Kentucky Touring Grant

Kentucky Touring Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Kentucky Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: March 18, 2026

Summary

The Kentucky Touring Grant is a matching grant designed to enhance public access to quality performances in the commonwealth. It supports presenters in booking artists from the Kentucky Arts Council's Performing Artists Directory, with applicants able to request up to $5,000 for fees and marketing. A 25% cash match is required, ensuring community involvement. This grant fosters cultural engagement through diverse artistic expressions, benefiting nonprofit organizations and public institutions within Kentucky.

Overview

The Kentucky Touring Grant is a matching grant that helps make quality public performances available to the people of the commonwealth. This program provides presenters with support to book performers of dance, music, theatre and storytelling from the Kentucky Arts Council Performing Artists Directory. Applicants may request up to $5,000 for artist fees, marketing and promotion. Funding may be used only for performers who have juried into the Performing Artist Directory. Grantees must match at least 25% of the requested award with cash from other grants, donations, ticket sales, sponsorships, etc. The remaining match may be secured with in-kind goods and services.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Who May Apply:Nonprofit organizations with annual budgets under $1,000,000, including arts organizations; public libraries; schools; cooperative extension offices; social service agencies; community-based organizations; college, university or public school-based nonprofit presenting arts organizations with discrete budgets; nonprofit institutions with residential populations such as assisted living and nursing homes, hospitals, youth and adult jails and detention centers, group and supportive living facilities, homeless and domestic violence shelters, etc.; and Kentucky state and city parks.  Applicants must have existing IRS tax-exempt status at the time of application and must retain that status throughout the grant period. Government agencies and programs must provide proof of government status. Applicant organizations must be legally chartered in Kentucky, have their headquarters in Kentucky and hold their primary activities in Kentucky.

Ineligibility

Kentucky Touring Grant funds may not be used for: Expenses other than approved performer fees and performance marketing and promotionPerformers not included in the Performing Artists DirectoryFee support for performing artists who are also the applicant organization (e.g., a producing theater organization cannot use grant funding to present a performance by its own company members, an orchestra cannot use grant funding to present performances by orchestra members, etc.)Performances taking place outside of KentuckyPerformances that are commercial in nature or in which the arts are not a primary focus (e.g., sidewalk sales, food festivals, fireworks displays, etc.)Performances used to proselytize or for political or fundraising purposesPerformances in which the Directory artist is not the primary focus Performances that are not open to the public (this restriction is not applicable to institutions serving resident populations)Performances taking place outside of the grant period (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026)Applicants with past due final reports for any Kentucky Arts Council grant are ineligible.