Arts Access

Arts Access grants support arts projects and festivals in underserved communities. Underserved communities include rural areas that are isolated from large population centers; special education students or at-risk youth; schools with no arts curriculum or budget; senior centers; special needs populations such as older adults and persons with disabilities or of low income; confined settings such as hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, correctional institutions and youth facilities; ethnic populations, including reservation communities, immigrants, migrants and others for whom English is a second language.

Arts Access promotes outreach to underserved populations like disadvantaged youth, people with disabilities, seniors and new audiences and supports non-school education-based programming in senior centers, pre-schools, correctional programs and other institutions such as treatment centers, healthcare facilities and hospice.

Arts Access grants encourage people to celebrate their common heritage, to build understanding and respect among different cultures, and to participate in arts opportunities and events. Arts and non-arts organizations are encouraged to reach out and build new audiences through the development of arts programming for at-risk youth, seniors, diverse ethnic and cultural groups, and persons with disabilities or of low income. Organizations that provide arts programming for underserved populations must show participation by that population in the program planning.

An arts project is usually a single event or activity involving literary, performing and/or visual arts. Examples of arts projects are a concert in the town park, summer art classes for all ages, dance or creative movement opportunities for seniors, theatre experiences for persons with disabilities, quilt exhibits, creative writing sessions, bringing an artist into schools with limited or no art curriculum or art teacher. Funding requests may be for a performance, arts instruction, creation of an art piece, workshops, the celebration of a common heritage through the arts, assistance with providing a signer for a performance, and more.

An arts festival focuses on one or more of the visual, literary and/or performing arts. Festivals are multi-faceted and must last one full day or longer. They may include performances, exhibits, demonstrations, and opportunities for artist and audience participation.

Accessibility and inclusion are primary to this grant category. With this in mind, applicants must provide information that describes the underserved community that will be served by the proposed arts project/festival and says how it is underserved in the Access Participants field. Also, if the applicant is from outside the underserved community that will benefit from the project, clear evidence of collaboration or input from the targeted community must be provided in the Access Planning field.

Arts Access grants:

• Are available on an on-going basis with no set deadlines, however, applications must be submitted at least six weeks (42 days) before the project start date.
• Project grants maximum request is $1,500.
• Festival grants maximum request is $2,500.
• Requires a minimum 1:1 match.
• Are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
• Applicants may receive funding from Arts Access once per fiscal year for arts projects/festivals (July 1 – June 30).
• Applications will be accepted online only, unless special arrangements are made.

Applicants are required to contact the program specialist, Marirose Morris, before applying at (307)777-7723.

Click here for Step-By-Step Guidelines on how to apply on line. The Guidelines include information on the grant review and funding processes. Examples of previously funded projects: A collaboration between the Art Association and C-V Ranch to offer ceramic classes at the Center for the Arts in Jackson; a Missoula Children’s Theatre production of the play ALICE IN WONDERLAND with children from all of Carbon County in Hanna; Kaycee students painted desktops and stools in the style of the Mexican Art form Amate; two concerts at the Encampment Park with Blind Dog Smokin’ and a Blues Band; a community street dance and dance lessons on Sunday night in Meeteetse; an exhibit of work by the Creative Arts Center artists in the Russell Senate Bldg Rotunda in DC during a national conference of 11 leading national organizations in the field of developmental disabilities; 191 costumes for elementary, junior high and high school winter and spring programs in Burlington; and the a musical presentation by the Capital Chorale for the older adults at a Cheyenne senior center.