Arts Learning - Grants - ACA Arts Learning

The Arizona Commission on the Arts is committed to making the arts fundamental to education, particularly in programs that serve Pre-K-12 students, classroom teachers, teaching artists, arts specialists and administrators in school, after-school and summer/inter-session programs. Our goal is that applicants present a plan that creatively stimulates arts education in their school/community organizations. No more than one Arts Learning project per individual site is funded per year. Support for staff salaries or funding for insurance are not provided through this grant.

School and Organizational Grants provide matching funds to support fees, travel and per diem expenses for artists and/or consultants in curriculum development, residencies, research and professional development for schools, communities, and organizations.

No more than one project per individual school is funded per year.

How to Apply:

Applications and Grant Guidelines for the 2008-2009 School Year will be available online through EGOR (Electronic Grant Online Resource) January 2008.

Deadline: March 20, 2008. (These grants will fund projects starting July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009)

Artist in Residence

Project are initiated by Schools and School Districts. The grant provides matching funds to support the fees, travel and per diem expenses for artists providing arts learning residencies for students in schools, after school, out of school or inter session programs. These programs focus on student learning and may additionally provide professional development services.

Community Enrichment

Projects are initiated by Boys and Girls Clubs, parks and recreation programs, neighborhoods centers, libraries, social service organizations and YMCA’s. The grant provides matching funds to support the fees, travel and per diem expenses for artist(s) providing arts learning programs for students, community, teachers and/ or teaching artists. These programs focus on student learning and may additionally provide professional development services.

Partners in Arts Learning- Providing arts learning experiences to broaden, deepen and diversify a community’s relationship with arts organizations by engaging children, families and neighborhoods.

Projects are initiated by arts organizations, this grant provides matching funds to support the fees, travel and per diem expenses for artists and/or consultants, supplies and transportation for arts organizations creating partnerships with local school and or community-based organizations to deliver arts-based learning programs for students, communities, staff, teachers and/or teaching artists. Particular interest and support is given to projects that are sustainable, collaborative, and provide direct participation and access to quality arts experiences for participants and community at large and may also focus on or contain elements of professional development for staff, educators and/or teaching artists. Partnership projects must contain a community-based outreach experience for local schools, parents, community members etc. If the focus of your project is professional development you are not required to engage in a community outreach experience. Support for staff salaries or funding for insurance are not provided through this grant.

Year Round Opportunity Grants

Step into Arts Learning (SAL)

The Arizona Commission on the Arts introduces a new pilot artist residency program intended to introduce schools and communities to the rich learning opportunities that are available through the learning experiences teaching artists can provide. This grant has a structured format and is designed for public and not for profit Pre-K–12 schools and after-school programs in Arizona that have not received funding assistance from the Arizona Commission on the Arts in the past 3 years. Particular interest and support provided for rural and underserved student populations. There is no cash match required for this grant. Mini grants of $1,200 and Full grants of $2,000 are available to fund artist and residency fee’s.

The intent of the program is to:

Help students and educators become grounded/comfortable in the arts discipline through the experience of making arts.
Help students and educators use the processes and tools of the arts in a purposeful way.
Engage students and educators with a professional teaching artist.

Deadline: Ongoing

For more information on the Step into Arts Learning grant click here.

Arts Learning Sudden Opportunity Grants (ALSOG)

Arts Learning Sudden Opportunity grant are available to Pre-K – 12 Schools and after-school programs in Arizona to provide funding for arts learning projects outside of ACA’s annual grant cycle. Examples may include but are not limited to: cost for transportation to a field trip for an unexpected arts event (for instance, someone in the community offers to buy tickets for a play at Arizona Theatre Company, but the school has no money to pay for buses); fee for a touring artist who suddenly becomes available to do a lecture/demonstration in a school (perhaps the Gila Valley Arts Council discovers that the Ailey II Dance company will arrive in town a day early and has time to conduct a workshop with high school dance classes); cost of participation in an unplanned event within your community; availability of an artist or consultant within a short period of time; repair or purchase of musical instruments in response to an unexpected enrollment in music classes.

Grants of up to $1,000 may be requested to help cover fees for guest artists or consultants, transportation costs, travel expenses, equipment or instrument rental fees or other eligible project costs; grants must be matched with the applicant organization paying at least 25% of eligible project costs. Grant funds may not be used to pay any portion of administrative or faculty salaries for the applicant school (or after school provider); schools (or after school providers) are eligible for only one arts learning grant per year, either a Quick Turnaround Grants or an Arts Learning Project Grant, not both.

Deadline: Ongoing

For more information on Arts Learning Sudden Opportunity Grants click here.

Professional Development Grants

Artists, Teaching Artists, Arts Specialists, Classroom Teachers and small to mid-sized arts organizations are awarded up to $500 to attend out-of-state conferences, workshops, seminars, or retreats that will contribute to their professional growth in the arts. Full-time faculty at a college or university and self presenting artists are not eligible to apply.

Deadline: Ongoing

For more information on Professional Development Grants click here.

Peer Consultant Grants

Arizona non-profit arts organizations and schools can request professional consultants in the areas of: arts curriculum design and alignment, board development, organizational structure, fund raising, cultural facilities planning, program development, marketing, financial management, strategic/long-range planning; public relations, community outreach, accessibility, community participation and more.

Deadline: Ongoing

Peer consultants for Education are available in the following categories: Arts Curriculum | Design and Alignment | Professional Development | Arts Assessment

For more information on Peer Consultant Grants click here.

Special Funding Initiatives

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry - recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

Deadline: Contact Kim Willey, 602-771-6521

For more information on Poetry Out Loud click here

For assistance, please contact Mandy Buscas, Arts Learning Director, (602) 771-6525 or mbuscas@azarts.gov or Kim Willey, Arts Learning and Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, (602) 771-6521 or kwilley@azarts.gov.

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