We often hear that “Lexington punches above its weight.” It does. There is so much evidence of it.  And you will find examples not only on our homepage, but also in our archive.

Undermain is a Lexington, Kentucky–based arts journalism project that treats the creative process as the story—not just the finished product. Our contributing writers and editors do the work in a spirit of collaboration and community — everyone pulling together in the same direction to help sustain the city's creative energy. 

We want to do our part to support this by providing in-depth profiles, previews, reviews, and long-form interviews that take you inside studios, galleries, rehearsal rooms, readings, and performances in and around our dynamic little city. These stories are shared with readers through an email newsletter as new pieces go live. You can sign up to receive the newsletter on our homepage.

Undermain aims to encourage and support artists and venues, often getting coverage out in time for audiences to experience an exhibit or show while it’s happening. 

What you’ll notice as you browse:

Feature stories about the works of Lexington's rich arts community.

An Arts Events Calendar and a robust “People, Places, Performances, Presentations” directory that points readers to the region’s venues, presenters, and arts organizations across music, photography, theatre, and visual art. 

Signature projects, including Undermain Icons—a monthly series highlighting Kentucky artists with national recognition, supported by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Arts Council. 

A community-informed editorial model: the “Editorial Advisory Hive,” a network of local artists and arts leaders meant to keep coverage grounded in what’s actually being made and shown—reflecting Lexington’s cultural diversity. 

Clear nonprofit footing and partnerships: Undermain, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) with Blue Grass Community Foundation serving as fiscal agent. Collaborative partnerships include WEKU’s Eastern Standard, Arts Connect, and Green Room Exchange with more soon to come.

You can help us fill the void. Share our site (https://undermainarts.org/home)  and support Undermain with a donation.