Best Grants for Visual Artists in Kentucky

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with programs in fine or visual arts within 60 miles of downtown Cincinnati can seek program or project funding of more than US $20,000 in Kentucky. Elsa M Heisel Sule Charitable Trust supports arts, education, health, community development, and related initiatives for organizations with operating budgets under $10 million.

Individual visual and craft artists in Kentucky can access marketing, promotion, and business training support through the Kentucky Crafted Program, helping them grow their creative careers. Kentucky Arts Council’s adjudicated program offers use of the Kentucky Crafted logo, directory representation, exhibition opportunities, referrals, and professional development for eligible artists 18+ who are full-time Kentucky residents.

Individual visual artists and scriptwriters in Kentucky and the broader South Arts region can receive US $10,000 - US $25,000 to recognize and support outstanding artistic work. South Arts Southern Prize fellows are chosen through a national jury process, with top recipients also earning a two-week residency at The Hambidge Center.

Individual or two-person teams of actively practicing visual artists in Kentucky can receive US $5,000 to recognize outstanding visual art. With a mission to highlight the region’s artistic excellence, South Arts provides state-specific fellowships selected by a national jury, with one awardee per eligible Southern state competing for additional Southern Prizes.

Nonprofit organizations running established visual arts, wellness, or middle school education programs in Kentucky and other eligible states can apply for approximately US $8,300 from the Corinne R & Henry Bower Memorial Foundation; awards support year-round, direct-service programming with measurable outcomes. Funding is by invitation only from the Distribution Committee.

Kentucky nonprofit arts organizations seeking professional development for staff or board members can use this grant to fund conferences, workshops, and other training opportunities. Grants from South Arts help visual arts, film, performing arts, museums, and community arts groups in the South, including Kentucky, cover travel, registration, and consultant fees, with awards up to US $1,000.

Visual artists and costume professionals in Kentucky can use this professional development funding for research, courses, workshops, or travel related to costume and textile arts. Costume Society of America provides US $250 - US $1,000 to members in its Southeastern Region for projects that advance research, education, preservation, or design in dress and appearance.

Students in costume, textile, or visual arts fields in Kentucky and other CSA Southeastern Region states can apply for Costume Society of America's Jim Liles Student Award; awards up to US $1,000 for travel and related expenses. Funding supports presenting well-researched, costume-related papers at the CSA Southeastern Region symposium.

Nonprofit and governmental arts presenting organizations in Kentucky can use this grant to fund staff or guest artists’ travel and fees for conferences, festivals, workshops, exhibitions, and other professional development or artistic planning opportunities. With a mission to strengthen arts presenters, South Arts provides support for visual, film, performing, literary, traditional, and multidisciplinary arts presenters, prioritizing BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disability-led organizations.

High school seniors in Kentucky and other eligible Southern states pursuing careers in the music business or visual and other arts can receive scholarship support for their education. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Josh Turner Scholarship Fund especially favors students from rural high schools, including those focused on visual arts fields like painting, photography, or graphic design.

Kentucky schools serving preschool through grade 12 can receive up to US $1,600 to cover transportation for student field trips to visual and performing arts programs. Kentucky visual arts educators can access funding through Kentucky Arts Council to reimburse roundtrip mileage and driver pay for up to two buses per trip, with applications accepted October through March.

Kentucky nonprofits and government units in rural, isolated, or small communities can access funding for Southern artist projects through South Arts’ Arts in Rural Places Grant, with awards up to US $3,000. Visual arts, film, performing, traditional, and literary arts projects must feature a Southern artist and include at least two public activities, with a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

South Arts Inc

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts 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 such as the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs. Why? Because South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process.

Our mission: Advancing Southern vitality through the arts.

Arts in Community Grants

Program Description

Arts in Community Grants are designed to support deeper engagements between Southern communities and artists. Through these grants supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, we aim to increase access to the arts, expand audiences for artists, and broaden our reach. Eligible projects require a Southern artist/company visiting another Southern state for public activities, offering access to arts programming by professional artists. Funding supports Southern film directors, traditional artists, visual artists, performing artists, or writers:

• film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
• traditional arts (music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts/crafts),
• visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media),
• performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), and
• literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry).

