Best Arts Access & Participation Grants

The BCA Arts Fund Grant supports Bronx artists and small arts organizations by funding high-quality arts projects that engage local audiences. With grants up to $5,000 available to individual artists and 501c3 organizations with budgets under $100,000, this initiative aims to enhance the cultural landscape of the Bronx. Applications are open to Bronx residents, artist collectives, and organizations that contribute to community needs and demonstrate artistic innovation.

The Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Grants, awarded by the Bronx Council on the Arts, celebrate artistic excellence across diverse disciplines. For over 35 years, BRIO has supported individual Bronx artists with $5,000 grants, enabling them to create impactful works in literary, media, visual, and performing arts. Recipients engage in a public service activity, Artists for Community Enrichment (ACE), fostering community connection and showcasing the artistic talent of the Bronx.

The Wyoming Foundation Grants, established in 1976, aim to enhance the quality of life in Wyoming County through support for cultural, educational, and human service organizations. In 2023, the Foundation identified educational and arts opportunities as its main funding priorities. While initiatives beyond these areas are considered, they are secondary. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) organizations operating in Wyoming County, ensuring a focused impact on community needs.

The Regional Funds Grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation offers annual support for artistic and scientific projects in Finland. The January round of applications allows for grants targeting Local Culture Projects, Art for Institutions, and Spearhead projects. Emphasizing cultural rights and quality of life, it seeks to fund initiatives that enhance local heritage and provide artistic opportunities in various community settings.

The APS Community Impact Grants aim to address diverse community needs across Arizona through support for education, small business, arts, human services, environment, and community development. By focusing on under-resourced populations, these grants foster inclusivity and resilience. Nonprofits can apply annually for funding, with additional consideration for projects that enhance community engagement and quality of life. This initiative highlights APS's commitment to empowering local organizations to create a positive impact in their communities.

The Albuquerque Community Foundation offers Field of Interest Grants to support diverse nonprofit organizations in the Greater Albuquerque Metropolitan Area. Annually, grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 are awarded to initiatives in arts, education, environmental preservation, economic development, human services, health, and animal welfare. Organizations must have a minimum three-year history and align with the Foundation's values and fields of interest, ensuring impactful contributions to the community.

The Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations and local government entities in rural Oklahoma, focusing on projects that enhance arts, literacy, health, safety, and economic development. Established in 1995, the foundation has distributed over $3 million to improve community quality of life. Eligible applicants must operate in areas with populations under 6,000 in specific counties, prioritizing projects that foster community engagement and collaboration.

The Creative Engagement Grants, offered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, support individual artists and nonprofit organizations in Manhattan. This funding program provides over $500,000 annually for diverse artistic projects, including performances, exhibitions, and workshops. Grants aim to foster community engagement through art, promoting a just and equitable society. First-time applicants must attend an information session to apply. This initiative highlights the importance of art in enriching local communities and cultural dialogue.

The Statewide Community Re-grants Program, managed by the CREATE Council on the Arts, aims to enhance community engagement in Columbia, Greene, and Schoharie Counties through public funding. Grants ranging from $1,500 to $7,500 support diverse artistic projects that foster creativity, cultural diversity, and inclusion. This initiative encourages local participation and collaboration between artists and community organizations, ensuring that projects are accessible to the public and contribute to the cultural vitality of the region.

The Statewide Community Re-grants Program, administered by the CREATE Council on the Arts, provides funds to empower individual artists in Columbia, Greene, and Schoharie Counties. Grants of $2,500 to $5,000 support artist-initiated projects that foster community engagement, creativity, and cultural diversity. The program emphasizes local involvement through a peer review panel, ensuring that community needs and aspirations are prioritized in the grant process, thus enriching the overall artistic landscape.

The CityArts Program Grants, offered by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, support local artists and cultural organizations by providing general operating grants based on average annual revenue. Eligible nonprofits can apply for grants ranging from equal to their revenue for smaller organizations to a maximum of $50,000 for larger ones. This initiative aims to enhance access to the arts across Chicago's diverse neighborhoods.

