RedLine Arts in Society Grant Program

Arts in Society is a Colorado-based grant program administered by RedLine that supports cross-sector work through the arts. The initiative is designed to fund projects that integrate arts and culture with other disciplines in order to address civic, social, environmental, and health issues affecting communities across Colorado. Funding partners include Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Denver Arts and Venues, and Colorado Creative Industries, with oversight provided by panels of local and national experts. RedLine, a nonprofit contemporary art center in Denver, facilitates the program and organizes convenings and support opportunities for grantees. The purpose of the Arts in Society program is to financially and organizationally support socially engaged art projects that demonstrate collaboration between artists, community organizations, and target populations. The program encourages applications from individual artists, nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies, even if they are not strictly arts-focused. To be considered, applicants must reside in Colorado and propose projects that use the arts to illuminate or help solve pressing social issues. This includes "Arts &" initiatives that integrate creative practices with areas such as health, education, environmental sustainability, or public service. Funded projects may receive between $5,000 and $35,000. There is no requirement for matching funds, and applicants can request full project support. However, capital improvements, such as construction or renovations, are not eligible for funding. Selected grantees are expected to complete their project within 24 months from the grant disbursement date, which begins in April 2026 and must be concluded by April 2028. Projects also require participation in Learning Community Meetings (LCMs) held at RedLine three times a year, where grantees will share resources, build peer networks, and reflect on the implementation process. In addition to financial awards, grantees benefit from a robust support system that includes a learning community program, evaluation support via the University of Colorado Denver's School of Arts and Media, and assistance in creating a two-minute mini-documentary to share the outcomes of their work. Marketing and communication support is also provided through Arts in Society’s digital platforms. The application cycle for the 2025–2026 grant begins with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submission, which opens on July 1, 2025, via Submittable and closes on September 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM MST. Applicants will receive invitations to submit full proposals by November 2025, with final submissions due in January 2026. Grant awards will be announced in April 2026. Several in-person information sessions are scheduled throughout Colorado from July 8 to August 2, 2025, with an additional virtual session on August 4, 2025. Eligibility is restricted to Colorado residents or entities. Out-of-state applicants may only participate if partnered with a Colorado-based organization that plays a central role in the project’s implementation; fiscal sponsors do not qualify as partners for eligibility purposes. There is no cap on the number of applications per entity, provided each application proposes a distinct project. Although a non-arts partner is not required for arts-focused applicants, proposals should clearly demonstrate competency and engagement with the relevant social issues. Applications are evaluated on four criteria: artistic commitment, relationships with community and partners, intent and viability, and relevance to community needs. Reviewers assess the authenticity of partnerships, clarity of the artistic vision, project scope feasibility, and the connection between the project and the social issue it aims to address. While individual feedback is not provided, applicants are encouraged to review the program’s aesthetic guidelines via Animating Democracy’s Aesthetic Perspectives for additional guidance.

Applicants are advised to demonstrate cultural competency with the social issue addressed, especially if no formal partner is listed.