Best Grants for Visual Artists in Kansas

Kansas visual arts students pursuing fine arts at the Kansas University Fine Arts School can access funding through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation for tuition support. This renewable scholarship, prioritized for Barton County and Southwest Missouri high school graduates, assists KUFA undergraduates or graduates with financial need who maintain full-time status and a 3.0 GPA.

Kansas visual and other arts organizations in Kansas that are public or private nonprofits can access funding through the Kansas Department of Commerce to support general operating costs. Museums, arts councils, cultural institutions, and groups with missions centered on arts and cultural programming may be eligible for US $1,000 - US $25,000 in matched support.

Kansas arts organizations, schools, and community nonprofits in Kansas can obtain funding to bring professional visiting artists to engage local and underserved audiences. Grants from Kansas Department of Commerce support projects across visual arts, fine art, media arts, and other disciplines, offering up to US $10,000 for exhibitions, programs, and related arts activities.

Kansas communities and organizations creating permanent or semi-permanent public art and mural projects in publicly accessible spaces can apply for Kansas Department of Commerce funding, with awards from US $1,000 - US $10,000. Grants from Kansas Department of Commerce help Kansas visual arts and public art projects increase community vibrancy, artistic expression, and public engagement, with a required 1:1 cash or in-kind match.

Kansas visual arts nonprofits and educational institutions can access funding through Windgate Charitable Trust to support contemporary craft and visual arts programs. Eligible projects include artist residencies, fellowships, K–12 visual art-integrated programs, teacher professional development, museum acquisitions, and materials or equipment for craft and visual arts initiatives in the U.S.

Kansas 501(c)(3) organizations in visual arts, museums, libraries, or arts education can seek funding for capital, program, or operating needs. The Kerr Foundation supports education, arts and culture, health, and human services initiatives, with a particular emphasis on creating new or enhanced opportunities for young people in its multistate region.

Kansas visual arts and other arts-focused 501(c)(3) organizations, government units, and tribal entities can access funding through Mid-America Arts Alliance to present touring artists from elsewhere in its six-state region. Grants offer up to US $5,000 in matching funds for artist fees and public-facing events, including feature presentations and outreach engagements.

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.

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.

Kansas college and graduate students in visual arts or music programs can receive scholarship support for degrees such as BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or music degrees. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Cynthia and Alan Baran Fund backs studies in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, and music, with preference for acoustic mandolin or guitar.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students in fields like fine and visual arts, crafts, music, performing arts, and creative writing can receive need-based support to study full-time at accredited institutions. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help eligible students, including those from Kansas, with awards from US $100 - US $30,000.

Nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, university departments, and individual visual arts scholars can seek support for exhibitions, convenings, and academic projects that advance art and art history. Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation funds work tied to its collection areas and artists across the U.S., with emphasis on rural Southwest communities, which may include Kansas-based partners.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in fine or visual arts can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards $100 to $30,000 for study. Eligible students nationwide, including those from Kansas, must attend an accredited U.S. institution full-time and document Tribal affiliation.

Kansas visual arts and fine arts students pursuing campus-based college degrees can receive scholarship support for their studies. UNICO Foundation provides U.S. higher education students with US $2,500 awards in performing, visual, or technical arts. Applicants must be full-time students with at least a 3.0 GPA and reside in a state with an active UNICO chapter.

Women-identifying visual and fine artists in Kansas creating environmental art projects may be eligible for Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants, administered by New York Foundation for the Arts, offering up to US $20,000. Grants support existing U.S.-based projects with free public engagement that address environmental issues through themes like regeneration, eco-social engagement, or climate change.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing college majors in music, visual arts, dance, or drama may be eligible for the Shawnee Fine Arts Club Scholarship in Kansas. Focused on higher education in the arts, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma invites students meeting the GPA and school or residency requirements to seek support for their studies.

Visual artists and arts nonprofits in Kansas creating new public or nontraditional visual art commissions can apply for VIA Art Fund’s Artistic Production Grant Program; awards US $25,000 - US $100,000 for production and exhibition costs. Projects must have a confirmed exhibition venue or presenting partner and emphasize artistic excellence and public engagement.

High school seniors from Saline County, Kansas, interested in creative and visual arts can receive renewable scholarships of more than US $1,000 to attend select four-year colleges. Grants from Greater Salina Community Foundation help these students pursue fine and visual arts, performing arts, or related arts and humanities studies at eligible Kansas and Missouri institutions.

Students pursuing fine arts who have lived in Kent County for at least five years can receive scholarship support for higher education, with priority to those with significant financial need. Grants from Grand Rapids Community Foundation help visual arts students, including those from Kansas now residing long term in Kent County, who meet the minimum 2.75 GPA requirement.

Australian emerging or early career visual artists pursuing one year of full-time graduate-level study in the U.S. can receive US $30,000 for travel, living, tuition, and other artistic development costs. Kansas visual artists who meet these criteria may access funding through the American Australian Association’s AFNGA AusArt Scholarship for fine arts and related fields.

Graduating high school seniors in the Solomon Valley area of Kansas planning to major in instrumental music or art can receive scholarship support for higher education. With a mission to enhance quality of life, Greater Salina Community Foundation helps future fine and visual artists in counties like Mitchell, Cloud, and Jewell pursue their studies.

The Marvin R. and Pearl E. Patterson Family Fund Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports students aspiring to study graphic or fine arts, as well as those interested in environmental sciences. Open to high school graduates from the Tri-Cities area, this scholarship considers leadership, community involvement, and academic achievements, although financial need is not a requirement. Applicants must provide transcripts and relevant documents to qualify for this opportunity.

Kansas visual artists pursuing fine or performing arts degrees may be eligible if they are residents of Franklin, Hampden, or Hampshire Counties in Massachusetts. This Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund award from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts offers up to US $3,000 for college costs beyond the freshman year.

The Puffin Foundation's Annual Artist Grant Program focuses on supporting artists and organizations that are often marginalized. In even years, proposals are accepted in fine arts, music, and photography. With a maximum grant size of $3,500, it aims to empower individuals and groups with limited resources to flourish creatively. This initiative reflects the Foundation's commitment to ensuring diverse artistic expressions thrive in society. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents, and only one proposal is permitted per year.

The MFA Fellowship, funded by the Dedalus Foundation, provides a $15,000 stipend to final-year students graduating from MFA programs in Painting and Sculpture in the U.S. Annually, four fellowships are awarded based on nominations from department chairpersons, allowing institutions to nominate two candidates each. Nominees must graduate in the following spring semester and submit application materials including work samples and a biographical statement. This initiative supports emerging artists in their professional development.

The Puffin Foundation's Environmental Artistic Activism Grant Program supports artists addressing environmental issues through diverse artistic genres such as film, music, and theater. Grants, typically around $1,750, fund projects that prioritize sustainability and innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and current DACA recipients. The foundation emphasizes projects that avoid contributing to environmental harm while fostering artistic expression and community engagement.

The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant annually to support sculptors and writers on sculpture, promoting creativity and artistic development. This grant is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as O-1 Visa holders, who demonstrate a strong commitment to sculpture. Eligible expenses include materials, research, and living costs. The foundation values diversity and does not discriminate based on background, ensuring a wide range of applicants can apply.