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About Grant Applications
The Arkansas Arts Council administers both federal and state funds to provide financial aid and state arts grants for programs and services benefiting 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 for grants and programs are appropriated by the Arkansas General Assembly. Grant monies from the Arkansas Arts Council are awarded annually.
We recommend that the appropriate Grant Program Manager be contacted before you apply for any Arkansas Arts Council grant.
Check out our Current Arkansas Arts Council Grant Recipients.
Grant Categories
Grant applications and instructions for Fiscal Year 2013 (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013) are now available online.
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 a grant 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 arts in education 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 Art Grant Recipients
AIE Artist Roster Guidelines |
AIE Artist Roster Application |
Goals and Objectives
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 3, 2012
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 3, 2012
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 other consultants may provide 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 appliction deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012
Mini Grant Planning Guide
Mini Grant Artist Roster
AIE Mini Grant Application - FY11-FY12
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.
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.
For more information, contact Cynthia Haas, AIE program manager at 501-324-9769 or email
cynthia@arkansasheritage.org.
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 Organizations
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.
New Expansion Arts organizations will be selected for the program in March 2014.
Year 2 grant application deadline: Friday, january 27, 2012
Designed for established, professionally managed nonprofit 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 or other expenses associated with the operations of the organization.
Current General Operating Support Organiztions
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.
All organizations seeking to become eligible to apply for a General Operating Support grant must first consult with the Arkansas Arts Council's Grant Programs Manager for further instructions.
Potential new GOS applicants or previous GOS applicants who were not funded in FY12 and wish to return to the program must send a Letter of Intent to apply by December 2, 2011.
Grant application deadline: Friday, January 27, 2012.
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. Funding categories for FY13:
Literary Arts—Novels
Performing Arts—Music Composition (Western Classical Tradition)
Visual Arts—Painting.
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, April 20, 2012
This grant program is designed for eligible nonprofit art organizations with three-year budget averages equal to or greater than $1 million. The MAP program is divided into two grant areas: MAP General Operating Support and MAP Arts in Education.
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.
Potential new MAP GOS applicants must consult with the Arkansas Arts Council's Grant Programs manager and send a Letter of Intent to apply by December 2, 2011.
Grant application deadline for MAP GOS is Friday, January 27, 2012
Grant application deadline for MAP AIE is Friday, February 3, 2012
Designed to encourage a lead applicant and at least one other partner to produce and/or present a specific arts event, program series or multi-disciplinary arts project to an underserved audience group in Arkansas. The lead applicant must not receive General Operating Support or Expansion Arts funding from the Arkansas Arts Council. Applicants must first consult with the Arkansas Arts Council's Grant Programs Manager before submitting an application.
Current CPS Grant Recipients
Eligibility Requirements
- Organizations mus be 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 13, 2012