• Tweet

The Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership is a funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations designed to expand access to arts education for students attending alternative education schools in Oklahoma. Proposals are being accepted through September 30, 2024, for requests of up to $25,000 to support arts education programming, training, and more.

Alternative Education students are at a greater risk of not completing high school for a variety of reasons which may include inconsistent housing, traumatic experiences, excessive absences, pregnancy or parenting, juvenile justice involvement, or others. These students often require specific educational interventions. Arts programs can help these students build new skills and develop healthy methods of creative self-expression through classes like creative writing, painting, photography, music, and theatre while also allowing them to complete a Fine Arts credit (required for high school completion). Schools that have participated in Oklahoma Arts Council’s Alternative Education grant programs report that arts experiences result in increased attendance and higher graduation rates, among other positive student outcomes.

Oklahoma nonprofit arts organizations offer both a wealth of artistic resources and the flexibility to build sustainable partnerships that can serve these schools and students in new and innovative ways. Through the Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership, grantee organizations can use this funding to:

• Provide artist residencies, performances, and more at alternative education school sites
• Give students from alternative education sites opportunities to experience the arts through field trips
• Coordinate teacher training programs that enhance fine arts or arts integration skills
• Develop strategies to expand access to quality arts education

Program Objectives

• Offer arts education for students in alternative education sites that is tailored to meet individual student and site goals, helping students to overcome learning loss and re-engaging them in classroom settings
• Support arts access and hands-on, sequential arts learning to Oklahoma students in alternative education programs
• Allow participating students to complete a Fine Arts credit required for graduation
• Leverage the resources of arts nonprofits to build sustainable, high-quality arts education programs for alternative education sites

Overview

Project Activity Dates
January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025 (Grant Period FY2025) 

Grant Amount
Up to $25,000 per organization
Administrative fee: Grantees may allocate up to 15% of their grant award for their own salaries, wages, and operating expenses directly related to administering award
Match requirement: 1:1 (100%). Half of the match (50%) may be in-kind support. Matching
funds may not be other Oklahoma Arts Council funds.
Award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.

Proposal Submission Deadline
September 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time
(Grant recipients will be notified by the end of November 2024)

Who Can Apply?

Arts-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations incorporated in the State of Oklahoma as a Domestic Not for Profit Corporation

• In good standing with the IRS (Organizations that have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for Oklahoma Arts Council grant support. It is the organization’s responsibility to ensure that its status is current at the time of the application and throughout the life of the award.)
• In good standing with the State of Oklahoma
• Registered with a SAM UEI and eligible to receive federal support (organizations cannot be listed under the SAM Exclusions federal debarred or suspended list)

What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?

Learning-based arts programs, including:

• In-school classes, residencies, and workshops (frequency and duration may vary; focus should be on sequential hands-on learning) where each student receives six or more hours of hands-on arts engagement
• Online/virtual learning-based arts programs where each student receives six or more hours of hands-on arts engagement
• Field trips to arts-focused performances, exhibits, or other events
• Other arts experiences designed to build skills and enhance the educational experience of alternative education students

What Expenses Are Allowable?

Funding from Arts in Alternative Education can be used to reimburse the following expenses: 

• Teaching Artist Fees (payment to the teaching artist hired or contracted to lead instruction)
• Teaching Artist Travel Expenses (may include mileage, lodging, or other costs but cannot include food or drink)
• Student Travel Expenses (may include bus rental/charter fees or other costs but cannot include food or drink)
• Contracted Administration or Technical Fees (payment for a contracted project coordinator, grant writer, or other professional services)
• Consumable Supplies (must be directly related to the project)
• Administrative Fees (Up to 15% of award; May include salaries, wages, and operating expenses directly related to administering award)
• Other Expenses (including printed programs, signage, licensing and/or royalty fees, etc.)

Unallowable expenses include tickets, tuition, scholarships, capital expenditures and/or building improvements, permanent art installations, activities for which college credit is given, loss of revenue, debt repayment, subgranting, duties or expenses related to fundraising and/or lobbying, activities or expenses that may advance or inhibit any religious belief, events that are not open to the public, cash prizes or awards, and hospitality expenses (i.e., food, drink, receptions, parties, galas). See the Grant Terms and Conditions for full cost principles.

