Creative Aging Partnership Grant

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

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.

January 15, 2026

To be determined

March 15, 2026

To be determined

To be determined

Funding from the grant program 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)
• Participant Travel Expenses (may include transportation/bus rental/charter fees or other costs but cannot include food or drink)
• Administrative or Technical Fees (up to 15% of award, may include salaries/benefits or other administrative/operations fees directly related to the project such as project coordinators or grant writers)
• Consumable Supplies (must be directly related to the project)
• 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).

The grantee’s key program staff will be required to attend a three-day Zoom training (6 total hours) led by Lifetime Arts. Dates and times are to be determined.

Upon notification of award, grantees will attend an orientation meeting with the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Arts Learning and Communities Director and Grants Director to review the program guidelines, payment request process, and general program expectations. Key program staff will attend monthly meetings on Zoom with other grantees 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 and cohort meetings, including but not limited to:

• The number of older adults, participants, and sites being served
• Overview of project scope and timeline, and example of curricula or lesson plan(s) utilized for the project

In addition, grantees will receive one-to-one mentorship from Lifetime Arts. Site visits will also be conducted by Oklahoma Arts Council to observe programs, discuss process, feedback, and other items.

You will conduct evaluations provided by Oklahoma Arts Council before and after the project activity dates. 

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 and the remaining 50% of the grant in July. A written 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.

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 Supplier Portal
• Thank you letters to the organization’s and participating sites’ legislators
• Use of Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Tobacco Settlement and Entitlement Trust (TSET) logos
• Timely submission of required reports
• Retention of all financial records (including invoices and receipts) related to the grant award for seven (7) years

The Oklahoma Arts Council's Creative Aging Initiative was launched in 2021 through grant funding provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy. The initiative will build capacity across the state for community-based arts education programs serving older adults. Creative aging programs offer improved quality of life for this fast-growing segment of the population. Through the initiative, the Oklahoma Arts Council will offer professional development, form advisory groups, and facilitate statewide convenings.

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 the Oklahoma Arts Council Fluxx grant system, you must create a new account and complete the eligibility verification 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.

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

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 our Arts Learning in Communities Director.

A. Yes, eligible organizations can apply for this partnership opportunity in addition to other grants received. If you receive an award, none of the required match may come from another Oklahoma Arts Council grant award.