Fund for the Arts

At the Fund for the Arts, we believe that art is a right, not a privilege, because art is a fundamental expression of the human condition.

We envision a healthy and vibrant community where everyone embraces the art that exists in our lives every day, where everyone contributes to our arts community, and where everyone belongs. The Fund generates resources for, invests in, and supports our local arts, artists and arts organizations through our focus areas of Arts in Learning, Arts in Neighborhoods, and Arts in Institutions. Individuals, like you, who give generously directly support local arts, artists and arts organizations.

Examples of programming include 5x5 that provides at least five arts experiences to school children by the time they reach 5th grade, TAG (Teaching Arts Grants) that give teachers resources to integrate arts to support their curriculum through field trips, workshops and artist residencies, Community Engagement Activities and Mini-Grants for events to foster conversations between artists and community leaders that build and reinforce strong, healthy sustainable neighborhoods, Sustaining Impact Grants that provides mission-based operating support to arts organizations to ensure ongoing capacity to drive community impact and Cultural Pass which offers families with children ages 0-21 access to arts and cultural activities free of charge all summer long.

Founded in 1949, the Fund for the Arts (FFTA) is one of the two oldest United Arts Funds in the country. FFTA supports, promotes and develops arts, artists, and arts organizations to help create a healthy and vibrant community for all. Since our founding we have raised over a quarter billion dollars that have directly and indirectly benefitted millions of people and scores of organizations in our community.

Who We Are

Fund for the Arts is a regional nonprofit committed to building a vibrant community through the power of the arts.

Due to COVID-19, we are redirecting all of our efforts toward our $10 million Cultural Lou Recovery Campaign to support the immediate and long term recovery needs of our Greater Lousiville- based artists and nonprofit arts and culture organizations.

With your help, Fund for the Arts supports a range of arts organizations and drives accessibility across neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and public spaces. The Funds raised are invested in our community to ensure access to arts experiences, advocate for cultural equity, cultivate new arts leaders and creative professionals, and promote Louisville as a world-class city of arts and culture.

Louisville’s arts scene rivals those of the nation’s most renowned cities. The community boasts a vibrant visual arts scene plus major professional companies in five resident performing arts categories—a claim only two other peer cities, and only 13 cities nationally, can make. The breadth and diversity of our Arts scene, from theatres to museums, concerts to galleries, drives economic development, access to the arts, and enhances the quality of life throughout the region for citizens and business leaders alike. The arts are simply a defining strength for this creative, vibrant, funky town.

We believe the arts fuel our regional economy, inspire student success, bring people together, and simply make Louisville an amazing, unique city.