The Patricia and Nicolaas Kortlandt Memorial Fund Grant, offered by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Fauquier County. Nonprofits can apply for grants that support operating expenses amid the pandemic, addressing basic human needs, promoting arts, and preserving community assets. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations committed to nondiscrimination. The fund aims to empower historically underserved communities and foster local engagement.

The Foley Hoag Foundation Grant supports innovative projects aimed at addressing various forms of inequality in Greater Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Established in 1981, it prioritizes small organizations with annual budgets under $750,000. The Foundation encourages community engagement and collaborations that enhance civil rights and equity. Grants are generally awarded for one year and are designed to create impactful changes in the communities served.

The PGE Foundation offers Creative Expression Grants aimed at enhancing educational outcomes through arts programs. These grants support organizations that foster critical thinking and socio-emotional skills via arts engagement. Priority is given to nonprofits based in Oregon that collaborate with the community and address systemic barriers to equity. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations focused on youth development and integrated arts curricula, while ensuring compliance with non-discrimination policies.

The Nordson Corporation Foundation Grant supports educational programs that enhance community quality of life. Focused on fostering self-sufficiency and job readiness, the Foundation values strong relationships and employee engagement. By funding diverse non-profit initiatives, it aims to ensure that all children have access to quality education and that communities thrive through enhanced educational opportunities. Currently, applications are invited only, aligning with their commitment to impactful community partnerships.

The Arts and Humanities Education Project Grant Program (AHEP) supports non-profit organizations in the District of Columbia to enhance student engagement in arts and humanities. AHEP aims to provide high-quality experiences that bolster academic achievement and strengthen the role of arts education. This competitive grant is open to projects of various sizes, focusing on in-school, out-of-school, professional development, and older adult initiatives, fostering a rich cultural landscape.

The CFNI Community Grants Program, established by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, has distributed over $72 million since 1953 to enhance local quality of life. The program supports nonprofits through a tiered application process based on funding requests, with a focus on Education, Arts, Health, Human Services, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families. Grants prioritize projects that address community needs and foster long-term impact, especially in education and wellness.

The Arts Alive! Organizational Grants, funded by the Weld Community Foundation, support innovative projects that enhance the arts in Weld County. These grants aim to expand artistic access, promote cultural diversity, and foster community engagement through the visual, performing, and literary arts. Ideal proposals should serve underserved populations, offer measurable outcomes, and have a positive impact on local artistic endeavors, ensuring a vibrant cultural landscape in the community.

OAC Individual Artists: Traditional Arts Apprenticeship

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program provides support for master artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. By pairing exemplary practitioners of traditional art forms with dedicated apprentices, this program allows for concentrated study and cultural exchange. 

Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions, and enrich the lives of people throughout the state.

Grant Awards

Mentor artists may request up to $4,000 to work with one, and, if appropriate, two apprentices. At least 50 percent of the request must be used for mentor artist honoraria. No match is required. Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grantees generally receive a portion of their request relative to their application score.  

How The Program Works

Traditional arts are part of the cultural heritage of a group of people whose members share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. Mentor artists and apprentices apply together to this program. Mentor artists should have achieved a high level of skill in a particular traditional art form, be regarded as experts by their peers, and have learned and developed their skills within a traditional context. Apprentices should demonstrate strong motivation to learn the nuances of the tradition, and a commitment to carry the tradition on in the future.

Applicants are eligible for only one award per year. Applications are accepted for apprenticeships in all forms of traditional arts, including traditional music and instrument making, sacred and secular crafts, occupational

