advocate for the arts


On May 2, the FY26 federal budget request released by the White House (pg. 40) called for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and other cultural agencies. In the weeks following, NEA grantees in Kentucky received notifications that their awards had been terminated or withdrawn from consideration.

Now, the House Appropriations committee has proposed a drastic cut to NEA and NEH funding—reducing each agency’s budget to $135 million. This marks a 35% decrease from the current funding level of $207 million.

The Lexington Philharmonic, Living Arts & Science Center, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Bluegrass Youth Ballet, Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras, and Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning have formed a united coalition to advocate for the continued and increased support of the arts at the national, state, and local levels.

Now, that's a lot. Here's the breakdown, and how it affects the Arts here.

How Funding Flows

The National Endowment for the Arts is funded by federal tax dollars allocated by the United States Congress every fiscal year. The NEA in turn allocates funds through grants for which state arts agencies and arts organizations must apply and be approved through a rigorous adjudication process.

The Kentucky Arts Council is one of these state agencies receiving $968,000 from the NEA in FY26, making up 36% of the KAC budget. The other 64% is matched by state tax dollars allocated by the Kentucky General Assembly which have been on the decline since 2001.

Finally, LexArts receives its funding from a combination of sources including the KAC, NEA, LFUCG, and more. LexArts, in turn, allocates funds to individual artists and arts organizations throughout Lexington and Fayette County.

Okay, you got the basics — here's how you can help us.

National

The NEA, established in Congress in 1965, is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide. Over the past five years, the NEA distributed $14.3 million in federal funding to Kentucky. If the NEA were to be eliminated, it would have an immediate and longterm negative impact on the Arts in the United States of America.

At the national level, here’s how you can advocate:

Make the Call:

Contact Senators McConnell, Paul, and your Congressional Representative and ask them to
sustain support for the NEA in the FY26 federal budget. Use the resources provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and Kentuckians for the Arts and be specific about what those funds mean to your community.

Send the Email:

Americans for the Arts has prepared an email form in support of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts that will be sent to Congress. Please send your email, and help us distribute it as widely as possible.

Write Your Lexington Letter:

LexPhil, our coalition organizations, and arts organizations across Lexington are uniting to make sure Congress hears how important the arts — and the National Endowment for the Arts — are to our city, our region, and Kentucky as a whole.

We've created a simple template letter that any citizen can use to contact their federal legislators. Supporters can personalize the letter with their own arts story, or send it as-is. 

Now, let's head back to the Bluegrass.

state

All Kentuckians have a tangible connection to the Arts as they are intertwined into the very fabric of our Commonwealth.

However, Kentucky ranked 45th in the nation in per capita investment in FY2024. In sports terms, we’re basically at the bottom of the conference with Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas (by 8¢) out ranking us.

The Kentucky Arts Council has not recovered from steep cuts over the past 20 years even as the economy has rebounded. Today, state funding is less than half of the 2001 level and lower than in 1987, which has significantly reduced the scope of its programs and services.

At the state level, here’s how you can advocate:

Contact your Representative: Kentuckians for the Arts calls for the General Assembly to restore Kentucky Arts Council funding to at least the 2001 level of $4.5 million annually. Find your State Senators and Representatives and let your voice be heard!

Spread the Word: The power of conversation should not be underestimated. Seek out your village and help us spread the word about what is happening and how folks can help.

Finally, support the Arts right here in Lexington.

local

The Lexington Philharmonic alongside the Living Arts & Science Center, Lexington Children’s Theatre, Bluegrass Youth Ballet, Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras, and Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning formed a united coalition because we care deeply about the Arts in our community.

LexPhil, as well as every one of these organizations, receive general operating support funds from the Kentucky Arts Council and LexArts, whether directly or through the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. These funds are vital and literally keep the lights on.

At the local level, here’s how you can advocate:

Contact your Council-member: Tell your representative that the Arts are important to Lexington, and that you want to see them continued to be supported. Call, email, or literally write a letter, let your voice be heard!

Show Up: Buy tickets and go to museums, ballets, concerts and art exhibits. Participate in the plethora of programming that Lexington organizations work hard to offer. Show up for us and we’ll show up for you!

Donate: If ever you’ve wanted to give to the Arts, now is your time to shine. Find their support page on their website and make a giving plan that makes sense for you.

We are in this together to make the music (and the Arts) possible.