Expanded Arts Education Grants

The Expanded Arts Education Grants for Schools program is administered by the Oklahoma Arts Council, a state agency dedicated to supporting arts access, education, and cultural development across Oklahoma. This grant initiative aligns with the Council’s broader strategic goals to expand equitable access to arts education, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the quality of arts programming statewide. The program specifically targets arts education opportunities that occur outside the traditional school day, recognizing the importance of supplemental learning environments in fostering creativity, academic achievement, and student engagement. The primary purpose of this grant is to support hands-on, sequential arts learning experiences led by qualified teaching artists. The program emphasizes sustained engagement rather than one-time exposure, requiring that students participate in at least six hours of arts instruction that builds skills over time. Eligible artistic disciplines include dance, drama, literary arts, media arts, music, and visual arts. Projects must occur outside of school hours and be designed to provide meaningful opportunities for students to actively engage in the creative process, make artistic choices, and develop technical and expressive skills. Funding is structured as a reimbursement grant with a maximum award of 2500 dollars per school site per school year. A mandatory 10 percent cash match is required, and matching funds may not be sourced from other Oklahoma Arts Council grants. Allowable expenses include teaching artist fees, limited travel costs for artists, contracted administrative or technical services, and consumable supplies directly tied to the project. Restrictions apply to ensure funds are used appropriately; for example, capital expenditures, permanent art installations, equipment purchases, and hospitality expenses are not eligible. Supply costs are capped at 30 percent of the total project budget. Eligibility is limited to Oklahoma-based PreK-12 public, charter, and private schools. Each school may submit one application per year. Applicants must first be verified within the Oklahoma Arts Council’s grant portal system before applying, a process that can take up to 15 days. Once verified, applicants complete and submit their application through the online portal. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date, which is set at 60 days prior to the project start date. Late submissions are subject to noncompliance policies outlined in the Council’s general grant terms. Applications are evaluated based on artistic quality, artistic merit, and alignment with program priorities. Review criteria include the qualifications of the teaching artist, the strength and clarity of arts learning goals, the feasibility and relevance of the project design, and the anticipated impact on students and the school community. Additional consideration is given to projects that serve rural or geographically isolated schools, Title I schools, and those with limited access to arts programming. Projects are also expected to align with Oklahoma Academic Standards in Fine Arts and demonstrate measurable learning outcomes. The grant process involves several stages, including application submission, review by the Oklahoma Arts Council, award notification, contract acceptance, project implementation, and final reporting. Schools must comply with all grant requirements, including maintaining financial records and submitting timely reports. Award notifications are issued after the review process, and funds are disbursed following completion of the project and submission of required documentation. The grant period for the referenced cycle runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and the program is expected to recur annually based on funding availability and agency priorities. Support and guidance are available throughout the application and grant management process. Applicants may contact designated program staff for assistance with program questions, system access, or grant administration. Key contacts include the Arts Education Director, Grants Director, and Grants and Programs Associate, each responsible for different aspects of the program.

Focus on sequential hands on learning demonstrate strong teaching artist qualifications align project with student needs and Oklahoma Academic Standards