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Students visiting the Betty Price Gallery during a visit to the Oklahoma State Capitol via a Capitol Art Travel Subsidies Grant.

Arts in Schools

How We Can Help

Arts education can play an important role in improving academic performance in Oklahoma. Studies show that students who have four years of high school arts education score higher on college entrance exams than students with little or no arts education. Arts education often improves performance in math and science, increases school attendance, promotes civic engagement, and decreases anti-social behavior.

The Oklahoma Arts Council seeks to improve education in Oklahoma by offering services and grants for programs that help students in Oklahoma schools reach their creative potential.

Services

For grantwriting or program development assistance contact our Arts Education Director.

Grants

Grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council help students harness and develop their creativity and improve their education. Arts education gives students the tools they need to compete in a global and creative workforce. Grants for arts education in schools are listed below:

Essential Arts Education Grants for Schools
New for the 2023-24 school year! Essential Arts Education Grants for Schools reinforce the essential value of arts education during the school day. Individual schools can apply for two grants of up to $5,000 per school year with a 10 percent cash match.
NOTE: This grant program replaces Small Grant Support for Schools.

Expanded Arts Education Grants for Schools
New for the 2023-24 school year! Expanded Arts Education Grants for Schools is a new grant program of the Oklahoma Arts Council designed to support the invaluable arts education programs provided by schools benefiting students during out-of-school hours. Individual schools can apply for one grant up to $2,500 per school year with a 10 percent cash match.

Capitol Art Field Trip Grants
Capitol Art Field Trip Grants from the Oklahoma Arts Council give schools across the state the chance to bring students to the historic Oklahoma State Capitol for an unforgettable journey that makes lessons from the classroom come to life.

Classroom Supply Grants for Visual and Performing Arts
Grants of up to $500 per year are available for schools to purchase eligible supplies and materials for visual and performing arts programs that take place during the school day.

Arts in Alternative Education Grants
Alternative education schools within the Oklahoma State Department of Education system are eligible for two grants of up to $5,000 per school year in grant funding for arts education programming. A 5 percent cash match is required.

Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnerships
Nonprofit arts organizations can apply for up to $25,000 to provide arts programming, training, and more at alternative education school sites as identified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Performing Arts Experience Grant for Alternative Education
Alternative education schools within the Oklahoma State Department of Education system can apply for up to $2000 to use toward hosting a performing artist for an in-person concert or taking students to attend live dance, drama, media arts, or music performances.

Oklahoma Poetry Out Loud Partnership Grant
Through the Oklahoma Poetry Out Loud Partnership Grant, one organization is selected to partner with the Oklahoma Arts Council in coordinating and implementing the annual state Poetry Out Loud competition in high schools statewide. Up to $17,500 is available.

Questions?
For more information please contact our Arts Education Director.

See the Arts in Communities page for arts education programs that take place outside of normal school hours.