Best Grants for Performing Arts in Arkansas

Mid-America Arts Alliance

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) believes art can be a catalyst for expression, connection, collaboration, and community. This philosophy is reflected in our mission and values.

M-AAA is a nonprofit, regional arts organization representing Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We focus on strengthening communities and improving lives by supporting artists, elevating arts organizations, and connecting people to extraordinary cultural experiences.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Program Objectives

The Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography). Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region.

Individual Artist Grant Considerations

The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

High school seniors in Arkansas and nine other southern states planning careers in the music business or arts can receive scholarship support for their education. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee provides this funding, with a preference for students from rural high schools, especially in South Carolina, pursuing performing or visual arts and related creative fields.

Arkansas performing arts presenters and other eligible 501(c)(3), government, or tribal organizations can receive matching funds to present touring artists from within the Mid-America Arts Alliance region. Arkansas arts organizations can access funding through Mid-America Arts Alliance for public performances and outreach events, with awards up to US $5,000 per project and additional support for rural communities.

Performing arts nonprofits in Arkansas can seek funding for creative cultural programming, along with related arts, education, youth, community, and food and agriculture initiatives. Focused on community benefit, the J R Simplot Company Foundation reviews U.S. nonprofit requests quarterly, so eligible organizations may align proposals with its broad charitable priorities.

The Artistic Innovations Grant Program, supported by the Mid-America Arts Alliance, provides up to $15,000 to artists and arts organizations in the M-AAA six-state region. This initiative fosters creativity by funding the development and premiere of original works, encouraging innovative projects that engage local audiences. Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit organizations, promoting a vibrant arts community through financial support for artistic exploration.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Full-Time Associates

Regions supports organizations important to our associates through the Regions Matching Gifts Program. This program, which is open for use for all full-time Regions associates, affiliate associates and recent retirees, allows you to make an even greater difference to your favorite charities by doubling your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations. 

About American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF)The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) promotes firsthand exchange of intellectual and creative influence between the United States and the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. ASF offers fellowships, cultural grants, internships/training, publications, exhibitions and other public programs reinforcing the strong relationships between the two regions, honoring their shared values, and appreciating their differences.ASF Public Projects GrantThe American-Scandinavian Foundation promotes the cultures of the Nordic countries in the United States and American culture in the Nordic countries by encouraging programs that will enhance public appreciation of culture, art, and thought. In establishing priorities, the Foundation considers the lasting benefits that may be achieved by any grant and favors projects where its contribution will complement support from other sources. 

Generally the Community Foundation's scholarships are awarded to applicants who have high financial need. Applicants with household income exceeding $100,000 are less likely to be awarded, but applying will allow you to be considered for targeted scholarships.

Paul Collins Scholarship

Open to undergraduate students who are residents of Kent County who will study visual or performing arts and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who is matriculating in a performing arts program, has demonstrated commitment to their art, and has demonstrated evidence of community involvement and service to others.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Fueling Equity & Racial Justice Since 1925

KZCF is dedicated to our mission to create a thriving community where people, resources and expertise are mobilized to advance racial, social and economic justice in Kalamazoo County.

Scholarships & Education Grants

For All Levels of Education After High School

Kalamazoo Community Foundation is dedicated to creating pathways to higher education so students can thrive in their academic pursuits and for a lifetime. We oversee more than 60 scholarships and education grants (many of which are multiyear awards) for college, graduate school, career training and more.

Dominic & Barbara Court Family Arts Scholarship Fund

This fund was established from the estate of Barbara Court to provide scholarships for students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that would lead to a career in the arts.

Multiyear Award; Renews Annually

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund

The Elaine Sirkin Forbes Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for high school seniors graduating from Allegheny County Schools who wish to major in visual, performance or media art.

Award Type: Single-Year Award

The Columbus Foundation

In 1943, during the darkness of World War II, a group of passionate citizens, led by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre, envisioned a way to improve the well-being of the community and the quality of life in central Ohio. With little more than this sound idea and faith, The Columbus Foundation was established.

Our Mission

To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents.

