Arkansas Arts Grants

The Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) is offering Undergraduate Student Artist Grants through its Artists 360 program, made possible by the Walton Family Foundation. This initiative is designed to provide practice-based grant funding to undergraduate student artists across all disciplines who are attending post-secondary institutions in specific Arkansas counties: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian, and Washington. The core mission of Artists 360, and by extension this grant, aligns with energizing and elevating student artists in the greater Northwest Arkansas region, fostering their creative development and career advancement. The target beneficiaries for this grant are undergraduate student artists aged 18 or older, enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year in an accredited post-secondary institution within the designated Arkansas counties. This includes part-time or full-time students, regardless of their major, as long as they create work in any artistic discipline (e.g., dance, film, literary, music, theatre, visual art). The program specifically excludes those who have previously received an Artists 360 Student Grant or certain other M-AAA grants. The impact goals are to support individual artists' creative practices and career advancement, addressing their self-identified challenges and desired futures within the arts. The program prioritizes artists who demonstrate a well-developed creative practice, a deep commitment to their work, and a clear motivation to evolve. Review criteria focus on "Artistry," assessing the quality of work and process, and "Impact of Funding on Practice," requiring artists to articulate how the $2,500 grant will specifically benefit their careers. A key focus is also on achieving a "Balanced Cohort," ensuring a broad representation of perspectives, disciplines, and experiences among grant recipients. The expected outcome of the Artists 360 Undergraduate Student Artist Grants is the direct support and advancement of student artists' creative endeavors in Northwest Arkansas. While specific measurable results beyond the allocation of $2,500 grants per artist are not explicitly detailed, the program's emphasis on identifying the impact of funding on an artist's practice implies a focus on qualitative outcomes related to artistic growth and career trajectory. The Walton Family Foundation's support underscores a strategic priority to invest in regional artistic talent and cultural development, contributing to a vibrant arts ecosystem through direct funding to emerging artists.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Arkansas, North Texas, and West Texas to support initiatives that assist vulnerable or underserved populations in areas such as education, arts, and community development.

This program provides financial support to individual craft, folk, and traditional artists across the U.S. to purchase essential tools and equipment that enhance their artistic practices.

This funding opportunity supports community art projects that engage underserved groups, particularly in rural areas, by providing financial assistance for new or expanded arts events.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in specific counties of Arkansas, North Texas, and West Texas, focusing on initiatives that benefit aging populations, arts and culture, children and youth, economically disadvantaged communities, education, and nonprofit capacity building.

This program provides funding for short-term arts residencies in schools and community organizations, enabling professional artists to engage with students and educators through hands-on, curriculum-based arts experiences.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities in states with historically low participation rates, encouraging collaboration and sustainable solutions.

This program provides matching funds to downtown Fort Smith property and business owners for projects that enhance the historical and architectural character of the area.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in Arkansas to host professional artists for short-term residencies that provide hands-on arts education experiences for adult learners of all skill levels.

This program provides funding to artists and nonprofit organizations in six states to create and present innovative new works that engage the public and serve underserved communities.

This grant provides financial support to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for preservation planning and educational outreach efforts related to historic sites across the United States.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Greater Memphis area that are focused on creating sustainable, positive change in health, education, social justice, arts, and community development.

This grant provides funding to K-12 schools in Arkansas to integrate professional artists into their classrooms, enhancing students' artistic expression and creative development through hands-on experiences.

This funding opportunity supports nonfiction filmmakers from the American South, providing $15,000 each to elevate diverse stories and creators currently in production.

This grant provides financial support for educational, cultural, healthcare, and human services initiatives primarily in Arkansas and Texas, with a focus on organizations that enhance opportunities for youth and community well-being.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit baseball and softball programs in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arkansas to improve facilities, purchase equipment, and support youth sports initiatives for children aged 18 and under.

This program provides financial support to educational and nonprofit organizations that serve K–12 students in specific communities across select states, funding innovative projects that enhance learning and youth development.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that create educational, health, cultural, and community service opportunities for youth and economic development in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

This grant provides funding for innovative projects in education, arts, community improvement, historical preservation, mental health, and forestry conservation for eligible nonprofit organizations.