Performing Artists Directory Grants

The Performing Artists Directory Grants, offered by the Kentucky Arts Council, aim to support professional performing artists in dance, music, theater, and storytelling. This program provides artists with marketing opportunities, professional development, and a platform for promoting their work. Eligible artists must be Kentucky residents and meet specific criteria, ensuring a diverse representation of talent. The directory serves as a valuable resource for booking performances, fostering connections between artists and venues.

Note: The Kentucky Arts Council does not provide artist management.
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.
Program Description
The Performing Artists Directory is an adjudicated roster of professional Kentucky performing artists who have an established performance history. It is a marketing program that offers roster artists professional development and a variety of opportunities to promote their performance work, including a detailed entry in the online directory. In addition, the directory is used by in- state and out-of-state presenters and others as a resource for identifying artists for performance bookings and projects.
Purpose
The purpose of the Performing Artists Directory is to promote, showcase and provide professional development opportunities to a diverse selection of Kentucky’s finest contemporary and traditional performing artists.
Goals
Provide experienced, professional performing artists with opportunities to connect with performing arts venues.
Provide market, promotion and other business training to professional performing artists.
Support the artistic growth of outstanding professional performing artists.

Eligibility

Full-time and part-time professional tour-ready artists, companies and groups in dance, music, theater and storytelling may apply.
Music applicants must primarily perform original music, songs in the public domain or a combination of the two.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Student-based performance groups must perform regularly off-campus for professional fees.
Applicants must have been full-time Kentucky residents for at least six months prior to the application deadline and remain full-time residents for the program participation period.
Performing groups must include a majority (more than 50 percent) of Kentucky residents as members.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence or have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work permanently in the U.S.

Ineligibility

Performers whose repertoire consists primarily of covers of copyrighted music that is not their own are not eligible to apply.
Vocalists performing with prerecorded music are not eligible to apply. (Hip-hop performers are not limited by this restriction.)