The Artists in Schools (AIS) grant program is an initiative designed to enhance arts education in Alaska's schools through in-depth residency experiences. The program is funded by the State of Alaska and the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the Rasmuson Foundation. Its primary purpose is to support school-based artist residencies of at least two weeks in duration, contributing to both student learning and teacher professional development within the arts.

The objectives of the AIS program are to deliver immersive arts education experiences to students, provide professional development opportunities for teachers, and foster meaningful connections between schools and their surrounding communities. Residencies must support the Alaska State Arts Standards and demonstrate connections to core academic subjects. In addition, applicants are encouraged to integrate the artist’s discipline into the existing curriculum and to use the residency as a means for enhancing community engagement.

Schools applying for AIS funding are expected to take the lead in designing, sponsoring, and coordinating the residency program. The Alaska State Council on the Arts offers resources such as artist contract templates and procedural guidelines to support applicants. Additionally, technical assistance and guidance are available from the AIS program administrator, Laura Forbes, who should be contacted especially by those new to the AIS program. First-time applicants must reach out to the administrator before submitting their application.

Applications are reviewed based on the strength of the proposed residency plan, alignment with curriculum standards, community and teacher engagement, and overall feasibility. To help in the planning process, the Alaska Statewide Teaching Artist Roster (STAR) is available and offers a selection of vetted teaching artists suitable for residency projects. This resource is intended to assist schools in identifying and contacting potential artists for their AIS project proposals.

The grant has two annual deadlines: April 15 for residencies that begin in the following school year, and November 1 for residencies that commence no earlier than January 15. Full application guidelines, eligibility requirements, and submission forms are accessible through the online grant system. The program is not rolling and is structured around these fixed deadlines each year.

For assistance or more information, applicants can contact Laura Forbes at (907) 269-6682 or laura.forbes@alaska.gov.