LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As local restaurants struggle in the wake of COVID-19, Fund for the Arts Culinary Initiative Strategic Relief Fund has doled out over $115,000 to seven local restaurants and organizations. The fund was launched in collaboration with Ashbourne Farms and is funded by Austin & Janie Musselman, Appalachian Impact Fund, numerous community donations and others.

“We have a long-term commitment to Kentucky’s culinary excellence, world-class hospitality and providing quality farm-to-table foods,” said Rodney Wedge, chief operating officer at Ashbourne Farms. “It drives everything we do, including our commitment to giving back to the community we serve.  In this time of need, we are dedicated to supporting and sustaining our restaurants and hospitality businesses, which are the backbone of our local and regional economies and the lifeblood of a vibrant community, helping to define what is unique, authentic, and important to us.”

The fund is focused on supporting Louisville's culinary arts community and providing relief to institutions that have become a staple of Kentucky's culinary scene. 

Restaurant Relief Grants totaling $45,000 were awarded to:

  • $15k to Mayan Café
  • $15k to The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar
  • $15k to The Wrigley Taproom & Eatery

The remainder of the grants went to:

  • $30k to Southeast Kentucky Food & Farm Stimulus Fund
  • $15k to APRON
  • $15k to the James Beard Foundation
  • $10k to the LEE Initiative

“The Mayan Cafe is truly honored and humbled to have received this grant from the Fund for the Arts Culinary Arts Initiative,” said Anne Shadle, general manager of the Mayan Cafe. “These past few months have been the most difficult of the 20+ years that we have been in business. Receiving this grant has shown us that this community loves us and is fighting alongside us. We are excited to begin serving food again this June and will be able to do so with the help of this grant and all the good folks in Louisville.”

This fund is part of Fund for the Arts' Cultural Lou Recovery Campaign which seeks to raise $10 million by Aug. 30, 2020. The funds will go toward supporting an injured cultural sector as the ongoing pandemic forces shutdowns. 

“I am so proud of our community right now,” said JP Davis, Fund for the Arts’ Senior Vice President. Not only have donors like Austin & Janie Musselman and the team at Ashbourne Farms shown great leadership and generosity- they have allowed us to expand our reach and support our local culinary artists who add flavor and zest to our community. I am so thankful to see the impacts we are making together.”