Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership
Funding for Nonprofit Arts Organizations
The Arts in Alternative Education Community Partnership is a new funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations that will expand access to arts education for students attending alternative education schools in Oklahoma. Proposals are being accepted through March 17, 2025, for requests of up to $30,000 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
- Develop strategies to expand access to quality arts education for students attending alternative schools.
Program Objectives
- Offer arts education for students in alternative education sites that is tailored to meet individual student and site goals, including increasing student engagement and attendance rates
- 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
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 (Grant Period FY2026)
Grant Amount
Up to 30,000 per organization (grant request cannot exceed 30% of organizations operating budget)
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.
Administrative fee: Grantees may allocate up to 20% of their grant award for organization salaries and administrative/operating expenses directly related to the funded project. Award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.
Application Opens
February 3, 2025
Informational Webinar
Rescheduled to February 19, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Central Time
Register Here
Application Deadline
March 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time
Grantee Cohort Meetings
To be determined
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.
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: Once your organization is verified, you can start an application from the Apply for Funding page. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline date published on the grant program guidelines. If an application deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the application will be due by 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Late submissions are subject to the noncompliance policies as outlined in the General Grant Terms and Conditions.
Grant Process
- Create a user account in the grant portal (for new users)
- Start and submit an application
- Proposal is reviewed by Oklahoma Arts Council
- Pre-Award Notification (if the project is selected for funding)
- Grantee completes and submits Pre-Award Requirements
- Notice of Award sent and project activity occurs
- Submit a mid-year report, mid-year grant payment is processed
- Submit a final report, final grant payment is processed
Documents and Links
General Grant Terms and Conditions
Grant System Login
Frequently Asked Questions
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
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 February 2025 and the remaining 50% of the grant in July 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.