The mission of the Kentucky Arts Council is to create opportunities for the people of Kentucky to value, participate in, and benefit from the arts. Working in partnership with organizations and individuals to deliver arts programs and services throughout the state, we ask that applicants and partners keep the following guiding values in mind when working with the Kentucky Arts Council:
Artists' Compensation
The Kentucky Arts Council believes that artists' time and work have real value, for which artists should be fairly compensated. In dealing with artists' creative services and works, we want to ensure that:
- Artists are fully engaged in plans for use of their work.
- It is not standard practice to solicit gratis creative services and works, demonstrations or performances.
- All parties mutually agree upon equitable compensation for services, works or performances.
Diversity
The Kentucky Arts Council believes that arts programs and services should be accessible to all people of the commonwealth. We recognize that communities are not limited to geographic boundaries and may be defined by common factors such as occupation, recreation, religion, ethnicity, belief, etc., that are shared by a group of people. The members of these groups share a common culture and a sense of aesthetics. Their unique and diverse art forms bring people together and can promote positive intercultural relations among the state's various communities, including:
- Persons of all ages
- Gay, lesbian and transgender communities
- Persons of all ethnic and racial groups
- Persons with disabilities
- Geographically or economically isolated communities
- Disadvantaged and at-risk persons
- Institutionalized persons
Preservation of Cultural Resources
The Kentucky Arts Council believes that the arts and cultural resources of Kentucky are key to understanding our heritage, and that honoring the past will help build our future. Recognizing that knowledge of our history will help build our future, we support identifying, documenting, conserving and protecting the cultural resources of the state, including:
- Artistic works
- Cultural traditions
- Historic sites
- Historic structures
Advocacy
The Kentucky Arts Council believes it is important for individuals and organizations to advocate for the arts and promote how they enhance our communities and our lives. We encourage our constituents to influence public policy by:
- Acknowledging public funding sources
- Becoming involved in the public life of the community
- Getting to know legislators and local officials and staying informed about issues
- Involving public officials in arts activities or the activities of arts organizations
- Asking legislators and local officials to vote for positions supporting the arts
- Discussing the value of the arts with peers