Arts in Alternative Education Grants

The Arts in Alternative Education Grants program is administered by the Oklahoma Arts Council, a state agency dedicated to supporting and expanding access to the arts across Oklahoma. This program specifically targets alternative education school sites identified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, recognizing that students in these environments often require specialized instructional approaches and additional support to succeed academically. The grant is designed to integrate arts education into alternative learning settings through structured, hands-on programming led by qualified teaching artists. By doing so, the program seeks to improve student engagement, attendance, and graduation outcomes while providing a pathway for students to earn a required Fine Arts credit for high school completion. The primary purpose of the grant is to expand access to high-quality arts education opportunities for students in alternative education settings. The program supports a wide range of artistic disciplines, including dance, drama, literary arts, media arts, music, and visual arts. Funded projects must emphasize sequential, hands-on learning experiences that build skills over time and allow students to actively participate in the creative process. Instruction must be delivered by teaching artists who demonstrate both artistic expertise and educational proficiency, ensuring that students receive meaningful and developmentally appropriate instruction. Funding supports learning-based arts projects such as in-school classes, residencies, workshops, and virtual programs, provided that each participating student receives at least six hours of direct, hands-on arts engagement. Allowable expenses include teaching artist fees, limited travel expenses for artists, contracted administrative or technical services, and consumable supplies directly related to the project. Restrictions prohibit the use of funds for capital expenditures, permanent equipment or installations, student travel, scholarships, or hospitality expenses. Consumable supplies are capped at 30 percent of the total project budget, reinforcing the program’s focus on instruction rather than materials acquisition. Each eligible school site may apply for up to two grants of 5000 dollars per school year, with a required 5 percent match that cannot be sourced from other Oklahoma Arts Council funds. Awards are determined through a competitive review process that evaluates artistic quality, project design, alignment with program goals, and demonstrated need. Priority is given to schools in rural or geographically isolated areas, Title I schools, first-time applicants, and those with limited access to arts programming. Projects are also expected to align with Oklahoma Academic Standards in Fine Arts and demonstrate measurable student learning outcomes. The application process requires schools to first be verified in the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Fluxx grant portal, which may take up to 15 days. Once verified, applicants must submit a complete application by 5:00 p.m. on a deadline that occurs 60 days prior to the proposed project start date. Applications are reviewed by the Oklahoma Arts Council, and selected applicants receive award notifications followed by a grant contract that must be accepted before project implementation. After project completion, grantees must submit a final report to receive reimbursement. The grant period for the program runs from August 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Projects must occur within this timeframe. The program is recurring annually, with application deadlines tied to project start dates rather than a fixed annual deadline. Applicants should plan accordingly to meet the 60-day advance submission requirement. For assistance, applicants may contact designated program staff, including the Arts Education Director, Grants and Programs Associate, or Grants Director, depending on the nature of their inquiry. Overall, the Arts in Alternative Education Grants program reflects the Oklahoma Arts Council’s commitment to improving educational outcomes through arts integration. By supporting structured, artist-led programming in alternative education settings, the program fosters creative expression, builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and contributes to broader student success both academically and socially.

Align project with Oklahoma Academic Standards in Fine Arts; emphasize sequential hands-on learning; demonstrate strong teaching artist qualifications and student engagement outcomes