Arts Connect All Workshop/Residency Grant Program

The Access/VSA Arts Connect All Workshop/Residency 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 access to high-quality arts education for students with disabilities across the United States. The program reflects a broader institutional commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to engage in artistic learning and expression. Through partnerships with qualified arts, education, and cultural organizations, the program supports the delivery of structured, standards-aligned arts experiences in school and community settings. The primary purpose of the program is to provide hands-on, arts-based educational experiences to students with disabilities from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, including individuals up to age 22 who receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Funded organizations are required to design and implement workshops and/or residencies that deliver a minimum of five instructional hours per participating student and serve at least seventy-five students with disabilities. These programs may span disciplines such as performing arts, media arts, visual arts, or literary arts and are intended to foster artistic skills, academic development, social-emotional growth, and critical thinking abilities. The scope of funding supports the execution of these educational programs through fixed-price contracts of up to twenty thousand dollars. Funds must be used for allowable programmatic costs directly tied to instruction, staffing, materials, accommodations, and program delivery. Certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including expenses related to food and beverages, performances or exhibitions, space rentals, durable equipment, and culminating events. Contractors are also responsible for covering costs associated with required professional development, including attendance at a designated conference. Payment is structured in two installments, with an initial disbursement following contract execution and a final payment contingent upon submission of a comprehensive report and invoice. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and other qualified entities with demonstrated experience in arts education and working with students with disabilities. Applicants must have at least three years of experience operating arts education programs and must demonstrate the capacity to recruit and serve the target population. Additionally, organizations are required to involve personnel with formal special education credentials in the design or delivery of the program. Applicants must also comply with all applicable legal requirements, including accessibility standards and background checks, and must be prepared to provide necessary accommodations to ensure inclusive participation. The application process requires submission of a detailed proposal through an online portal by the specified deadline. Proposals must include organizational information, program descriptions, goals and objectives, instructional strategies, assessment methods, timelines, staffing qualifications, and a detailed budget justification. Applicants must also respond to a structured set of questions aligned with program goals and standards. Proposals are evaluated based on organizational experience, program quality, alignment with program objectives, capacity to execute, and the effectiveness of the proposed budget. Geographic diversity is also considered in the selection process. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is June 5, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. An optional informational webinar is scheduled prior to the deadline to address applicant questions. Selected organizations will be notified by September 11, 2026, and the contract period will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. All program activities must be completed by August 31, 2027, with a final report due shortly thereafter. While the program is part of a broader suite of Access/VSA initiatives offered annually, applicants may only receive one contract award per cycle, even if multiple proposals are submitted.

Align proposal closely with stated program goals and core components; clearly demonstrate experience with students with disabilities; ensure budget excludes unallowable costs; provide strong evidence of capacity and measurable outcomes