Arts Learning Grants provide funding to develop, plan, and implement arts education programming for in-school and/or out-of-school activities that support extended learning in and through the arts. The Council encourages the development of collaborations among education institutions and arts organizations and artists to enhance student learning and seeks to support projects or programs that immerse participants in long-term, in-depth arts learning experiences.
The Vermont Arts Council has long supported work that provides students, teachers and community members, etc. access to arts learning and experiences. Through grant programs that support artist residencies, arts assessment development, partnerships, and integrated arts education, the Council offers assistance to help communities strengthen the larger systems that support arts learning. There is abundant evidence that arts, both in their own right and when integrated into a content area in which other subjects are taught, significantly enhance learning.
Any Vermont school, school district, supervisory union, or not-for-profit organization.
You may not apply for an Arts Learning Grant if:
- You have received a Local Arts Partnership Grant
- You have applied for a Community Arts Grant
- You have applied for a grant in any other category for the same project
See General Program Guidelines for more information.
FY2012 Dates to remember.
| Deadline |
Notification |
Activities take place between |
| June 1, 2011 |
August 1, 2011 |
September 1, 2011 - August 31, 2012 |
- Grant amounts range from $1000 - $5000.
- Grants require a 1:1 non-federal cash match unless your organization is making a case for serving an underserved constituency. Please see General Grant Guidelines for details or call for assistance
Grant amounts are subject to change and are dependent upon federal and state funding.
Examples of activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- Artist residencies where the artist is in residence for at least 10 days or more in a school system and the activities are integrated into the curriculum;
- Arts projects in the community that have a strong instructional element and a specific core group that include at least 10 contact days with the artist;
- Support for school-wide needs or assets assessment for arts education;
- Creation or expansion of broad-based arts partnerships in the community to support arts integration programs that are team-based and involve educators, policymakers, arts partners, and community members;
- Development of an arts integration curriculum and appropriate instructional materials which is standards-based and tied to the entire curriculum and/or current education reform initiatives;
- Supporting professional development opportunities conducted by master teaching artists or arts education consultants for classroom and arts teachers;
- Developing arts assessment tasks and tools that may be used across disciplines and in classroom settings;
- Strengthening the connection between the education goals of schools and community-based arts programs;
- Supporting arts organizations that are doing long-term educational artistic activities with specific populations;
- After-school programs or summer camp activities where students are provided in-depth, long term participatory activities or opportunities to learn about an art form.
Grants may not be used to replace the normal school district expenses of full time equivalent (FTE) teachers, materials, equipment, construction, and capital expenditures. See also General Grant Guidelines.
- Artistic Quality and/or Educational/Cultural Value (35%) of the proposed activity based upon evidence that proposed project or program:
- employs Vermont artists, consultants and/or advisors that are of high quality based upon support materials (required except when using VT Arts Council designated Teaching Artists (or Juried “Education” artists listed in the Council’s Online Arts Directory) and/or provides Vermont artists or teachers opportunities to engage with or learn from visiting artists/consultants/advisors;
- is aligned to the applicant’s core vision and mission;
- addresses educational, economic and/or social needs in the community.
- Impact: (35 %) Based upon evidence that the proposed project or program:
- provides participants with opportunities to engage in hands-on, long-term educational activities through which they learn about an art form and/or use the arts as a means to learn about another subject;
- creates or strengthens collaborations between schools and local arts/community organizations;
- reaches underserved geographic areas and populations including-but not limited to rural, low-income, or immigrant or refugee populations, at-risk youth, or individuals with various disabilities and/or provides participants with an opportunity to learn about a new, little seen or culturally diverse art form;
- demonstrates a knowledge of and compliance with the Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
- is clearly presented, includes an appropriate planning team, and the applicant demonstrates the ability to complete the proposed activities;
- makes maximum use of available resources (including staff), that the budget is cost effective, and that the grant amount requested is reasonable.
- Evaluation (15%) Based upon evidence that the proposed project or program:
- when applicable, (in-school educational project or program) meets the Vermont Standards and Learning Opportunities, Vermont Grade Expectations, or National Standards;
- has clearly articulated evaluation plan, including reasonable & measurable goals and outcomes, appropriate means to measure learner/program outcomes, and appropriate people involved in conducting the evaluation (partners & artists etc.)
- Promotion (15%) Based upon evidence that the proposed project or program:
- has a reasonable plan in place to promote public engagement in and/or awareness of the project/program using means of communication that are appropriate to the size and scope of the project;
- communicates the value of the project or program to parents/guardians, family members, the larger community and policy-makers;
- applicant agrees to gives appropriate credit to the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the arts if funded.
All applications are reviewed by peer professionals drawn from a variety of organizations and schools from around Vermont and New England. Funding recommendations from the peer panel are then presented to the Council’s Board of Trustees for their review and approval. Also see General Program Guidelines.
See General Program Guidelines.
Award Payment & Report Schedule:
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the grant amount will be paid to the grantee after September 1, 2010 and after the Council receives the signed contract and any outstanding reports due from previous grants. (25%) will be paid after the final report is received, due 45 days after completion of the project or program but no later than September 30, 2011.
The first payment for each year takes place after September 1 due to Federal funding restrictions. Also see General Program Guidelines.
All applications will be completed online with nothing to mail. Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 4:30 P.M. on the application due date.
Submission Instructions:
1. COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION: Login here to begin your online application which will include the following sections:
- School/Organization Overview
- General Grant Information
- Bios of Key Individuals
- Impact Numbers
- Answers to Narrative Questions
- Project Budget & Budget Narrative
2. You'll also be asked to upload digital support materials
- Artistic support materials
- Letters of support
- Program support materials (brochures, newspaper articles, sample evaluations, etc.)
- Contracts of letter of agreement between collaborators (if applicable)
To download a PDF with more information about uploading digital support materials, click here.
If you have any questions regarding this grant program, contact Stacy Raphael, Education & Community Programs Manager, at 802-828-3778.