Arts Learning Projects Grants

The Nebraska Arts Council's Arts Learning Project Grants provide funding to support arts education initiatives in both school-based and community settings. These grants are designed to promote educational outcomes through high-quality artistic engagement and are open to nonprofit organizations incorporated in Nebraska, federally tax-exempt entities, and public agencies, including accredited PreK-12 schools. Projects based in community settings must include clear educational learning outcomes in the arts, while school-based projects must align with local or national educational standards and may be cross-disciplinary. The grant program prioritizes projects that identify, develop, and support best practices in arts education and cultural collaboration. Eligible applicants may request between $2,000 and $15,000. However, requests exceeding $7,500 must either be school-based and involve more than one school, or show substantial outreach across multiple communities. A full cash match is required for all requested funds, and in-kind donations cannot be used to meet this requirement. Funding is restricted from being used for certain purposes, such as capital improvements, general operating expenses for non-arts organizations, political activities, and payments to students. Projects that exclude the public or are part of curricular requirements at colleges and universities are ineligible. Conversely, NAC funding supports artistic excellence, community diversity and inclusion, accessibility, arts advocacy, and creative innovation, among others. Applicants must apply through NAC's online portal and are required to submit a balanced budget, artistic work samples, short bios of participating artists, and letters of support from community partners. Review criteria are divided into three weighted categories: Artistic Quality (up to 35 points), Planning & Evaluation (up to 35 points), and Outreach & Engagement (up to 30 points). Colleges and universities may apply only if significant public benefit and participation beyond the campus can be demonstrated. Applications are accepted twice per year. The spring cycle deadline is March 15 for projects beginning as early as July 1, while the fall cycle deadline is October 1 for projects starting January 1. Projects overlapping summer months can begin as early as June 1 and end as late as August 31. The funding is non-recurring but offered regularly, making it possible to anticipate future rounds. For more information, applicants may contact Anne Alston. Application questions require detailed descriptions of project scope, educational impact, planning, evaluation, community demographics, and outreach strategies.

Prioritize alignment with educational standards and demonstrate measurable outcomes. Focus on public access and underserved communities.