KAC Grant Applications Now Open to Support Community Arts

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that applications are being accepted for three Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) grant programs that support a wide range of arts and cultural activities across the state.

The grant programs, which are designed to foster community pride, economic growth and cultural heritage, include:

• General Operating Support Grant: Provides funding for day-to-day operations of established arts organizations
• Arts Everywhere Grant: Supports specific projects and initiatives and is open to both arts and non-arts organizations
• Public Art & MuralsGrant: Funds permanent and semi-permanent public art installations

“Communities across Kansas are experiencing the positive impacts that the arts provide — strengthening culture, vibrancy and economic vitality statewide,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Kansas Arts Commission will continue to support organizations that are enriching communities, boosting local economies, and connecting Kansans with meaningful arts and cultural experiences.”

KAC has awarded more than 130 grants to organizations in 38 counties this fiscal year — distributing more than $1.25 million to support museums, arts education, music, dance, visual arts, theatre, murals, poetry and more. Award funding is made possible through appropriations by the Kansas Legislature, federal support from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), and fees collected from the Kansas “State of the Arts” license plate program.

“The arts are prevalent across Kansas — across every county and every town, brilliant artists, dedicated organizations, leaders, educators and volunteers are actively bringing vibrancy and creativity to our state,” Kansas Arts Commission Director Curtis Young said. “We are excited to see what this next round of applications will bring to Kansas.”

Eligible applicants include Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of local government (e.g., schools, universities, libraries, art agencies, etc.) and federally recognized tribal communities. All applicants must have at least one fiscal year of completed arts programming.

The deadline for all three KAC grant applications is 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 23. The grant period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and all grants require a one-to-one match. For details, guidelines and eligibility, click here.

Applications must be submitted through the Kansas Commerce online application portal. To apply, click here.

About the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC):

The Kansas Arts Commission stewards the state’s investment in the arts by empowering creativity, fostering innovation, and strengthening the economy to enhance the vitality of every Kansas community. The Kansas Arts Commission is a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. To learn more about KAC, click here or contact Ben Stanton at benjamin.stanton@ks.gov or (785) 213-5959.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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