Documents and Links

Grant Program Guidelines available soon for FY25
General Grant Terms and Conditions
Grant System Login

How to Apply

Step 1: Your organization must be verified in the Oklahoma Arts Council grant portal before applying for this grant opportunity. If your organization is new to Oklahoma Arts Council grants, you must create a new account in the Fluxx grant portal and complete the eligibility verification process (which may take up to 15 days to review and process). If you have questions, contact our grants office at grants@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2040.

Step 2: To submit a proposal for the Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership, please send the following to jennifer.allen-barron@arts.ok.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 2024:

• A cover letter describing your organization’s interest in this project
• A brief description of the arts activities proposed
• A list of Alternative Education sites that will be served
• Letter(s) of support from Alternative Education site(s) and/or school district(s)
• A project budget, including itemized expenses related to your proposal. Administrative costs may account for up to 15% of the project budget
• A timeline listing key project activities from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What types of artistic disciplines can be supported? 
Answer: The Oklahoma Arts Council uses artistic quality as one of its review criteria for grants. Artistic disciplines include, but are not limited to, music, theatre, dance, literary arts, media arts, and visual arts. If you have questions about the eligibility of your project, please contact our Arts Education Director. 

Question: What are the requirements for matching funds?
Answer: Your organization is required to secure a 1:1 match for the grant funds. Up to 50% of this match can be provided as in-kind support. Note that matching funds cannot come from other Oklahoma Arts Council grants.

Question: How many hours of hands-on instruction is required per student? 
Answer: Each student should receive a minimum of six hours of hands-on engagement. Projects offering more hours of engagement will be given higher priority for funding.

Question: My organization is already receiving funding through Oklahoma Arts Council’s other grant programs. Can I apply for this opportunity? 
Answer: Yes, eligible organizations can apply for this partnership opportunity in addition to other grants received, including Small Grant Support, Major Grant Support, and Organizational Support. If you receive an award, none of the required match may come from another Oklahoma Arts Council grant award.

Question: What should be included in the proposal submission?
Answer: Your proposal must include a cover letter, a description of the proposed arts activities, a list of the alternative education sites that will be served, letters of support from these sites or school districts, a detailed project budget, and a timeline of activities from January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025. Make sure your submission is thorough to clearly demonstrate the impact of your project.

Grant and Reporting Requirements

Orientation and Check-in Meetings 
Upon notification of award, partnership grantees will attend an orientation meeting with the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Arts Education Director and Grants Director to review the program guidelines, payment request process, and general program expectations. Periodic check-in meetings and/or site visits with the Arts Education Director will be scheduled to discuss program process, feedback, and any other topics that may arise. You may be asked to provide data in preparation for the check-in meetings, including but not limited to:

• The number of sites, students, teachers, and artists currently served,
• Updated overview of project scope and timeline, and
• Example of curricula or lesson plan(s) utilized for the project.

Payment Requests 
Oklahoma Arts Council grants are paid on a reimbursement basis, after services or products are rendered. Payments for this partnership grant will be processed in two installments: 50% of the grant in March 2025 and the remaining 50% of the grant in June 2025. A progress report, payment request form, or other reporting requirements may be required before each payment is processed. Please see your award notification package for complete details on the payment request process.

Other Requirements
If selected for funding, grantee organizations must comply with all requirements as outlined in the Legal Assurances/General Grant Terms, grant contract, and grant program guidelines, including but not limited to the following:

• Signed electronic grant contract by the deadline specified in the award notification email
• Updated contact, mailing, and payment/banking information with the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) vendor office
• Thank you letters to your organization’s and participating alternative education sites’ legislators
• Use of Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts logos
• Timely submission of required reports
• Retention of all financial records (including invoices and receipts) related to the grant award for seven years
  

Who to Contact for Help

For questions about this grant program, contact Jennifer Allen-Barron, Arts Education Director, at
jennifer.allen-barron@arts.ok.gov or (405) 249-7987.

For questions about grant system access, contact Martyna Sandoval, Grants and Programs Associate, at martyna.sandoval@arts.ok.gov or 405-521-2040.

For questions about managing your grant award, contact Thomas Tran, Grants Director, at thomas.tran@arts.ok.gov or 405-967-3290.