(Frankfort, Ky.) - The National Endowment for the Arts has announced that it will award the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, a $639,900 State Partnership Agreement Grant. Similar grants are made to most of the 50 state and six jurisdictional arts agencies across the nation to leverage state funding and help state agencies address priorities identified at the state level. Other components of the grant include support for arts education, fostering the arts in rural, inner city and other underserved communities, as well as providing access to the arts for all Kentuckians. “We are very pleased to see a slight increase in our funding from the Endowment this year,” said Arts Council Executive Director Gerri Combs. “We did very well compared to other state arts agencies and that should help a little in these tight budgetary times. Public funding is essential in providing arts activities to every corner of Kentucky.”

The Kentucky Arts Council uses these funds across the board in agency work. Although some allocations go towards administrative costs, the bulk of the funds go toward grants for operational support of local arts organizations, artist residency programs in Kentucky schools, community arts development and technical assistance in areas of accessibility and participation building. For more information about the Kentucky Arts Council’s programs and services, visit their Web site at www.artscouncil.ky.gov

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The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet. Working in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $20 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts - both new and established-bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.