January 17, 2025 | 1:00 pm | In-Person CAD Grant Workshop at Northside Branch Lexington Public Library Medium Meeting Room 

APPLY NOW

 

LexArts employs the GoSmart Grants Management System. Click here or the GoSmart logo to apply.

If you have a GoSmart applicant profile, you should click LOGIN in the menu bar. If you are new to GoSmart, you will need to create a profile to begin an application.

FINAL REPORT

All arts council grantees must submit a final report within 30 days of completion of the grant period. The final report may be accessed through the GO Smart online grant system.

 

If a grantee fails to submit the required final report for any grant, the arts council will accept no future applications from the grantee organization until an acceptable final report is received. In addition, any grant money payable to the organization will be held until after the required final report is submitted.