Despite the economy and a momentary threat to its government contribution, LexArts 2009 Campaign for the Arts has exceeded its $1,000,000 goal. The Lexington united arts fund announced last week that it had collected $1,020,000 in its campaign, pending Lexington Fayette Urban-County Council approval of a $450,000 contribution from its budget for the fiscal year from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.
Late last month, it seemed some of that funding might have been in jeopardy. A council subcommittee recommended a 10 percent reduction in the LexArts funding to bring it in line with other programs on Mayor Jim Newberry’s special projects budget. Other programs on the budget were cut 10 percent.
But, in a council work session, the full council voted to restore LexArts funding to $450,000, which is what it received last year. The 2008 Campaign, which received the same amount from the Urban-County Council, raised $1,153,522. LexArts had scaled back its expectations for this year, in light of the economy.