Funding and Opportunities
National Endowment for the Arts - ARP Sub-Granting Program (Application Closed)
Louisville Metro Government was awarded $250,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to be distributed to Louisville's nonprofit arts agencies to aid in the continued recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARP funds support operating costs, rather than programmatic costs, and can be applied to personnel, stipends for artists, facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing costs. No cost share or matching is required for this funding.
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the federal government that provides funding opportunities for art and artists to strengthen the creative capacities of our communities. The NEA awards a variety of grants every year to state and local government agencies, as well as community organizations.
National Endowment for the Arts
SouthArts
SouthArts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs.
Culturalyst Louisville - Artist Directory
Louisville's Elevator Artist Resource has joined forces with Culturalyst, a New Orleans-based start-up that is building a national network of local artist directories, to bring you Culturalyst Louisville: an online directory for artists of all disciplines who reside in the greater Louisville area. Artists can create and activate a unique profile of their work including cover and profile photos, Google-indexed artist statement, links to all online properties, and a full gallery of work (images, songs, video). The directory is public and searchable by medium and genre, among other attributes.
External Agency Fund Grants
Louisville Metro Government strives to activate the city through the arts and creative industries by providing programs and direct support. Each year, the Mayor and Metro Council approve funds from the general operating budget to invest in arts and culture through grants. These grants support nonprofit organizations through program-based support. In the current fiscal year Metro invested $600,000 in funding to nonprofits in support of our goals of arts experiences for everyone, a creative workforce, and creative community spaces and neighborhoods.
Louisville Metro Council approved FY24 awards on June 22, 2023. The application window for FY24 funding closed on February 3, 2023. Please visit the External Agency Fund-Arts + Creative Industries webpage for information.
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