07 Sep 2011 AAC to award grants for creation of art programs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Arts Council is offering pre-K-12 schools and community organizations an opportunity to participate in the Arts in Education (AIE) Mini-Grant program.

This program provides funding to bring artists listed on the Arts in Education Artist Roster into the classroom or into an after-school or summer program to present a hands-on, curriculum-based or character-centered artist residency program that can last up to 10 days.

Applications are now available at www.arkansasarts.org for residencies occurring between Oct. 1, 2011, and August 31, 2012.

The Arts in Education Mini-Grant program will also allow schools and organizations the opportunity to present a professional development workshop for educators in curriculum-based arts activities either in conjunction with, or instead of, an artist residency. Applicants may receive a maximum of $2,000, using established AIE program rates for artist fees, travel, meals, lodging and supplies.

Applicants must show a 1:1 match of cash and/or in-kind contributions. All Arkansas schools and community organizations will be able to apply. Schools and organizations in rural and underserved communities that have not had access to one of the Art Council’s AIE grant programs are especially encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact Cynthia Haas, Arts in Education program manager, at (501) 324-9769 or [email protected].

The Arkansas Arts Council was established in 1966 to enable the state of Arkansas to receive funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1971, Act 359 (A.C.A. § 13-8-101 et seq.) gave independent agency status to the Arts Council, with an executive director and a 17-member council appointed by the governor. In 1975, the Arts Council became an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

As an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the Arkansas Arts Council shares the goals of all its agencies, of preserving and enhancing the heritage of the state of Arkansas.

The other agencies are: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Historic Arkansas Museum, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum. Funding for the Arkansas Arts Council and its programs is provided by the state of Arkansas and the National Endowment for the Arts.