Out-of-School Community-based Arts Education Programs

The William Penn Foundation is launching a grant program designed to connect young people in the greater Philadelphia region with out-of-school arts education opportunities. These 1-3-year projects aim to foster creativity, support personal development and growth, and provide consistent access to arts learning year-round, including during the summer. The Foundation has allocated a total of $3 million to this objective, emphasizing that while there's no strict minimum or maximum request, the most competitive proposals will be under $600,000 and proportionate to the project's contribution to the overall goal. This initiative aligns with the Foundation's mission to advance high-quality arts education and ensure access for Philadelphia youth. The program primarily targets young people in Philadelphia, with additional consideration for projects in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania, and the City of Camden, New Jersey. The core beneficiaries are youth who will engage with arts education driven by their own interests and creativity, outside of regular school hours. The impact goals include promoting personal development and growth through arts learning, ensuring continuous access to arts education opportunities throughout the year, and fostering a supportive environment for artistic exploration within their communities. The Foundation prioritizes programs that are youth-driven and support individual development. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)3 public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary, with a proven track record of at least two consecutive years of arts education programs in the Philadelphia region. The focus is on both dedicated arts education organizations (e.g., community art schools, youth arts organizations, creative youth development organizations) and arts and culture organizations that have strong, committed arts education programs for Philadelphia youth. The majority of funding will be directed to projects within the City of Philadelphia. The expected outcomes of this grant program include an increased number of young people engaging in high-quality, accessible arts education outside of school hours. Measurable results could involve tracking participation rates, assessing the personal growth and development of youth through program evaluations, and documenting the breadth and consistency of arts learning opportunities provided throughout the year. While a formal theory of change is not explicitly detailed, the Foundation's strategic priority is clearly to expand access to arts education for Philadelphia's youth, believing that such opportunities contribute significantly to their overall well-being, creative capacity, and community engagement.