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New for Fiscal Year 2024!

The Oklahoma Arts Council is pleased to offer increased support for alternative education schools for the 2023-24 school year! Please note the following changes to Arts in Alternative Education Grants.

• The maximum grant award request has increased to $5,000 per project. A 5% award match is still required. Award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.

• New application deadlines are based on the project start date and can be found below. Applications can still be submitted before the published deadline.

Students who attend alternative education schools often require specific educational interventions. Artists in residence can help these students build new skills and develop healthy methods of creative self-expression through classes like creative writing, painting, photography, music, and theatre while allowing them to complete a Fine Arts credit—a requirement for high school completion. Previous participating schools report that artist-in-residence visits result in increased attendance and higher graduation rates, among other positive student outcomes.

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. In addition, arts education supports the development of the whole child, builds skills, and offers students positive methods of creative self-expression.

Students receive the most benefit when they receive an arts education that is:

• Sequential, building skills and knowledge over time

• Hands-on, allowing students to engage deeply in the creative process

• Led by educators with both artistic expertise and educational experience

Program Objectives

• Expand arts access (dance, drama, literary arts, media arts, music, and/or visual arts) to more Oklahoma students

• Support hands-on, sequential arts learning

• Offer arts education for students in alternative education school sites that is tailored to meet individual student and site goals and that supports the goals of Oklahoma Alternative Education

• Allow participating students to complete a Fine Arts credit required for graduation

• Create more opportunities for Oklahoma students to meaningfully engage with the arts during the school day

Overview

Project Actvity Dates
August 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 (Grant Period FY2024)

Grant Amount
Each school site is eligible to receive up to two $5,000 grants per school year.
Match requirement: 5%. Matching funds may not be other Oklahoma Arts Council funds.

Application Deadlines
July 15 deadline for projects beginning August 1–August 31
August 1 deadline for projects beginning September 1–October 31
October 1 deadline for projects beginning November 1–December 31
December 1 deadline for projects beginning January 1–February 29
February 1 deadline for projects beginning March 1–June 30

Who Can Apply?

Schools identified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education as Alternative Education school sites

What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?

Learning-based arts projects for students in alternative education schools, including in-school classes, residencies, and where each student receives six or more hours of hands-on arts engagement.

What Expenses Are Allowable?

Funding from the Arts in Alternative Education Grant can be used to reimburse expenses such as teaching artist fees, select teaching artist travel expenses, contracted administration or technical fees, and consumable supplies. For more examples of allowable expenses and unallowable expenses, see the program guidelines (linked below).

Grant Process

1. Schools new to Oklahoma Arts Council grants will need to request access to the Grant System

2. Grant Contact submits application

3. Oklahoma Arts Council reviews application

4. Oklahoma Arts Council sends award notification (if project is selected for funding)

5. Authorizing Official accepts grant contract

6. School’s project activity occurs

7. Grant Contact submits final report

8. Oklahoma Arts Council processes grant payment to school

Documents and Links

Grant Program Guidelines
General Grant Terms and Conditions
Grant System Login

How to Apply

Step 1: If your school has not applied for an Oklahoma Arts Council grant in the past three years, you will need to request access to the grant system. Once you have access, you can log in and apply for a grant. If you have questions about logging in, please contact our grants office at 405-521-2040 or grants@arts.ok.gov.

Step 2: Once your school has access to the grant system, your organization’s Grant Contact can log on and complete an application. Be sure to pay attention to application deadlines.

Who to Contact for Help

For questions about this grant program, contact Jennifer Allen-Barron, Arts Education Director, at jennifer.allen-barron@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2036.

For questions about grant system access, contact the Grants Office, at grants@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2040.

For questions about managing your grant award, contact Thomas Tran, Grants Director, at thomas.tran@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2041.