Museum Access for Kids Grant Program

The Office of Accessibility and VSA, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, seeks qualified organizations to implement Access/VSA Programs that create accessible arts education opportunities for students with disabilities. The Access/VSA Museum Access for Kids Program is intended to expand participation in arts and culture for students with disabilities in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, including ages 3 to 18 and students up to age 22 who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The program supports nonprofit museums that can intentionally include students with disabilities in school or public museum programming and provide related educational programming in school, community, or museum settings. Programming may be delivered in person, virtually, or through a combination of methods. Each program must be arts-based, educational, accessible to individuals with disabilities, connected to clear learning objectives and intended outcomes, and aligned with state or national arts education standards. Contractors must serve at least 100 students with disabilities and provide at least one accessible museum visit with an accompanying educational component, such as a docent-led tour, hands-on workshop, or pre- or post-visit discussion. Study guides and social stories alone do not qualify as the required educational component. Multiple museum visits with accompanying educational activities are preferred. Contractors must also have an active partnership or relationship with at least one local school or school district serving students with disabilities and must demonstrate capacity to work with special education programs or specialized schools. The contract amount is up to $20,000. The contract term runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, with programming required to be completed by August 31, 2027 and the final report due by September 8, 2027 at 11:59 PM EDT. Payment is made in two parts: 60 percent after October 1, 2026 with receipt of a signed contract agreement, contingent on the Center's receipt of budgeted U.S. Department of Education funds, and 40 percent upon receipt of the final report and invoice. Contractors must attend one Access/VSA conference, with at least one key program person attending the 3-day Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conference in August 2027. Unallowable costs include food and beverages, performance costs, exhibit costs, space rental, durable equipment and durable education or art supplies, culminating events, public events, receptions, fundraisers, tours, exhibitions, and performances. Consumable art supplies may be allowable if the general categories of supply items are listed in the budget narrative. Subcontracting is permissible only with advance written approval from the Center, and subcontracting includes relinquishing significant oversight and management to a third party or paying 65 percent or more of the total contract value to a third party. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit museums. Commercial for-profit entities, non-United States entities, and individuals are not eligible. Applicants must have at least three years of experience operating an arts education program, experience working with children and youth with disabilities, capacity to provide accessible programming and accommodations, at least one key staff member, consultant, or advisor with special education credentials substantively involved in program development or delivery, and at least one school or school district partnership serving students with disabilities. Proposals must be submitted online through the Kennedy Center application portal by June 5, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Eligible organizations may submit proposals to no more than two different 2026-2027 Access/VSA Requests for Contract Proposals, and the Center will issue no more than one contract offer per eligible organization. Selected recipients will be notified by September 11, 2026. An optional RFP question and answer webinar will be held on May 14, 2026 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM EDT, with ASL interpretation and captioning provided. Questions should be directed to Stephanie Litvak, Manager, Access/VSA Programs, at 202-416-8847 or sslitvak@kennedy-center.org.

Emphasize direct alignment with Museum Access for Kids core components, a strong school or district partnership, demonstrated accessibility accommodations, qualified special education personnel, clear learning objectives, appropriate budget details, staff and volunteer access training, and the ability to serve at least 100 students with disabilities at a reasonable per-student cost.