Grant Applications



The Arkansas Arts Council administers both federal and state funds, financial aid and state grants for programs and services benefiting arts organizations, Arkansas schools and Arkansas artists. Federal funds are appropriated by Congress to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) which in turn grants funds to the Arkansas Arts Council. State funds are appropriated by the Arkansas General Assembly. Grant monies from the Arkansas Arts Council are awarded annually.

We recommend that the appropriate Program Manager be contacted before you apply for any Arkansas Arts Council grant.

Check out our Current Grant Recipients.

GRANT CATEGORIES

Grant applications and instructions for Fiscal Year 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011) will be available online soon. Check back here for more information.

Note: Applicants should use the "TAB" key to move from field to field within an application.

For further information, or to request a hard copy of an application, contact the Arkansas Arts Council at (501) 324-9766 or send us an email.

Arts In Education

Initiates new arts programs in schools and local arts agencies and enhances existing ones by providing direct interaction with working artists in residencies. Emphasis is on exposure to the creative process through direct contact with professional artists. Three grants are available for this category: After School / Summer Residency Program, Arts Curriculum Project Grants, and In-school Residency Program. Follow this link for more information on Arts In Education projects currently in place.

Current Grant Recipients

AIE Artist Roster

AIE Artist Roster Guidelines | New AIE Artist Roster Application Form

AIE Roster application deadline: Friday, July 9, 2010..

AIE In-School Residency Grant Program - Grant Application.
Grant funds may be used to place professional artists in residencies during the school day or school year at specific school sites or in conjunction with other non-profit community or governmental organizations and institutions. The AIE residency program provides a way for artists to share their art form and relate it to other pre K-12 curriculum areas.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; public schools recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education; schools exempt from federal income tax under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; institutions of higher learning; units of city, county or state government.
Grant application deadline: Friday, February 5, 2010.

AIE After School/Summer Residency Grant Program - Grant Application.
Grant funds may be used to place professional artists in residencies outside of the school environment, school day or school year. The settings include after-school and summer programs, and can be located in community/neighborhood centers, low-income housing projects, juvenile facilities, social service centers, parks/recreation programs, boys and girls clubs and other community-based or governmental organizations and institutions that provide facilities and guidance during non-school hours.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; institutions of higher learning; units of city, county or state government.
  • Applicant organizations must have been involved in youth programming for a minimum of three years and must have paid and/or volunteer staff to implement the program.
Grant application deadline: Friday, February 5, 2010

AIE Arts Curriculum Project Grant Program - Grant Application.
Grant funds may be used for projects that foster the inclusion of the arts in basic school curriculum. Activities must serve pre K-12 students, adult and/or special constituents directly or indirectly. AIE artists or consultants may be sought for outside expertise. An AIE Arts Curriculum Project grant is not to be used as an AIE residency program or Arts on Tour program.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; public schools; institutions of higher learning; units of city, county or state government.
Grant application deadline: Friday, February 5, 2010.



AIE Mini Grants

Pre K-12 schools for programs during school hours, and/or organizations that provide after school or summer programs, have an opportunity to apply for Arkansas Arts Council funding to:
  • bring quality, professional artists into the classroom or other location to present one- to five-day hands on, curriculum based arts activities
  • present a teachers' professional development workshop in curriculum based arts activities either in conjunction with, or instead of a residency

Artists must be selected from the Arkansas AIE Artist Roster included as a section in the guidelines. Applicants may receive a maximum of $2,000 using established AIE program rates for the artist's fees, travel, lodging and supplies. A 1:1 in-kind or cash match is required.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Be a school district recognized by the Arkansas Department of Education or have an IRS Letter of Determination qualifying the school/organization or its administrative authority as a nonprofit organization.
  2. Provide a teacher or organization staff member to remain in the classroom/organization site during the mini-residency program.
  3. Organizations and institutions must be involved in youth programming for a minimum of three years, and must have paid and/or volunteer staff who will devote time and effort to implement the mini-residency program.

Applications for programs will be available in September 2010.

AIE Mini Grant Program:

For more information, contact Cynthia Haas, AIE program manager at 501-324-9769 or email cynthia@arkansasheritage.org.



Expansion Arts Program - Grant Application.

The Expansion Arts program is designed to assist qualified emerging arts organizations in developing increased organizational capacity by helping them acquire or maintain professional administrative personnel.

Current Expansion Arts Programs

Eligibility Requirements

  • Local arts agencies or single discipline arts organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
  • Applicant organizations must have existed for one year prior to application and must produce or present community cultural programming.
The next 3 year funding cycle will begin in 2012.


General Operating Support - Grant Application

Designed for established, professionally managed not-for-profit organizations whose primary purpose is the production or presentation of the arts. Funds must be spent for non-program activities including salaries of staff, rent, utilities, maintenance of facilities, staff travel and other expenses associated with the operations of the organization.

Current Grant Recipients

Eligibility Requirements

  • Local arts agencies or single discipline arts organizations with a total operating budget equal to or greater than $50,000 that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
  • Applicant organizations must have existed for one year prior to application, must produce or present community cultural programming and must have a full- or part-time salaried director on staff.

Potential new GOS applicants must send a Letter of Intent to apply by December 4, 2009.

Organizations seeking to become eligible to apply for a General Operating Support grant must first consult with the Arts Council's Grant Programs Manager for further instructions.

Grant application deadline: Friday, January 29, 2010.


Individual Artist Fellowships -  Grant Application

Individual Artist Fellowships are unconditional, non-matching awards made directly to individual artists in recognition of their artistic abilities. Awards are based on the creative excellence of works submitted for review and are awarded to a limited number of artists of outstanding talent.

Eligibility Requirements

At the time of application, the applicant must be

  • at least 25 years old.
  • a resident of Arkansas for at least one year
The applicant must not be
  • a previous recipient of an Arkansas Arts council Individual Artist Fellowship award.
  • a current Arkansas Arts council advisory board member, Department of Arkansas Heritage staff, or an immediate family member.

 

Grant application deadline: Friday, May 7, 2010

This year's categories are literary non-fiction, choreography, and works on paper. The application forms will be available in December 2009



Major Arts Partners (MAP) - Grant Application

This grant program is designed for eligible not-for-profit art organizations with three-year budget averages equal to or greater then $1 million. The MAP program is divided into three categories: MAP General Operating Support, MAP Arts in Education and MAP Major Arts Initiative Laboratory (MAIL).

Eligibility Requirements

  • Local arts agencies or single discipline arts organizations with a total operating budget equal to or greater than $1 million that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
  • Applicant organizations must have received MAP General Operating Support in the previous year or must file a Letter of Intent with the Arkansas Arts Council and receive approval to apply for MAP funding.

Grant application deadline for MAP-GOS is Friday, January 29, 2010

Grant application deadline for MAP-AIE is Friday, February 5, 2010



Collaborative Project Support - Grant Application

Designed to encourage the production and/or presentation of a specific arts event, program series or multi-disciplinary arts project for Arkansans.

Current Grant Recipients

Eligibility Requirements

  • Organizations exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; public schools; institutions of higher learning; units of city, county or state government.

Grant application deadline is Friday, January 22, 2010

Funding for the Arkansas Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Arkansas and The National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.