Support the Arts
Advocate for Young Artists.
Advocacy
The FY26 federal budget request release by the White House on May 2 (pg. 40) called for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and other cultural agencies with some NEA grantees in Kentucky receiving notifications that their awards had been terminated or withdrawn from consideration.
Additionally, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R.1), which has passed the House in a 215-214 vote and will be considered by the Senate with a final passage expected for July 4, increases taxes on foundations & nonprofits and disincentivizes charitable giving. By diverting scarce resources away from nonprofits and their missions, the bill will harm those who rely on the services provided by nonprofits in our communities.
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 has been on the decline since 2001.
Finally, Bluegrass Youth Ballet (BYB) receives its funding from a combination of sources including the KAC, NEA, LexArts, LFUCG, and more. BYB, in turn, allocates these funds to provide quality dance education opportunities to youth throughout our community, regardless of a family’s ability to pay for services and tuition.
Local Ways to Help
Bluegrass Youth Ballet (BYB) joins forces with Lexington’s leading arts organizations to advocate for strong local and state arts support. Together, we rely on vital funding from the Kentucky Arts Council, LexArts, and LFUCG to keep the arts alive and accessible in our community.
Speak Up
Let your city leaders know the arts matter. Call, email, or write—your voice counts.
Show Up
Attend local performances, exhibits, and events.
Your presence fuels our purpose.
Give Back
Support arts organizations with a donation that fits your budget. Every dollar helps.
Help Across Kentucky
Kentucky ranks 45th in the nation for per capita arts funding, with the Kentucky Arts Council still operating at less than half of its 2001 budget. This underfunding directly impacts organizations like Bluegrass Youth Ballet.
Take Action:
Contact Your Legislators: Ask your State Representatives and Senators to restore Kentucky Arts Council funding to at least $4.5 million annually.
Join the Campaign: Participate in our July 12, 2025, letter-writing event and let lawmakers know the arts matter in every community.
Spread the Word: Share the importance of public arts funding with your network and help us build momentum for meaningful change.
Help at the National Level
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the largest federal funder of arts in the U.S., distributing over $14.3 million to Kentucky in the last five years. Its elimination would severely impact organizations like BYB and countless others.
Simultaneously, proposed federal tax legislation (H.R. 1) threatens nonprofits by disincentivizing charitable giving and increasing operating costs.
Take Action:
Contact Your Senators & Representatives: Ask them to support NEA funding in the FY26 federal budget and oppose harmful provisions in H.R. 1 that would hurt nonprofits.
Sign On: Add your name to letters organized by Kentuckians for the Arts and the Kentucky Nonprofit Network to protect arts funding and nonprofit sustainability.
Spread Awareness: Share how these national decisions affect your local community and encourage others to take action too.