Arts Everywhere Program

The Arts Everywhere grant program is an initiative of the Kansas Arts Commission (KAC), administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce. This program aims to promote and support cultural and artistic activities across Kansas by offering targeted funding to enhance student achievement, community development, workforce readiness, and arts engagement statewide. The program encourages the integration of the arts into education, community service, and economic revitalization efforts. Applicants may include educational institutions, arts organizations, community nonprofits, and public entities. It supports a wide range of disciplines including visual arts, performing arts, media arts, creative writing, folk arts, and more. The grant supports several funding categories with distinct eligibility requirements and award ceilings. These include Arts in Education (up to $10,000), Innovative Partnerships (up to $20,000), Organizational Development — subdivided into Capacity Building (up to $5,000) and Salary Assistance (up to $20,000), and Specific Arts and Culture Projects (up to $10,000). Projects must fall within a single 12-month grant period, beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. Allowable activities vary by category but may include programming, exhibitions, planning, professional development, technology investments, or salary support for key staff positions. Equipment costs exceeding $5,000, capital improvements, and federal/state-funded expenses are ineligible. A key requirement of the program is a 1:1 match of grant funds through a combination of cash and in-kind expenses from non-state and non-federal sources. Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) counties are eligible to meet this entire match using in-kind donations. Kansas counties not designated as ROZ—such as Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and a few others—must meet match requirements through a combination of cash and in-kind, with a maximum of 50% of the match in in-kind form. Volunteer time, professional services, and donated goods are allowable in-kind contributions, provided they are adequately documented. Eligibility is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of local or tribal government, and public entities such as schools and universities that are based in Kansas. Applicants must be active and in good standing with the Kansas Secretary of State and must have completed at least one year of cultural programming with a verifiable operating budget. Fiscal agents are permitted under strict conditions, requiring a detailed agreement and administrative service provision. Organizations with current KAC grants may not apply for overlapping grant types (e.g., General Operating Support) during the same fiscal year. The application process opens on February 23, 2026, and closes on March 23, 2026, and must be completed through the Kansas Arts Commission's Submittable platform. The application includes narrative responses, a detailed project and operating budget, signed state compliance forms, and support materials. Review criteria include Excellence (40 points), Impact (30 points), Management (20 points), and Accessibility (10 points). A minimum average score of 80 is required for funding eligibility. Applications will be reviewed through a multi-step process involving staff eligibility review, panel scoring, Commission recommendations, and Department of Commerce approval. Applicants may contact Curtis Young ([email protected] | 785-296-3481) or Kate Van Steenhuyse ([email protected] | 785-379-1608) for support or clarification. Following award notification, successful applicants must submit signed agreements, follow all reporting and branding guidelines, and submit a final report by July 31, 2027. This program recurs annually, with future rounds expected to follow a similar timeline and structure.

Emphasize excellence, impact, and accessibility; Include complete budgets and match documentation; Ensure public access and ADA compliance.