Inspire Create Connect
For a Better World
The Lincoln Arts Council harnesses the power of the arts to heal and unite the community to ensure that diverse, universal artistic experiences are accessible to everyone in Nebraska’s capital city.
Championing
the arts
Connecting
People
Changing
Lives
The challenge:
When Arts Access Is Out of Reach, Communities Suffer
Too often, the transformative power of the arts is limited to a select few.
Cost, distance, language barriers, and lack of opportunity keep too many people — children, seniors, new Americans, and underserved neighborhoods — from experiencing the connection, healing, and growth that the arts provide.
When creativity is cut off, people feel isolated.
Communities lose vibrancy.
Potential is left untapped.
Bringing the Arts to Everyone
We believe that the arts are more than just entertainment; they are a human right and a catalyst for change. By amplifying the voices of local creatives and supporting the well-being of vulnerable adults and children, we connect Lincoln’s artists with our at-risk neighbors. The Lincoln Arts Council operates at the crossroads of community advocacy and individual healing, offering platforms and resources to lead, heal, and build resilience. We ensure that every person has the opportunity to create, and that every creator is part of a community that values and advocates for their transformative work.
KidstArt
Embracing children’s creative imagination.
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CarestArt
Healing adults who are vulnerable and isolated.
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CONNECT TO CREATE
Connecting creatives across the city.
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The Lincoln Arts Council in a seven-slide scroll…
Our Story
From Humble beginnings.
To nearly six decades in the community.
The Lincoln Arts Council has been a cornerstone of our community for 58 years, bringing together artists, audiences, and neighborhoods in a shared commitment to creativity and cultural expression. From our humble beginnings, we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that the arts remain accessible to everyone in our vibrant city—whether through programs, arts events, or public art projects. As Lincoln has grown, so too has our mission to provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with the arts.
One of our proudest achievements in recent years has been the UpstArt program—designed to break down barriers to arts access and provide artistic opportunities to underserved communities. What began as a small initiative has blossomed into a dynamic network of arts access partnerships serving children (KidstArt) and adults (CarestArt). UpstArt offers free or low-cost access to arts programs that would otherwise be out of reach for many Lincoln residents.
Our mission is also to support and advocate for the arts community. Our Connect to Create initiative ensures that our resources and expertise are available to Lincoln’s creatives so that they can thrive and bring new opportunities to the public.