Craig Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established by the family of John E. Craig, Jr. and Larry William Craig. Both John and Larry were extremely gifted musicians. John was a noted musician in the central Ohio community, studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston at the time of his death. A well-known musician and businessman, Larry excelled at playing the piano and worked with his father in Craig & Sons Wrecking Company. This scholarship fund will provide support to students who are pursuing careers in musical arts, theatre or drama.

Arkansas performing arts students planning to study music or the arts at a U.S. post-secondary school can access funding through Columbus Foundation’s Jean T. Grant Scholarship. Graduating high school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA may receive US $1,000 to support their higher education in music, music performance, or the arts.

Current or former Oregon Shakespeare Festival employees facing unexpected financial hardship can receive emergency assistance for basic living expenses through the Hunter Brown Emergency Assistance Fund. Focused on performing arts professionals, Entertainment Community Fund support may benefit Arkansas performing artists and technicians with similar employment backgrounds who need help covering housing, utilities, health care, or other essential costs.

Performing arts nonprofits in Arkansas presenting free outdoor music festivals can receive up to US $5,000 to support 2026 events. Focused on community-building through live music, the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation funds U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations activating underused outdoor spaces with inclusive, no-cost performances.

Carroll County, Ohio students pursuing aviation, art education, or fine and performing arts can receive renewable scholarships starting at more than US $500 to attend college, university, technical, or vocational schools. While managed by Stark Community Foundation, Arkansas performing arts students may look to similar arts-focused scholarship opportunities in their own state.

Arkansas performing and visual arts students pursuing full-time study at accredited 2- or 4-year colleges can apply for the O'Shea Patrick McCarthy Scholarship, offering US $1,000 for undergraduate education. Focused on higher education and academic scholarship programs, Legacy Foundation pays awards directly to schools or for book reimbursement.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in fields like performing arts, fine arts, film, and related creative disciplines can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 per year. Students in Arkansas and nationwide must study full-time at accredited U.S. institutions and document Tribal affiliation.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students pursuing full-time studies in performing, visual, or literary arts in the U.S., including Arkansas, can receive need-based tuition support through the Elizabeth Furber Scholarship. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help cover costs for fine arts, music, dance, creative writing, poetry, and related disciplines at accredited institutions.

Performing arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects presenting contemporary American concert music or jazz, including those in Arkansas, can apply for the Aaron Copland Fund for Music’s project support grants, awarding US $2,000 - US $20,000 for discrete, standalone activities. Eligible applicants include ensembles, presenters, music service organizations, and record companies with at least two years of professional history.

Performing arts nonprofits and music organizations in Arkansas presenting contemporary American concert music or jazz can seek general operating support through this program. Focused on contemporary music, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music invites professional ensembles, presenters, festivals, record companies, and related service groups to apply for unrestricted awards of US $2,000 - US $20,000.

Graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing visual or performing arts degrees in Arkansas may be eligible for the Burrell Family Scholarship, administered by Crown Point Community Foundation. This non-renewable award is part of a single application process considered for over 100 scholarships supporting higher education in the arts.

Graduating high school seniors active in theatre and pursuing higher education in the performing arts can receive scholarship support, including those from Arkansas attending accredited colleges or trade schools. With a mission to enrich community life, Crown Point Community Foundation uses one common application to match students to over 80 donor-created scholarship funds, including the Marion Kellum Performing Arts Scholarship.

Arkansas students pursuing degrees in performing arts, fine art, architecture, design, or construction management may be eligible for the Walter Blackburn Scholarship, which supports higher education costs. Focused on academic scholarship programs, Central Indiana Community Foundation funds accredited college, university, or technical school expenses for qualified applicants who demonstrate financial need and meet GPA requirements.

High school seniors and college students pursuing performing arts degrees in southern Beaufort County may be eligible for the Sarah Creech Performing Arts Scholarship. Community Foundation of the Lowcountry provides support for post-secondary education in the performing arts; Arkansas-based performing arts students studying in this field may find this opportunity relevant if they meet residency requirements.

Focused on performing and visual arts students, East Texas Communities Foundation invites Smith County graduating seniors planning to major in the arts to apply for scholarships supporting college costs. Awards of US $1,000 can be used at any U.S. college for tuition, fees, room and board, or books and supplies.