Arts in Education Collaboration Grant Program

The Arts in Education Collaboration grant is a funding opportunity administered by the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA), a state-level agency focused on enriching the cultural life of North Dakota through the arts. This program is designed to support K-12 arts education initiatives by encouraging collaborative partnerships between schools and community-based arts organizations. The initiative aligns with NDCA’s broader mission to provide high-quality, sustained arts learning experiences for students across the state, especially in rural or underserved areas. The grant supports projects that establish or enhance partnerships between entities such as schools, school districts, nonprofit organizations, parent groups, and government agencies. Emphasis is placed on collaboration, where at least two partners—one representing schools and the other representing community stakeholders—work jointly toward the common goal of expanding access to arts education. Projects may occur during the academic year, after school, in summer programs, or as part of teacher professional development. Applicants are encouraged to develop programming that addresses gaps in current arts education offerings and aligns with the North Dakota State Standards. Eligible applicants include public or private schools, public entities, and both arts and non-arts nonprofit organizations that are physically based in North Dakota and serve primarily North Dakota residents. The lead applicant must also be the organization receiving the funds. Applicants are required to demonstrate their organizational commitment through letters of support and project plans that show involvement from teachers, administrators, and community members. Only one AIEC or Artist in Residence grant may be awarded per applicant in a fiscal year. Grant awards range from $2,500 to a maximum of $6,000 and must be matched on a 1:1 basis with funds from non-NDCA and non-NEA sources. Up to 50% of the match may consist of in-kind contributions. Eligible expenses include fees for teaching artists, project coordination, materials, transportation, and limited administrative costs (up to 10% of the grant request). Projects focusing solely on field trips, capital improvements, or out-of-state travel are not eligible. The performance period runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with final reports due by July 25, 2027. Applications are submitted online via the NDCA grants portal. The submission deadline for FY27 is April 16, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. CST. Required application materials include a detailed narrative, partnership forms, letters of commitment, budget forms, resumes of key personnel, and relevant work samples. Projects are evaluated by a panel based on alignment with program goals, depth of partnerships, strategy, and evaluation plans. Awards are contingent upon receiving an average panel score of at least 60%. Notification is sent via email, and grant payments are released upon request and submission of required documentation. The AIEC grant is a recurring, annual opportunity. Applications are reviewed through a structured process involving NDCA staff, external panelists, and the NDCA Board of Directors. In some cases, organizations may qualify for funding for more than four consecutive years, but this requires direct approval from NDCA’s program officer. For assistance, applicants may contact Arts in Education Director Matthew Anderson at [email protected] or (701) 328-7593.

Successful applications demonstrate strong school-community partnerships, clear strategy, alignment with ND arts standards, and sustainable planning.