Louisville UnFair Awarded Mini-Grant from Fund for the Arts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LOUISVILLE, KY – (May 16, 2025) Louisville UnFair Inc. is proud to announce it has been awarded a $5,000 Community Event Mini-Grant from Fund for the Arts to support its 2025 Louisville UnFair, an annual, grassroots arts festival showcasing underrepresented, emerging, and experimental artists in the heart of Old Louisville.

The grant will directly support the October 3–5 event at the Magnolia Bar, helping organizers remove barriers to participation by providing direct support to artists, improving accessibility, and expanding infrastructure. With this funding, Louisville UnFair will eliminate all artist participation fees for the first time in its history, ensuring the event remains free and open to the public from beginning to end.

“This grant from Fund for the Arts helps us grow in ways we’ve only dreamed of,” said Nick Knight, President of Louisville UnFair Inc. “It allows us to remove financial barriers for local artists and keep bold, accessible art at the center of Louisville’s creative culture.”

Founded as an inclusive counterpoint to more commercialized events, Louisville UnFair has become a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of attendees and featuring dozens of local artists who push the boundaries of form and content. The event thrives on collaboration with community partners like the Magnolia Bar who provide the location for the show and contribute critical in-kind support.

Plans for the 2025 UnFair include expanded installations, curated DJ sets from the venue’s balcony, and a dedicated youth artist opportunity (YAO) program for emerging local artists. In addition to the weekend festival, Louisville UnFair is launching a year-round slate of exhibitions, workshops, and events to further elevate its mission of visibility, inclusion, and creative experimentation.

The Community Event Mini-Grant is part of Fund for the Arts’ commitment to supporting vibrant, neighborhood-based arts experiences across the region.

For more information about the Louisville UnFair or to get involved, visit https://louisvilleunfair.org or follow @LouisvilleUnFair on Instagram and Facebook.