traditions, folk and ethnic dance, and traditional arts associated with annual celebrations. The applying mentor must demonstrate that they are an active member of the culture or occupational group whose tradition they are sharing, and that the tradition is being shared within a culture or community of practitioners, not learned through an academic setting. The mentor and the apprentice work together in an intensive, yearlong, learning experience. Apprentices learn directly by observing, imitating, and refining their artistic work based on the guidance of the mentor artist. Skills are typically learned directly through observation and imitation, rather than through classes, books, or other means of instruction. The sharing of the cultural importance and history of the tradition is a key component to a successful apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship work plan should allow for in-depth learning that encompasses the context of the culture, the development of a mentoring relationship, and the acquisition of both techniques and artistry. The mentor artist is responsible for monitoring the apprentice’s progress as outlined in the application work plan. The apprenticeship must include a minimum of 50 hours of direct, one-on-one instruction, provided via in-person and/or virtual sessions (typically bi-weekly or monthly), conducted over the course of a year. During the yearlong apprenticeship period, a site visit may be made by OAC staff or a folklorist to document the teaching/learning process. Photographs of the session may be taken, and recorded interviews may be conducted. In addition, the mentor artist and apprentice are expected to give a joint community presentation near the end of the apprenticeship period (e.g., performing at a public event, offering a class, holding an open studio session, or exhibiting at a local library or gallery), which must occur in Ohio.

After accepting a grant award in ARTIE, grantees will automatically receive a partial payment of 50% of their total grant award. Final payment of the grant will be processed once a final report is received and approved. OAC staff may request additional information regarding grant activities prior to approving the final payment. 

The Staten Island Foundation Grant aims to enhance the educational, health, and community service sectors in Staten Island. This grant prioritizes projects that show measurable benefits for the community, particularly for the least advantaged. Applicants must align their proposals with one of the Foundation's target outcomes and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and sustainability. For detailed guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit the Foundation's website.

The ECF Shaping Tomorrow Grants aim to empower nonprofits in Erie County by funding projects that promote inclusivity and equitable impact. Grants range from $50,000 to $250,000 for initiatives lasting 12-18 months, focusing on measurable community change in health, education, and economic growth. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt, demonstrate community engagement, and align with ECF priorities. This program seeks to enhance organizational capacity and support collaborations that drive sustainable development.

The Vitality Grants aim to enhance arts and culture in the eight-county region of New York by supporting nonprofit organizations. This initiative focuses on fostering access to cultural opportunities in underserved communities, ensuring sustainability for local organizations, and celebrating the region’s diverse cultural heritage. With a new grant cycle starting in early 2025 for educational programs, these grants are crucial for enriching the community's cultural landscape.

The Vermont Community Foundation's Spark Connecting Community Grant supports grassroots projects that enhance social capital and community connections in Vermont. With grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, it prioritizes initiatives from under-represented counties, fostering collaboration among local champions. The program seeks innovative projects that promote civic engagement, health, and resilience, while encouraging first-time grant seekers and organizations with smaller budgets to apply for funding.

The Detwiler Family Foundation Grant aims to enhance the lives of children in local communities through support for educational and artistic programs. The foundation focuses on assisting children facing life challenges, including those experiencing food insecurity, mental health needs, and disabilities. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations in specific U.S. regions, prioritizing projects that foster community growth and empowerment. This initiative exemplifies a commitment to enriching children's well-being and ensuring access to vital resources.

The Missouri Arts Council offers annual grants ranging from $500 to $40,000 to support arts projects that engage communities across Missouri. These grants are aimed at enhancing public access to diverse arts experiences, boosting economic growth through the arts, and strengthening educational initiatives. Eligible projects include performances, festivals, exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational programs. The Council's mission is to foster appreciation for the arts, contributing to the vitality of Missouri's cultural heritage.

The Brockport Arts Fund, supported by the Rochester Area Community Foundation, aims to enhance the cultural landscape of the Village of Brockport. By providing financial assistance for performing arts events and public art installations, the fund benefits both residents and visitors. Eligible applicants must be 501c3 organizations within the 14420 zip code, focusing on projects that foster community engagement and artistic expression. This initiative seeks to inspire lasting positive change through art and creativity.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts offers the Community Arts Project Grant to enhance life quality and economic vitality in Alabama through diverse artistic support. This grant promotes excellence in the arts, provides educational opportunities, and encourages public engagement. Eligible projects can include festivals, performances, exhibitions, and workshops, aiming to create positive arts experiences for all Alabamians. The grant seeks to foster appreciation for the arts and recognize their role in cultural and economic development.