Creative Chapters Public Library Program Grant

Creative Chapters Public Library Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Kentucky Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $2,400
Last Updated: October 14, 2025

Summary

The Creative Chapters Public Library Program, funded by the Kentucky Arts Council, supports public libraries in hosting artist residencies. These residencies enhance community engagement through artistic disciplines intertwined with educational initiatives. Libraries can employ teaching artists from a designated directory, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility while adhering to safety protocols. This program fosters collaboration between artists and libraries, enriching the cultural landscape and providing diverse artistic experiences to audiences across Kentucky.

Overview

Kentucky Arts Council The Kentucky Arts Council is the state arts agency and is responsible for developing and promoting support for the arts in Kentucky. Strategically placed in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Arts Council is publicly funded by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency of the federal government. Creative Chapters Public Library Program The Creative Chapters Library Program (CCLP) Grant enables public libraries to implement artist residencies in their year-round schedules. Librarians and artists work in partnership to design and implement the residencies. Residencies may be focused on a specific artistic discipline or explore educational pairings such as dance integrated into a reading campaign, storytelling integrated into a relevant historical/commemorative event, a painting class that connects to environmental awareness, or a writing residency combined with an author study, etc. Juried teaching artists may partner with libraries wishing to create and exhibit participant work in public locations, such as arts venues, schools, hospitals, and medical plazas. Residencies supported by this grant must: Employ teaching artists from the Kentucky Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Directory. Be open and marketed to the public and dedicated to serving a wide audience. Follow all local, state and federal safety protocols in effect at the time of the residency. Be held during times that public schools are not in session (holidays, winter, spring, and summer breaks, after school, weekends, etc.). Be accessible to audience members and teaching artists with disabilities. For the purpose of these guidelines, accessibility relates to the residency and the facility.Funding may be used for up to 30 instructional, in-person hours.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Any Kentucky public library may apply. Restrictions All artists must be selected from the Kentucky Arts Council’s Teaching Artists Directory.No more than two CCLP applications will be accepted from one library per fiscal year.No more than 40 days of residencies may be awarded to one teaching artist per fiscal year.  Each session should not exceed more than 30 people with the artist.

Ineligibility

Kentucky Arts Council grant funds may not be used for the following purposes: Purchase of equipment, property, public library holdings or acquisitionsAdministrative workPromotional methodsCapital improvements, facility construction, structural renovations and restorationsPublications or recordings for commercial purposesScholarships or other activities related to academic credit or degreesActivities intended primarily for fundraisingFood, beverages or other refreshmentsExpenses other than teaching artist feesTeaching artists not included in the Teaching Artists DirectoryResidencies taking place outside of the grant periodRequests designed to reduce or eliminate existing deficitsInterest on loans, fines, penalties and/or litigation costsExpenses incurred before the starting date of the period covered in the grant requestInvestments of any kindPerformances not available to the general publicPrograms that have sectarian purposesIndirect costs unless 1) per a current federally-negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (official documentation required), or 2) “de minimus” indirect costs not to exceed 10 percent of total modified direct cost The application of new artistic work to historic buildings or structures unless approved by the state historic preservation office as being in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.