The Youth Arts Project (YAP) Grant is offered by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) to support high-quality, experiential arts education programs for youth from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. These grants prioritize the inclusion of diverse artistic and cultural practices and are designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and social-emotional learning. Projects must take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted online via Submittable by April 18, 2025, no later than 11:59 PM EST.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations incorporated in New Hampshire, as well as New Hampshire state, municipal, federal, or county government agencies, and units of post-secondary institutions. Organizations must make all facilities and programs accessible to individuals with disabilities, be in good standing with the NH Secretary of State and Attorney General, and have met past reporting obligations for NHSCA grants. All applicants must also hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $8,000. Matching funds are not required for Fiscal Year 2026, but in-kind or cash matches are encouraged to strengthen applications and expand project scope. Projects must engage professional teaching artists, compensate them at a professional level, and ensure inclusive access for youth of all abilities. Applicants must demonstrate that programs are designed with input from youth and responsive to their cultural and academic needs. Projects are strongly encouraged to partner with NH-based artists and consider arts integration with other disciplines such as STEAM and social studies.

Applications require several supporting materials, including narrative responses, a budget, program timeline, financial statements, resumes, letters of support, artist confirmations, and work samples. Preference will be given to applicants working with NH-based or NHSCA Roster Artists. Sample projects include creative writing clubs, mural design programs, music instruction, theatre and dance residencies, and culturally specific dance and arts programs. Each project should include plans for accessibility, documentation, and evaluation.

Proposals are evaluated based on artistic and educational quality, accessibility, community impact, administrative capacity, and methods for evaluating and documenting program outcomes. All awards are contingent on the availability of state and federal funds. Grantees must submit final reports within 30 days of project completion and no later than July 31, 2026. Extensions of up to three months may be requested in advance. Non-compliance may result in loss of eligibility for two years or withholding of funds.

For questions, applicants can contact Allison Hawkins, Arts Education Grants Coordinator, at Allison.Hawkins@dncr.nh.gov or 603-271-0791. Accessibility-related inquiries can be directed to Emily Killinger at Emily.R.Killinger@dncr.nh.gov or 603-271-0790.