Projects require an artist or artist ensemble and a host or partner organization. Project must include at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities – both a public presentation (a film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement activity (a workshop, demonstration, lecture, facilitated discussion, or master class). The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

Women-identifying visual and environmental artists in Kentucky and across the U.S. can receive up to US $20,000 to advance in-progress environmental art projects with public engagement. Grants from New York Foundation for the Arts’ Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants support work addressing themes like regeneration, climate change, eco-social engagement, and systems restoration, to be completed by August 2026.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in the U.S. pursuing visual and fine arts-related degrees can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 per year for tuition and educational costs. Kentucky-based tribal students in eligible arts fields may benefit.

The Elizabeth Furber Scholarship honors the legacy of Elizabeth Furber by providing financial assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students. This scholarship supports students pursuing full-time degrees in various fields, including fine arts, music, and creative writing. As a need-based award, it requires applicants to demonstrate Tribal affiliation through a Tribal Eligibility Certificate. This opportunity empowers eligible students to achieve their academic goals.

Nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, university departments, and individual visual artists in Kentucky working in the Thoma Foundation’s collection areas can seek support for exhibitions, convenings, academic research, and public programs. Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation supports fine and visual arts, media arts, and art history projects, with an emphasis on innovative, scholarship-driven work.

Visual artists and arts nonprofits in Kentucky creating new public or nontraditional visual art commissions can apply for VIA Art Fund’s Artistic Production Grant Program; awards US $25,000 - US $100,000 for production and exhibition costs. Projects must have a confirmed exhibition venue or presenting partner and emphasize artistic excellence, thought leadership, and public engagement.

Community college and university students in Kentucky pursuing visual arts or music degrees can receive scholarship support for accredited BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or music programs. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee provides funding for majors in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, and music, with preference for acoustic mandolin or guitar and a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing college studies in music, visual arts, dance, or drama may be eligible for this scholarship, open to students from Shawnee High School, Liberty Academy, or home-schooled residents of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Focused on higher education in the arts, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma invites applicants preparing for fine and visual arts-related majors.

The Warren MacKenzie Advancement Award supports students and emerging ceramic artists in the U.S. to enhance their skills and knowledge through research and education for up to twelve months. Eligible applicants include current students and recent graduates in ceramics. The award offers a maximum of $2,000 for travel, education, or research, enabling recipients to explore new techniques, collaborate with mentors, and attend workshops, thereby fostering professional growth in the field of ceramics.

Ann and Anthony La Pietra Scholarship

Recipients are chosen based on their efforts and achievements in an area that reflects the lifelong pursuits of Ann and Anthony La Pietra, longtime Marshall residents. These areas include the fine arts, community service and advocacy to support people in need, prevent discrimination, protect the environment and work toward peace and understanding. Applicants should be pursuing studies/majors related to one or more of these areas. Academic success and financial need may be considered but are not necessarily determining factors. Students who receive this scholarship are encouraged to apply for further support in subsequent years. 

The AFNGA AusArt Scholarship, offered by the American Australian Association, supports Australian graduate students in fine arts or related fields for one year of artistic development in the US. With funding of US $30,000, recipients can cover travel, living, and tuition costs. Eligible applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents, emerging artists, and have a formal offer from an accredited US institution. This scholarship fosters cultural exchange and artistic growth between Australia and the US.

Generally the Community Foundation's scholarships are awarded to applicants who have high financial need. Applicants with household income exceeding $100,000 are less likely to be awarded, but applying will allow you to be considered for targeted scholarships.

Mathilda & Carolyn Gallmeyer Scholarship

Open to students who are residents of Kent County for 5+ years, studying fine arts and with a minimum 2.75 GPA.

Armstrong County Community Foundation

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Susan Falsetti-Burdett Memorial Scholarship Fund for Music

Born in Kittanning in 1957, Susan Burdett was the daughter of Aldo and Dorothy (Trenchik) Falsetti, and was a lifelong resident of our community. Susie was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife, and friend. She taught music to many over the years, and also taught at Divine Redeemer School. She was caring, compassionate, sharing and understanding. Her charity will live on through this Susan Falsetti-Burdett memorial Scholarship Fund for Music.

Scholarship Details

• Available to High School Seniors
• Nonrenewable

All ACCF Scholarships are merit based.

Our mission is to enhance quality of life, today and in the future, by:

• Enabling donors to fulfill their charitable desires
• Building a permanent endowment
• Facilitating prudent management and care of funds
• Meeting needs through grants, awards, and scholarships

CFCC: Solomon Valley Community Foundation: Fine Arts Future Development Scholarship

Graduating high school seniors in the Solomon Valley area, including Mitchell, Cloud, and Jewell Counties, that are pursuing a major in Instrumental Music or Art.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.