Governor’s Awards in the Arts Grant

The Governor’s Awards in the Arts, coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Council, celebrate outstanding contributions to the arts by individuals and organizations in Kentucky. This prestigious program honors exemplary achievements through six distinct award categories. Each year, the Council recognizes artists, educators, and community advocates who have made a significant impact, fostering arts advocacy and cultural growth throughout the state. Applicants are encouraged to embody the core values of the Kentucky Arts Council in their submissions.

Core Values of the Kentucky Arts Council
The Kentucky Arts Council strongly encourages you to read and understand the guidelines before beginning the GO Smart application. Like all programs of the arts council, the Governor’s Awards in the Arts Program is guided by the agency's core values. Successful applications will embody these core values, and all applicants are strongly encouraged to read and reflect upon them before submitting an application.
About the Program
The Kentucky Arts Council coordinates the presentation of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, which recognize individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary and significant contributions to the arts in Kentucky.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts is to recognize, with the commonwealth’s highest honors in the arts, the extraordinary and significant contributions of artists, arts organizations, volunteers, schools, educators, local governments, legislators, and corporate citizens, to the arts in Kentucky or the nation.
The goals of the Governor’s Awards in the Arts are:
To select, on an annual basis, exemplary recipients for the six award categories To honor the annual recipients in a public recognition ceremony To expand and diversify arts advocacy
Milner Award
Outstanding philanthropic, artistic or other contributions to the arts
Folk Heritage Award
Outstanding effort to perpetuate and promote Kentucky’s unique artistic traditions, including traditions brought to Kentucky from other regions, states or countries

Eligibility

Milner Award Be an individual resident of Kentucky or an organization located in KentuckyArtist Award Be an individual resident of Kentucky, or group of Kentucky residentsCommunity Arts Award Be an individual resident of Kentucky or an organization located in KentuckyEducation Award Be an individual resident of Kentucky or a school or organization located in KentuckyFolk Heritage Award Be an individual resident of Kentucky or an organization located in KentuckyNational Award Be a past or present Kentuckian who is closely connected with Kentucky