The 2025-2026 Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth (EAL) grant program offers funding to increase access to arts education for historically marginalized youth across Colorado. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and support projects that engage youth ages 4-21 in arts learning through collaborations with professional artists or culture bearers. The program aims to address gaps in access to high-quality arts education, particularly for youth who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, or those living in rural communities.
Eligible applicants include Colorado-based nonprofit organizations and PK-12 schools. Projects must involve an arts partner and occur in accessible locations such as schools, community centers, or libraries. The initiatives should cover a period of at least six weeks, involve youth in the project’s design, and address specific community needs. Projects can encompass various arts disciplines, including visual arts, music, theater, dance, media arts, and traditional arts, with an emphasis on arts integration.
The application process begins with a Letter of Intent (LOI) due between September 26 and November 22, 2024. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by February 21, 2025, with awards announced in April 2025. Funded projects must occur between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Evaluation plans, project budgets, and letters of commitment from partners are required components for full applications. Programs that charge fees, focus on general operating expenses, or involve capital improvements are ineligible for funding.
