The Arts Education Program encourages extensive learning in the arts through effective planning. A successful written plan to support an Arts Education Project application represents effective leadership, team-building, partnership, and outreach to stakeholders. It characterizes decisions that are based on up-to-date, accurate information and data, and aligned with a vision of what it means to value the arts. Moreover, it represents an ongoing commitment to carrying out strategies, measuring progress, and sharing results.

The Arts Education Project Designer’s Toolbook is an essential resource for all Arts Education Project Grants.

PURPOSE
The Arts Education Project Grants provides support for activities that unite effective practices in education and in the arts, and that involve schools, artists, and community organizations. They support teaching and learning opportunities for pre-K through grade 12. Applicants may apply for support for a specific project or program designed to increase access to arts education for students, foster professional development for artists and educators, increase participation of community members in education, or address specific needs of youth through the arts.

In-school projects must support the Idaho Humanities Standards, enhance teacher practice and student learning in and through the arts, and strengthen long-term community partnerships and collaborations to affect change in schools.

Arts Education Project Grants also support out-of-school opportunities for young people. This is characterized by collaborations between arts organizations and other community organizations, especially social service agencies that nurture the development and creative spirit of youth.

Examples of eligible Arts Education Projects:

• Projects that address specific youth-at-risk; including those with disabilities, school dropouts, pregnant or parenting teens, or homeless, rural, or court-involved youth.
• Extended artist-in-residence projects (10 days or more) that connect professional artists to a variety of schools and communities.
• School touring of performances, arts exhibitions, or similar activities associated with school presentations by arts organizations as a separate part of their presenting season.
• The development and implementation of programs and activities to improve teacher practice and student learning in and through the arts.
• Professional consultancies to assist in the alignment between educational goals of schools and the needs of educators with community-based arts resources.
• A focus on community resources and collaboration among arts and other community organizations addressing identified needs of young people.
• Projects that have the potential to demonstrate the arts effectiveness in developing young people’s positive social behavior through arts programs.

ELIGIBILITY

• Any school, school district, nonprofit organization, unit of local government, or tribal government can submit one application per deadline.
Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria at the Organizations page.

GRANT AMOUNTS
Project requests may range from $1,500 to $15,000 for up to one-half of the project costs with a match of 1:1 (cash or in-kind). Projects may start July 1 of the year of application.

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HOW TO APPLY
Application should be in 12-point font or neatly handwritten. Since copies will be duplicated, please do not use staples. Fill out the checklist, include the narrative, all required materials, and comply with the postmark deadline.

Application Cover Page - The required application form provides information on the applicant, start and end dates of the proposed project, grant request, grant summary, and signatures of the authorizing official. Include a brief paragraph to summarize project’s key components and goals.

Narrative Questions - Submit up to four pages of clear and concise narrative that responds directly to the following questions. Number, repeat the six (6) questions, and answer in order. Refer to the evaluation criteria as you write the narrative and select your support materials.

1. Briefly describe organization or school and the project for which funds are sought (one-half page).

• Include its mission, programs and services, and the community it serves.
• If this is a collaboration, please identify which organization is the lead applicant and how you will work together to accomplish stated outcomes.

2. Describe the populations expected to benefit from the project.

• Include who, how many, and how will they be chosen.
• What specific needs do these populations have?
• To what extent will underserved or special needs populations be included?

3. Identify what you would like participants to know or be able to do as an outcome of your project.

• Describe the specific concepts, elements, or skills that will be learned by the participants and will serve as criteria to assess student learning.
• If this is a school-based project, list the specific Idaho Humanities Goals and Objectives that are addressed through chosen criteria and outcomes.
• If this is an out-of-school project, how will you address the specific needs of the participants?

4. Describe the assessment criteria or evaluation methods that will help determine if the participants can demonstrate this newly-acquired knowledge or skill.

• How have you used past assessment data to refine your desired outcomes or learning activities?

5. Describe the project activities.

• What learning activities are planned to help students achieve the project’s anticipated outcomes?
• Include lesson plans or learning guides.
• Include a timeline or schedule of the learning sequence.
• What individual artists, educators, or consultants will be involved, and what are their roles, qualifications, and responsibilities?
• Describe how materials, equipment, space, and facility requirements will be met.

6. How will project accomplishments and evaluation results be published and disseminated to wider audiences, such as school boards, funders, or policymakers?

Budget - should clearly itemize all expenses, revenue, and in-kind support related to the project. A successful application will include a budget that demonstrates realistic and appropriate planning for both income and expenses. Refer to the Arts Education checklist for the required budget forms.

Résumés should be submitted for key personnel, teaching artists who are not on the Commission’s Directory of Teaching Artists, and for individuals providing arts education classes for students or professional development workshops for teachers.

Letters of Support are strongly suggested. They should be from persons who have knowledge of those providing professional services to the project, or are key in their commitment to the project (financial, staff time, or other resources) and confirming their role.

Work Samples demonstrate the quality of the artists, teaching artists, and arts education programs involved in the project. Arts organizations, partners, or contractors should submit work samples if they are providing arts education services. See submitting work samples.

You may omit work samples if your key teaching artists are listed on the Directory of Teaching Artists, or in lieu of work samples you may chose to submit letters of support from arts organizations with a widely recognized reputation for quality arts and arts education programming.

Support Materials add significance to your proposal. Examples include a timeline of key activities and project implementation dates, materials that demonstrate past success with a related project, lesson plans, or brochures describing activities.

Prior Year’s Final Report - For returning applicants, the Commission will attach a copy of the prior year’s final report to the application materials for review.

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EVALUATION CRITERIA
All of the required parts of the application contribute to a clear proposal designed to meet the following evaluation criteria (see checklist).

Artistic and Educational Quality (30 points)

Addresses the organization’s long-term educational goals.
Outcomes identify specific concepts, processes, and skills that students will master as a result of their participation.
In-school project outcomes are aligned with the Idaho Humanities Standards and reflect the needs of learners; or outcomes are clearly defined and based on the needs of the out-of-school individuals served.
Activities are appropriate to achieve project outcomes.
Artists, consultants, personnel, and presenters are highly qualified to carry out the activities and are appropriate for those served. being served.
Support materials, such as handouts, curriculum, study guides, and CDs, are of high quality, support stated outcomes, and are appropriate for learners.
Demonstrates a collaborative planning process that includes the partners in the design, implementation, and commitment of resources, if applicable.

Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (30 points)

Outcomes that reflect the needs of learners are specified.
Activities are appropriate to achieve project outcomes.
Assessment methods for learners are aligned with project outcomes.
Evaluation findings are incorporated into ongoing planning and, especially for returning applicants, the refinement of the program.
Documentation procedures are in place to support evaluation and the dissemination of results to identified audiences.

Management (20 points)

The budget is complete, clear, and correlates with the narrative.
There is a broad base of support including public and private sources.
Roles and responsibilities of key personnel, community and school partners, artists, and outside consultants are identified and clearly defined.

Community Involment and Access (20 points)

Planning by a broad-based committee includes teachers, parents, and administrators.
Plans and publicity will inform and involve the community.
Accommodation for people with disabilities is evident.
Organizational efforts identify and include underserved populations..

POSTMARK DEADLINE
See Deadlines page.

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
The Arts Education Program Director offers technical assistance. If you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a courtesy review of your application, please submit a draft copy to the director three weeks prior to the postmark deadline.

FINAL REPORTS
Images and a descriptive narrative report will provide important information on the results of your project and assist the staff to share your accomplishments. Final reports must be submitted within 30 days after completion of the project. (More about Final Reports.)

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