2021-22 Arts and Education Fund for Teachers

Deadline: 10-Sep-21

The Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis is inviting applications for the 2021-22 Arts and Education Fund for Teachers to provide critical funds to arts education programs serving St. Louis area school districts.

The Fund’s goal is to support classroom-based projects and artistic opportunities that engage students in the creative process.

Elements of a Vibrant Community

The Arts and Education Council believes that a region rich with arts and cultural experiences is critical to creating and sustaining vibrant communities. They all have a role to play in fostering a vibrant, connected community for all. By supporting a wide variety of art forms and providing strategic leadership for the arts in the broader community, the Arts and Education Council creates an environment where the growing impact of the arts is felt and celebrated by the entire community.

Elements of a Vibrant Community Goals For Teachers

Inspire Kids and Engage Minds: The arts have the power to transform education both by improving learning of core curriculum and by teaching skills like creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Does your project:
- Provide meaningful arts education opportunities for youth at all grade levels?
- Optimize the use of resources already present in school and community settings to support equitable access for youth to meaningful arts education opportunities and experiences?
- Develop curricula, materials and training to support arts integration in all subjects and at all educational levels?
- Leverage assets and capacities with other arts programs to expand impact, access and sustainability?
Build Bridges between Cultures: When the arts reflect and celebrate the diversity of school communities, students build a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural differences. Does your project:
- Present works of art created by students of diverse races, ethnicities, cultures and genders?
- Create arts experiences that include students of diverse races, ethnicities, cultures and genders?
- Create and/or present art that tells the story(ies) of diverse races, ethnicities, cultures and genders?
- Create shared arts experiences for students of diverse races, cultures, ethnicities and genders?
Enrich Lives; Increase Fun: Students who are engaged in the arts – whether as volunteers, artists, or audience members – have a stronger and more positive connection to the school community. Does your project:
- Create arts experiences that are participatory, social, recurring and encourages personal enjoyment and fun?
- Create arts experiences that enrich lives through the pleasure of live, in-person artistic expression that sparks joy and fun?

Funding Information

The Arts and Education Fund for Teachers supports educational projects, with grants ranging between $500 and $5,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Grants will be made only for projects that take place in the St. Louis bi-state area (Missouri Counties: Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis City and County, Warren and Washington. Illinois Counties: Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair).
The Art and Education Fund for Teachers is open to individual schools in A&E’s 16 county bi-state area. Teachers who have partnered with arts organizations can apply with those programs.
The individual school or schools in approved districts for which it is a part must:
Be applying for a program focused on arts/arts education;
Operate under a reasonable, school board-approved budget. Grants will not be made to reduce or eliminate deficits, or to fund capital improvements.

For more information, visit https://keeparthappening.org/what-we-do/grants/arts-and-education-fund-teachers/apply-arts-and-education-fund-teachers