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The arts are essential to community vitality—boosting state and local economies, enriching quality of life, attracting creative workforce, preserving cultural heritage, and more. To ensure thriving communities across Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Arts Council awards project funding through Community Arts Learning Grants to support workshops, classes, and other community-based arts learning programs serving people of all ages and abilities.

• Eligible organizations can apply for the following:

  • Two Community Arts Learning Grants per fiscal year; or,

  • One Community Arts Learning Grant and one Community Arts Experience Grant per fiscal year

• The maximum grant award request is up to $5,000 per project. A 100% (1:1) award match is required. This is a competitive grant program and award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.

• This grant replaced the Small Grant Support program, effective September 1, 2023.

Program Objectives

• Support access to hands-on, sequential arts learning opportunities for Oklahomans of all ages and abilities
• Engage learners through participatory skill-building experiences led by qualified teaching artists
• Create more opportunities for all Oklahomans to meaningfully engage with the arts

Overview

Project Activity Dates 
August 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 (Grant Period FY2025) 

Grant Amount 
Up to two $5,000 grants per fiscal year. Organizations may apply for two Community Arts Learning Grants, or they may apply for one Community Arts Learning Grant and one Community Arts Experience Grant. Match requirement: 1:1 (100%). Half of the match (50%) may be in-kind support. Matching funds may not be federal funds or other Oklahoma Arts Council funds. Award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.

Application Deadlines
60 days before your project begins

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for grants, an applicant must be a non-religious, nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization; agency of government; sovereign Indian Nation; public library; or college, university, or public school. Nonprofit organizations must be incorporated in the State of Oklahoma. (Title 70:10-3-25).

What Types of Programs Can Be Supported?

Arts instruction, classes, and workshops including workshop series, summer camps, after school programs, arts-focused prevention or intervention programs for youth or adults, and creative aging programs.

If your project is focused on audience-based events such as concerts, exhibits, festivals, or conferences, please see the Community Arts Experience Grant program.

What Expenses Are Allowable?

Funding can be used to reimburse expenses such as artist fees and travel expenses, contracted administration or technical fees, rental expenses, marketing expenses, and consumable supplies. For more examples of allowable expenses and unallowable expenses, see the program guidelines (linked below).

Documents and Links

Grant Program Guidelines
General Grant Terms and Conditions
Grant System Login

How to Apply

Step 1: Your organization must be verified in the Oklahoma Arts Council grant portal before applying for this grant opportunity. If your organization is new to Oklahoma Arts Council grants, you must create a new account in the Fluxx grant portal and complete the eligibility verification process (which may take up to 15 days to review and process). If you have questions, contact our grants office at grants@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2040.

Step 2: Once your organization is verified, you can start an application from the Apply for Funding page. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline date published on the grant program guidelines. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the application will be due by 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Late submissions are subject to the noncompliance policies as outlined in the General Grant Terms and Conditions.

Who to Contact for Help

For questions about this grant program, contact:

Erika Wilhite, Arts Learning in Communities Director
(405) 521-6280 (office)
(405) 249-7615 (cell)
erika.wilhite@arts.ok.gov

For questions about grant system access, contact:

Martyna Sandoval, Grants and Programs Associate
(405) 521-2040 (office)
(405) 239-0257 (cell)
martyna.sandoval@arts.ok.gov

For questions about managing your grant award, contact:

Thomas Tran, Grants Director
(405) 967-3290 (cell)
(405) 521-2041 (office)
thomas.tran@arts.ok.gov