A Community-based system in support of the Arts
Lexington is one of 83 cities in the U.S. with a united arts fund. The united arts fund movement began in 1949 when civic and corporate leaders in Cincinnati and Louisville determined that community-wide campaigns, based on the United Way model, could raise substantially more money to provide on going operating support to their major arts institutions.
LexArts is the united arts fund for Lexington. Each year the Campaign for the Arts raises funds that are allocated or granted to other arts organizations. The long-range goal is to broaden the base of support for the arts, promote excellence in the arts and arts management, and to ensure that arts organizations are financially stable.
A contribution to the Campaign for the Arts directly supports a wide variety of arts organizations. Last year, Beneficiary Groups received the following general operating support
- Actors Guild of Lexington - $72,500
- Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras - $28,000
- Lexington Art League - $52,500
- Lexington Children's Theatre - $120,500
- Living Arts and Science Center - $101,250
- Lexington Philharmonic - $160,000
The Campaign for the Arts also provided $67,200 for special projects and programs such as the UK Singletary Center's Corner on Classics Series and the Explorium's Chinese New Year.