CAD Organization Projects Assigned Applications

Form Submitted:
CAD - Organization Project - FY2027
Organization Name:
Downtown Lexington Corporation dba Downtown Lexington Partnership
Primary Contact for this application:
Laura Farnsworth
Primary Contact Title:
Director, Development & Events
Primary Contact Email:
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
Organization Address:
333 W. Vine St. Ste 206, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, US
Ste 206
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
United States
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Organization Email:
Email hidden; Javascript is required.
Organization Phone:
(859) 475-2250
Website:
downtownlex.com
FEIN/Tax ID:
61-1189677
Organization serving as fiscal agent (if applicable):
SAM Number:
0248055
Date Organization Formed:
09/07/1988
501(c)(3) Incorporation Date:
09/07/1988
Fiscal Year End Date:
06/30/2027
Mission Statement:

We foster a safe, welcoming, and vibrant Downtown Lexington by encouraging community investment and collaborating with our partners.

Organization History:

We listen, learn, and take action for downtown businesses, residents, and visitors.

Mission - We foster a safe, welcoming, and vibrant Downtown Lexington by encouraging community investment and collaborating with our partners.

Vision - A champion and strategic partner for all who live, work, play, and visit Downtown.

Purpose - To encourage, promote, and elevate our thriving Downtown community.

Primary Priority Funding Area:
High Quality Arts Programming or Beautification
Secondary Priority Funding Area:
Community Arts Engagement
Application Narrative:
Title of Project:
2027 Mayfest Arts Fair
Brief Project Description:
Mayfest is a juried art fair with a focus on a casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
Grant Amount Request:
2500
Program Start Date:
05/09/2027
Program End Date:
05/10/2027
Program Category:
  • Cultural/Multi-Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Visual Arts
Full Project Description:

Downtown Lexington Partnership requests $5,000.00 to support the Mayfest Arts Fair. Mayfest features the art
of 70 vendors from across the United States with a focus on local and regional artists selling their creations.
The event takes place in the historic Gratz Park neighborhood in downtown. Mayfest also includes two full days
of live entertainment, ranging from musicians to dancers and other creatives. Local concessions and free
family activities round out this event. The event is produced by the staff of Downtown Lexington Partnership,
specifically Laura Farnsworth, Director of Development and Events. 2027 will be Laura's 17's year producing
the event. DLP will continue to work with existing and attract new event partners, to increase the quality,
diversity, and public knowledge of the event. We will also continue to expand our free offerings for guests, including free children's activities that encourage creativity and movement.

Venue Name:
Gratz Park
Venue Address:
300 West Third Street
Lexington, KY 40508
United States
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Benefit to the community:

Mayfest creates an opportunity for the entire community to gather in a safe, family-friendly environment. There is no
fee to attend, and consideration is given during the vendor jury process to allow items for purchase at all price points, both from the artists and
concessions vendors. DLP provides free children's activities for the entire weekend, encouraging creativity and movement. Artist and concession vendors, many of whom reside in Lexington and Central Kentucky, are given the space
to create, promote, and sell their product. Downtown business owners near Gratz Park see an increase in awareness from customers and sales during the event. Finally, the event allows local sponsors and non-profits the opportunity to activate the space and increase awareness in their operations and mission as well.

Promotion and Marketing:

DLP staff includes a professional communications manager. That position is responsible for social, digital, and printed media for Mayfest. DLP produces a weekly e-newsletter with 8,247 subscribers, has social media accounts with the following users: Facebook 15,446, Instagram 9,474, LinkedIn 1,411. In 2026, DLP launched a newly designed website, www.downtownlex.com with a robust event calendar and a viewership of 8,000 per month. We also partner with WKYT (television) LM Communications (radio) and The Lane Report (print) to reach new audiences through commercials and in-person interviews. VisitLEX is a Stakeholder Member in DLP, and include event info on their platforms as well.

Target Audience:

The targeted audience for Mayfest is anyone who enjoys art, live entertainment, and a social, family-friendly
environment. Specifically, we invite those who live near Gratz Park, including students at Transylvania University, and residents of downtown and the northside of Lexington, to attend. As a member-powered organization, we also invite our members to attend and enjoy the event.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

DLP works with LexArts to encourage diverse artists and to determine the line-up is varied during the jury process. Space is held to include diverse artists and types of art.

