The Artist in Residence (AIR) Grant is administered by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) to support the integration of professional teaching artists into classrooms and nonprofit alternative education settings throughout New Hampshire. These residencies are designed to provide rigorous educational experiences in the arts for students from Pre-K through Grade 12. Projects must occur between August 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. The grant aims to support interdisciplinary learning, foster cultural diversity, and meet school wellness goals through arts engagement, especially in areas such as STEAM, creative writing, and social-emotional learning.

Eligible applicants include public schools and nonprofit organizations that serve as alternative education sites for students with special needs in New Hampshire. All applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or be publicly funded, and must be incorporated in the State of New Hampshire. Schools may apply for multiple AIR grants over time, though NHSCA encourages districts to eventually fund these programs through their own budgets. Applicants are required to make all facilities and programs accessible to individuals with disabilities and be in good standing with previous NHSCA grant obligations. All awardees must also provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov.

Funding requests must be between $1,000 and $8,000. Matching funds are waived for Fiscal Year 2026, although applicants are encouraged to contribute in-kind or cash match to enhance their application. Funding cannot be used to replace regular school expenses or fund full-time positions. Ineligible costs include capital expenditures, food and beverage expenses, lobbying, fundraising, and expenses for private schools. Projects must include at least one artist from the NHSCA’s Arts Education Roster. For artists not on the roster, additional materials including resumes and work samples must be submitted.

Applications are due by April 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST and must be submitted online via Submittable. First-time applicants are encouraged to discuss their project proposals with the grant coordinator and may submit drafts for feedback at least two weeks prior to the deadline. The application must include narrative responses, a completed budget, a timeline, letters of support, documentation from school authorities, and artist confirmations. Additional documentation is required for charter schools and nonprofit education providers.

The grant review process includes a peer panel that scores applications on artistic quality, educational value, accessibility, community benefit, administrative capacity, and documentation. Funding decisions are then reviewed by the State Arts Council and, if the total awards to an organization exceed $10,000, must also be approved by the Governor and Executive Council. Awards are typically paid within four to six weeks, but can take longer depending on approval requirements. Awardees must return grant agreements by January 15 and complete final reporting no later than October 31, 2026. Failure to comply can affect eligibility for future funding.

For questions about the program, applicants should contact Allison Hawkins at Allison.Hawkins@dncr.nh.gov or 603-271-0791. Accessibility-related questions can be directed to Emily Killinger at Emily.R.Killinger@dncr.nh.gov or 603-271-0790.