Community Arts Learning Grants

Project Activity Dates 
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 (Grant Period FY2027) 

Grant Amount 
Up to two $5,000 grants per fiscal year. Organizations may apply for two Community Arts Learning Grants, or they may apply for one Community Arts Learning Grant and one Community Arts Experience Grant. Match requirement: 1:1 (100%). Half of the match (50%) may be in-kind support. Matching funds may not be federal funds or other Oklahoma Arts Council funds. Award amounts are determined using the grant program scoring criteria and agency priorities.

Application Deadlines
60 days before your project begins

Grantee 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 legislators • Use of Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts logos and acknowledgement of support 
• Timely submission of a final report

• 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 who have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for Oklahoma Arts Council grant support. It is your responsibility to ensure that your status is current at the time of the application and throughout the life of your award.)
  • In good standing with the State of Oklahoma
  • Registered with a SAM UEI number and eligible to receive federal support (organizations cannot be listed under the SAM Exclusions federal debarred or suspended list)
• City, county, and federally-recognized tribal governments
• Colleges and universities 
• Public libraries

Arts instruction, classes and/or workshops for participants of all ages including, but are not limited to:

• Arts-focused workshop series
• Summer camps and after school programs
• Arts-focused prevention or intervention programs for youth or adults
• Creative aging programs

If your project is focused on audience-based events such as concerts, exhibits, festivals, or conferences, please see the Community Arts Experience Grant program.

Allowable Expenses:
Funding from the grant program can be used to reimburse the following expenses: 

• Artistic fees for contracted artists
• Administrative fees to support the programming or administration of the project such as payment to a coordinator or grant writer
• Technical fees to support the implementation of the project such as professional event services
• Artist travel expenses such as mileage, rental, airfare, rideshare, etc.
• Consumable supplies directly related to the project •
• Marketing expenses to promote access to the project
• Rental fees such as rental of facilities, equipment, etc.
• Other Expenses such as printed programs, temporary 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)galas).

Proposals for funding must seek to accomplish the following:

• Outcome 1: Hands-on and Sequential Arts Experiences
  Projects should offer students meaningful opportunities for hands-on participation in the arts. Projects should also focus on sequential learning experiences in which students build artistic knowledge and skills over time. Students should receive six or more hours of hands-on time directly engaging in the art form (projects that include one-time make-and- take experiences are not eligible). The benefits of arts education are most fully realized when students engage with the arts consistently over time.
  
  
• Outcome 2: Creative Expression
  Projects will offer students opportunities to make creative choices and/or experiment within the parameters of the artistic discipline and/or medium. Students are encouraged to express themselves creatively as they participate in the arts
  
  
• Outcome 3: Learning from Teaching Artists
  Students receive instruction from teaching artists whose expertise in the art form is well demonstrated. Teaching artists also demonstrate proficiency as educators, bringing skills such as classroom management, arts learning assessment, and student engagement to their arts classrooms. 

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

1. Request access to the grant portal
2. Submit an application
3. Application is reviewed by Oklahoma Arts Council
4. Award notification (if the project is selected for funding)
5. Authorizing Official accepts grant contract
6. Project activity occurs
7. Grant Administrator submits final report 
8. Grant payment is processed 

Q. What types of artistic disciplines can be supported?
A. 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 one of our team members (contact information listed below).

Q. Can these grant funds support a memorial sculpture, mural, or other permanent artwork?
A. Unfortunately, no. Oklahoma Arts Council’s grants for organizations cannot be used to support capital improvements/expenses including the creation of new permanent artwork or the improvement of buildings/properties.

Q. My organization is already receiving funding through Oklahoma Arts Council’s other grant program(s). Can I apply for this opportunity?
A. Please contact one of our team members to see if your organization is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. If your organization is selected to receive a grant, you will need to provide a 100% (1:1) match for the award. None of the match may come from another Oklahoma Arts Council grant award or federal grant award.

Q. Can we purchase a sound system, instruments, or electronic devices with this grant?
A. No, this grant cannot be used to purchase permanent equipment. However, this grant can be used to support equipment rental expenses.

Q. How do I find a performing artist for my project?
A. You can find artists on our Oklahoma Performing Artist Roster, however you are not required to use artists on this roster for your grant.

Q. How can I update my organization’s Grant Administrator or Authorizing Official? 
A. Contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.ok.gov.

Q. How do I find out if my organization has access to the grants portal to apply for a grant?
A. Contact Martyna Sandoval, Grants and Programs Associate, at martyna.sandoval@arts.ok.gov.