The 2025 Arts Education Grant supports artist residencies in K-12 public schools, after-school programs, and closed student groups at community organizations in Tompkins County. This grant aims to integrate arts into core curricula and teach students new artistic skills while fostering motor skills, language development, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Eligible art forms include visual arts, dance, music, theater, and literary arts.

Applicants may include individual artists, arts organizations, municipalities, or cultural organizations based in Tompkins County. Residencies must involve meeting the same group of students at least three times to teach an art form and guide them in creating original work. In-school programs require partnerships with non-art teachers and must take place in regular classrooms, ensuring inclusivity by avoiding self-selected or appointed student groups. The grant can fund programs during or after school and in community centers or cultural organizations.

Applicants can request up to $5,000, which is also the maximum combined request for all three NYSCA SCR programs (Arts Education, GAP, and Artist in Community grants). Funds may be used to support teaching artist fees, materials, and other project-specific expenses. Residencies must emphasize student creativity and align with the grant’s goals of making arts education accessible to diverse populations and needs.

Applications are due by Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Required materials include a completed application form and a budget, which are available for download. If issues arise with accessing these documents, applicants should contact programs@artspartner.org for assistance. Final reports documenting the residency’s outcomes must be submitted 30 days after project completion or no later than December 15, 2025.

The Arts Education Grant is part of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Statewide Community Regrant (SCR) program, which aims to provide equitable and exemplary arts programming across the state. For inspiration or guidance, prospective applicants can review examples of past grant recipients. This program offers a vital opportunity to enrich educational experiences for K-12 students in Tompkins County through the arts.