Art Education Grant Ideas

Art education programs can be expensive, especially when school boards faced with budget cuts decide that the arts are less of a priority than academics. Fortunately, some philanthropic organizations fund art education through grants. Once a nonprofit art education provider has obtained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS, the grant-seeking process can begin. Grant-funding organizations function according to priorities set by their boards of directors, so grant applicants must approach funders whose priorities echo their own. The following list of art education grant ideas comes from a survey of funded grants in the Foundation Center's database. Grant-seekers can subscribe to the Foundation Center for around $30 per month. You can also find requests for proposals posted on the Chronicle of Philanthropy website.

Some funders, such as the 3M Foundation, are willing to provide a grant for new construction to build an art education center that includes classrooms, studios, galleries and performance space. Other funders will provide funding to renovate existing space. These grants are considered capital building projects. To be successful in applying for a capital grant, express your need for the project in terms of the clients who will use the new space. Most grant funders are more interested in the benefit to the client and the community than they are in the future of any particular nonprofit organization. Before sending a proposal to receive a large capital grant, do the legwork that will help you be recognized and taken seriously by the funder's board of directors.

Other funders of art education prefer to donate to program support. The Abell Foundation of Maryland, for example, has funded summer arts education programs for at-risk students. The Ahmanson Foundation of California funds programs to deliver art therapy to children who have developmental delays. Other art education program ideas that have been funded by grants include: field trips to museums and performances for low-income students; after-school ceramics classes; and support for art education to be integrated across a school's curriculum.

Other art education grants fund professional development in the field. The Judith and Jean Pape Adams Charitable Foundation of Texas, for example, gave a grant to fund arts education conferences for teachers. Grants also have paid for artists in residence, artist mentors for art educators and partnerships between art educators and museums. Grants fund scholarships for deserving college and graduate school students in art. They even provide employment for at-risk youth who are paid to perform art-related work--for example, painting murals on public buildings.