For KY economic development, look to the arts. Then invest much, much more | Opinion
In 2026, we will be celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary. As chairman of the Kentucky Arts Council, and as an artist myself, I encourage you to also consider another important milestone that is critical to Kentucky’s future.
The Kentucky Arts Council (KAC), the state arts agency whose mission is to foster environments for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in, and benefit from the arts, is celebrating its 60th year in 2026. Kentucky has much to be proud of within our rich and dynamic arts community, and we invite artists, arts organizations, arts advocates, and arts educators from across Kentucky to celebrate our arts and cultural heritage at Kentucky Arts Day on Jan. 22.
Hosted by Kentuckians for the Arts, a non-profit arts advocacy organization, this annual event recognizes the critical role the arts play in the commonwealth and highlights how the KAC is integral to the success of individual artists, arts organizations, and arts and cultural programming — fueling our economy, strengthening education, and enhancing quality of life in communities across the state.
For six decades, the Kentucky Arts Council has helped build and sustain thousands of small arts businesses through programs such as Kentucky Crafted and the Performing Arts Directory. The agency has subsidized in-school programs with professional artists, supported high-quality art field trip experiences for schools, and ensured that organizations receiving public funds meet the highest standards of artistic excellence and organizational operation. Each year the KAC recognizes and celebrates the richness of Kentucky’s artistic talent through the Poet Laureate nomination process, the Governor’s Awards in the Arts, and the Al Smith Arts Fellowships, bringing national attention and recognition to the Commonwealth. Recently, the KAC also provided critical grants for cultural sites threatened by Kentucky’s unprecedented natural disasters.
In 2023, the KAC awarded over $1.1 million in operating support to 100 creative, and community-focused arts organizations statewide. That year, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts reported that Kentucky’s arts industry generated more than $6.9 billion, exceeding the combined totals of agriculture and forestry ($4.4 billion), and employed more than 51,000 individuals, accounting for 2.5% of the state’s GDP. Workers in the cultural economy earned wages and benefits totaling over $3.3 billion. These Kentucky organizations provided over 3.7 million unique arts experiences and collectively leveraged more than $81 million in additional funding. These are amazing returns on our investment!
Despite these clear and significant benefits, the arts and the Kentucky Arts Council face unparalleled challenges. A steady erosion of state funding for the Kentucky Arts Council now places Kentucky 45th in the nation in per capita funding. The KAC’s current appropriation of $1.8 million is lower than that it received from the state in 1987 — nearly 40 years ago. Kentucky invests only 41 cents per person annually in its state arts agency — less than every contiguous state and all southern states except Georgia.
When reviewing grants, I see firsthand the quality, commitment and excellence of the many organizations, artists, schools, and communities that want and need access to the arts.
A modest increase in funding could make a significant difference. An additional 20 cents per capita would place us just below our neighbor West Virginia’s current level of support (62 cents per capita). This would generate approximately $950,000 additional dollars, bringing Kentucky nearly up to our 2013 level of state support and expanding funding for Kentucky’s arts organizations and programming by nearly 50%, enabling for more robust programs and services. It would increase access to the arts in Kentucky communities and schools in all 120 counties, strengthen technical assistance for hundreds of small arts businesses that are contributing to Kentucky’s economy. And support thousands of additional arts experiences — further increasing our $14.3 billion tourism industry.
We are fortunate to have the Kentucky Arts Council, a 60-year leader in arts development and management. With increased support, the KAC can successfully position Kentucky, once again, as a national leader in building a thriving creative economy.
Please join me, Kentuckians for the Arts, and other arts leaders from across the Commonwealth at Kentucky Arts Day as we celebrate our arts legacy and advocate for a strong future for the arts. We are all beneficiaries of the arts. Let’s come together to share the message: an investment in the KY Arts Council is an investment in our communities, our economy, and our future in this very special place that we call Kentucky.
Learn more about Kentucky Arts Day and Kentuckians for the Arts: KyfortheArts.org
Learn more about the Kentucky Arts Council: https://artscouncil.ky.gov/
Everett McCorvey is the director of the Opera Theatre program at the University of Kentucky and the current chair of the Kentucky Arts Council.