National Endowment for the Arts grant applications for federal funds, financial aid, state grants

'Steamcup', oil/collage on paper, by R. Bowman

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.

Follow this link for more information on Grants Applications and Instructions.

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
AIE Mini Grant Program
Arts On Tour
Expansion Arts
General Operating Support
Individual Artists Fellowships
Major Arts Partners
Collaborative Project Support

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: July 3, 2008.

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, January 18, 2008.

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, January 18, 2008

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, January 18, 2008.

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 $1,500 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:

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.

Provide a teacher or organization staff member to remain in the classroom/organization site during the mini-residency program.

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 are available for programs occurring between October 2007 and August 2008.

Deadline is ongoing from October 2007 to August 2008.

AIE Mini Grant Program:

Mini-Residency Planning Guide

Mini-Residency Roster

Mini-Residency Application Form

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

One of the council's most popular programs. It provides an opportunity for all Arkansans to experience the arts through performances and exhibitions by professional Arkansas artists listed in the Arts On Tour roster.

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.

Click here for more information

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 2008.

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.

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 25, 2008.

Recognize individual artistic accomplishments and enable artists to set aside time for creating their art and improving skill levels.

Current / Past Grant Recipients

Eligibility Requirements

Residents of Arkansas for at least one year who are at least 25 years of age at the time of application.
Applicants cannot be degree-seeking students in the artistic categories chosen for that year and cannot have previously received an Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Award.

Grant application deadline: May 9, 2008

Categories: Novels, Music Composition (Classical), and Sculpture

Download Individual Artist Fellowship Instructions

Download Individual Artist Fellowship 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-AIE is Friday, January 18, 2008

Grant application deadline for MAP-GOS is Friday, January 25, 2008

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 11, 2008

	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.