# Beshear awards $51K in touring grants to 15 nonprofits **Published:** 2026-08-13T16:33:01.000Z **Source:** [KY Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=TAH&prId=352) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/beshear-awards-51k-in-touring-grants-to-15-nonprofits Governor Andy Beshear announced that 15 nonprofit organizations across Kentucky will receive $51,175 in [Kentucky Touring Grant funds](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/program/kentucky-touring-grant/) to bring performing artists and cultural programming to communities throughout the commonwealth. The grants, administered through the [Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=TAH&prId=352), are designed to expand access to quality performances in dance, music, theater and storytelling. [The Kentucky Arts Council](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/), the state's official arts agency, administers the program with funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The [touring grants are matching grants that provide up to $5,000](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/program/kentucky-touring-grant/) to help organizations cover artist fees, marketing and promotion costs. Eligible applicants include nonprofit arts organizations, public libraries, schools, community-based organizations, parks and social service agencies with annual budgets under $1 million. "We're proud to support the arts and help make these experiences more accessible to Kentuckians," Beshear said in announcing the awards. The program encourages presenters to book performing artists from the [Kentucky Arts Council's Performing Artists Directory](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/), which includes established professionals in dance, theater, music and storytelling. Grant-funded performances must be open to the general public and accessible to audience members with disabilities. Tourism and arts support a major sector of Kentucky's economy. In 2025, the state achieved a record $14.6 billion in tourism economic impact, according to the governor's office. ## Sources - [KY Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=TAH&prId=352) - [Kentucky Touring Grant program details](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/program/kentucky-touring-grant/) - [Kentucky Arts Council](https://artscouncil.ky.gov/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=TAH&prId=352.