Artists in Schools Grant Program

The Artists in Schools (AIS) grant program is administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA), a state-level agency supporting arts education and cultural enrichment across Alaska. Through the AIS grant program, ASCA aims to enhance the visual, literary, and performing arts curriculum in K-12 schools by funding teaching artist residencies. These residencies offer students and educators unique opportunities for immersive arts experiences, while fostering community engagement and professional development for school staff. The program underscores the importance of collaborative planning between teaching artists, educators, and administrators to create sustained impact beyond the duration of the residency. The AIS program provides grant support for individual schools and school districts. The residencies are generally structured as two-week engagements for single schools, although districts may apply for longer residencies distributed across multiple school sites. These programs are expected to integrate with the district’s approved arts curriculum and align with Alaska State Content Standards in the arts. Residencies must occur during school hours and be designed to serve K-12 students. Teaching artists are expected to have a minimum of four contact hours per instructional day, and the daily schedule should account for planning, set-up, and clean-up time. Artists may also include studio time, open to observation by the school community, as part of community engagement. Funding is awarded up to $5,000 for individual school applicants and up to $15,000 for district-level applications. Individual schools must match 1/3 of the project’s cash expenses, while districts are required to provide a 1:1 match. Eligible expenses include artist fees, supplies, marketing, and limited administrative costs (capped at 20% of total expenses). Artist fees must meet a minimum threshold of $1,000 per week. Travel-related expenses such as housing and per diem are not directly funded but should be accounted for as in-kind contributions. Each application must include a clear budget, schedule, and letters of commitment if the applicant is a nonprofit or tribal organization applying on behalf of a school. Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit schools, school districts, and nonprofit local arts partners working in collaboration with schools. Nonprofits, parent organizations, and tribes must include a letter from the partner school or district confirming the alignment of the proposed residency with the district's curriculum. If no arts curriculum exists, applicants must detail their plans to adopt or develop one. Applications must be complete and must comply with reporting requirements from prior awards if applicable. First-time applicants are advised to contact ASCA’s Arts in Education program staff for guidance. Applications must be submitted online through the Alaska GOSmart platform. Applicants must create or update a user profile before accessing the “Current Programs and Applications” section to complete the AIS application form. Two application rounds are offered for the 2025–2026 school year: Round 1 has a deadline of May 15, 2025, for activities beginning July 1, and Round 2 has a deadline of November 1, 2025, for activities beginning January 1, 2026. Applications are due by 9:59 p.m. Alaska Time on the deadline date, and draft reviews are available if submitted at least 10 days prior. Applicants are encouraged to request technical assistance in advance and to use the available “HELP” buttons embedded in the application system. Evaluation of applications is based on criteria including alignment with state arts standards, integration with curriculum, community engagement, professional development, planning quality, and budget accuracy. Round 2 applications will be reviewed in December 2025, with funding decisions made during ASCA’s mid-December Council meeting. Due to the proximity to winter breaks, award notifications and paperwork may be issued in late December or early January. For assistance, applicants may contact Laura Forbes, Arts in Education Program Director, at laura.forbes@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6682.

Submit draft at least 10 days in advance. Use the HELP buttons in the online system. Ensure teaching artist fees meet required minimums and travel-related expenses are properly categorized as in-kind.