Visual Arts Discovery Grant Program

The Access/VSA Visual Arts Discovery Program is administered by the Office of Accessibility and VSA, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program housed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This initiative is designed to expand equitable access to high-quality arts education for students with disabilities across the United States. The program reflects a broader institutional mission to ensure that individuals with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to engage in creative expression and arts learning within inclusive and accessible environments. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support organizations in delivering visual arts education experiences to students with disabilities from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, including those up to age 22 receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Funded programs must provide structured workshops or residencies totaling at least five instructional hours per student and must serve a minimum of 75 students with disabilities. These programs are expected to foster artistic development through hands-on engagement with visual arts media and techniques, while also supporting academic, social, and emotional learning outcomes. Eligible applicants are organizations with demonstrated experience in arts education and working with youth with disabilities. Applicants must have at least three years of experience delivering arts education programming and must include personnel with formal special education credentials who are actively involved in program design or delivery. Organizations must also demonstrate capacity to recruit participants, manage program logistics, and ensure accessibility, including physical access and effective communication accommodations. Funding is provided through a contract mechanism, with awards of up to 20000 dollars per selected organization. The contract term runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with all programming required to be completed by August 31, 2027 to allow time for final reporting. Payments are structured in two installments: 60 percent upon contract execution and 40 percent upon submission of a final report and invoice. Allowable costs include personnel, consumable supplies, and accessibility services, while unallowable costs include food, equipment purchases, facility rental, and expenses related to performances or exhibitions. The application process requires submission of an online proposal form, which includes detailed responses regarding program design, learning objectives, instructional strategies, assessment methods, organizational qualifications, and budget justification. Proposals are evaluated based on organizational experience, program quality, alignment with Access/VSA goals, capacity to execute, and the strength of the proposed educational experience. Additional consideration is given to geographic diversity to ensure national reach. The proposal submission deadline is June 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applicants may optionally participate in a webinar on May 14, 2026 for additional guidance. Selected organizations will be notified by September 11, 2026. The program is part of a recurring annual funding cycle, and applicants may submit proposals to up to two Access/VSA program tracks, though only one award may be granted per organization. Questions regarding the opportunity may be directed to the program manager via email or phone as provided in the solicitation materials.

Ensure strong alignment with Access VSA core components clearly define measurable learning outcomes and demonstrate experience working with students with disabilities