Partnerships and Collaborations:

DLP collaborates with more than 155 downtown businesses to build a vibrant, economically power urban core. Partners include City of Lexington and Urban County Council, Commerce Lexington Inc., and LexArts. DLP has a 48 member board of directors who represents includes financial institutions, property owners and managers, retail, restaurant and entertainment industries. Together, we strategically and proactively work to: develop and improve Downtown, market and promote Downtown and its businesses and address critical issues that affect the success of Downtown on behalf of our stakeholders and the regional community.

Project Goals:

The goal of Mayfest is to provide a safe, diverse, family-friendly event which gathers the community together, while giving vendors the opportunity to promote themselves and sell their product. Hosting this event in Downtown relates to our mission goal of increasing the public's awareness and comfort level in attending events and shopping/dining opportunities in downtown.

Evaluation Methods:

Following the event, DLP staff will have an after action review to determine if the event outcome aligns with the goal, and identify the positive, negative, and areas for change and enhancement. During the event, onsite evaluation will note attendance (with assistance from onsite Police staff, as they have experience estimating crowd size), and artist engagement. Prior to the event, the vendor and entertainment line-up will demonstrate
the participant diversity.

Project Budget:
Project Budget (Administrator View Only)
Operating Income | Previous FY25:
556340
Operating Income | Current FY26:
664160
Operating Income | Next FY27:
688540
Operating Expense | Previous FY25:
559032
Operating Expense | Current FY26:
659817
Operating Expense | Next FY7:
677439
Total artistic fees for this project:
0
Total expenses for this project:
-25766
Total In-kind for this project:
10000
Earned income:
12500
Contributed income:
0
State arts agency income:
2500
Local government income:
5000
Other income (include applicant cash):
20150
Total project cash income:
40150
Artistic Fees:
0
Production Costs (personnel, equip.):
34766
Space rental:
0
Marketing (publicity, etc.):
0
Other Expenses:
0
Total project cash expense:
34766
Total Project Cash Income - Total Project Cash Expense:
5384
Artistic Documentation:
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REQUIRED ARTISTIC WORK SAMPLES Select high quality artistic documentation that clearly illustrates the merit of your organization’s work or the work of the proposed artists for the project/program. All artistic support materials will be uploaded through the online form. Applicants may submit up to two types of media for their artistic documentation with a total of six samples. Include concise, detailed and descriptive information. AUDIO / VIDEO Panelists will review up to 5 minutes of video or audio. Indicate in the upload description both the cue point and the description of what the panel is viewing/hearing at the cue point. Links to material are also acceptable and can be provided via hotlink in a PDF. IMAGES Submit no more than 6 images. MANUSCRIPTS AND PUBLICATIONS Panelists will read no more than 5 pages of material (8.5” x 11” single sided, single spaced, saved as a PDF and uploaded.)
Audio Upload:
Video:
Video:
Document Uploads Page:
IRS Determination Letter:
DLP.pdf
W9 Form:
DLP-W9-2025.pdf
Current fiscal year annual budget:
2026-Budget-Worksheet-Prelim-pdf.pdf
Project budget breakout:
Mayfest-2026-PL.pdf
Current board list:
DLP-2026-BOD.pdf
Evaluation Sample:
Evaluation Sample
Resumes or biographical information on key program personnel:
LF-Bio-Feb-2024.docx
Optional Support Materials:
Letters of commitment or contracts signed by proposed artist(s):
Letters of Support (up to 2):
Organizational promotional materials:
Board and Staff Demographics - Required Form:
HTML Block:
Include information for each staff and board member, and volunteers. Use as many boxes as needed for each individual:  Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latino  American Indian/Alaska Native Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander White Persons with Disabilities Age 62 or older
Asian:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 0 0
Black/African American:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 3 0
Hispanic/Latino:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 1 0
American Indian/Alaska Native:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 0 0
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 0 0
White (not Hispanic):
Staff Board Volunteers
3 44 0
Persons with Disabilities:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 0 0
Age 62 or older:
Staff Board Volunteers
0 8 0
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