The Arts Residencies in Schools Grants (ARSG) are designed to support teaching artists residing in Montgomery County, Maryland. These grants, offered by the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, provide funding for individual teaching artists who are trained in curriculum-based art techniques. The primary goal is to serve students from communities that have historically received insufficient resources and limited access to arts education. The program requires teaching artists to collaborate with classroom teachers to develop an arts program that benefits students in public or non-public elementary, middle, or high schools located in Montgomery County.

The purpose of the ARSG is to enhance arts education by providing funding for programs that align with the Montgomery County or Maryland State curriculum. The initiative aims to promote diverse arts education offerings, foster relationships among artists, teachers, and students, and create opportunities for students to learn directly from artists. This collaboration is particularly important for students from underserved communities, as it helps to bridge the gap in arts education access. Additionally, the program encourages artists to apply for the Maryland State Arts Council’s Artists in Residence Roster.

Funding for the ARSG ranges from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $6,000, with grants awarded for activities taking place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. The grants are intended to support individual teaching artists who have established relationships with schools in Montgomery County. The funding can be used for various arts-based programming that directly benefits students during the school day.

To be eligible for the ARSG, applicants must meet several criteria. They must be teaching artists listed on the AHCMC Teaching Artist Roster or the Maryland State Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster. Additionally, they must have a relationship with a public or non-public school in Montgomery County that holds a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Board of Education. The applicant must have resided in Montgomery County for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the application deadline, be at least 21 years old, and not be a full-time student. Furthermore, they must provide a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and have met all requirements for any previous grants received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

The application process requires submission of specific documentation and responses to application questions that detail the proposed arts residency program. Evaluation criteria will focus on the quality of the proposed program, its alignment with educational standards, and the potential impact on students. The deadline for submitting applications is October 25, 2024.

For more information about the grant, interested applicants can contact Krystle Seit at the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County via email or phone. The grant program is a recurring opportunity, and those interested should stay informed about future cycles and deadlines.