Community Arts Experience Grants

The Community Arts Experience Grants program is administered by the Oklahoma Arts Council, the official state agency dedicated to supporting and developing the arts throughout Oklahoma. Through this grant initiative, the Council aims to stimulate local economies, elevate quality of life, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance community engagement via arts-focused programs. This grant program aligns with the Oklahoma Arts Council’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, supporting strategic goals such as investing in the state’s arts and cultural assets, promoting Oklahoma artists and programs, and catalyzing creative community development. The purpose of the Community Arts Experience Grants is to expand access to arts and cultural experiences statewide by funding public-facing, audience-based events like festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and other multidisciplinary arts programming. Designed as a competitive funding opportunity, the grant program replaces the prior Small Grant Support initiative as of September 1, 2023. Applicants may apply for up to two Community Arts Experience Grants per fiscal year or one of these grants in conjunction with a Community Arts Learning Grant. Each project may request up to $5,000 in funding. A 100% match (1:1) is required, half of which may be in-kind contributions. Federal funds or funds from other Oklahoma Arts Council programs may not be used as matching contributions. The funding covers a wide range of allowable expenses associated with implementing community arts events. These include artist fees and travel expenses, contracted administrative and technical support, marketing efforts, consumable supplies, and rental fees for venues or equipment. Some expenses are unallowable, such as capital expenditures, purchases of permanent equipment or installations, tuition or scholarships, religious or sectarian activities, food or drink, and hospitality-related expenses. Projects must be open to the public and must not include activities tied to lobbying, fundraising, or political engagement. Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of organizations such as Oklahoma-incorporated nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with both the IRS and the State of Oklahoma, tribal governments, city and county governments, public libraries, and institutions of higher education. Applicants must be registered with a valid SAM UEI number and not listed under the federal SAM exclusions. Faith-based organizations are eligible as long as the funded activities do not advance or inhibit any religious belief and are open to the public. The application process requires organizations to first be verified in the Oklahoma Arts Council’s grant portal, Fluxx. For new applicants, this includes creating an account and undergoing a verification process that may take up to 15 days. Once verified, applicants can submit proposals directly through the online portal. Applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the start of the proposed project activities. If the deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the due date defaults to the next business day by 5:00 p.m. CT. After submission, applications are reviewed by the Oklahoma Arts Council using established scoring criteria and aligned with agency priorities. Selected applicants will be notified of awards, and grant contracts must be signed electronically by the Authorizing Official. The grant period for this cycle runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Grantees must comply with all requirements outlined in the grant guidelines and terms, including acknowledgment of funding sources, submission of final reports, and communication with state legislators. Contacts for applicant support include Miranda Gilbert, Martyna Sandoval, and Thomas Tran at the Oklahoma Arts Council, who oversee community outreach, grant access, and program management respectively.