Pictured: St. Michael's School in Albion, NE
Artists in Schools & Communities grants provide funds to hire artists from Nebraska Arts Council’s Artist Roster to lead interactive sessions conducted online or in-person.
In these sessions, artists share their expertise through creative and educational demonstrations, performances, or guided arts activities. Sponsors can hire an artist for school or community visits consisting of three sessions or a residency consisting of 10 or more sessions.
Learn how to get started by reading this quick overview.
Floating Deadline AISC – Applying for three to 30 artist sessions (grant request up to $2,000). Apply at least six weeks in advance:
School and community visits or residencies may be conducted virtually or in-person. In-person sessions must adhere to school district and local health and safety policies in response to the pandemic.
Sessions must be no more than one hour in length and no more than five sessions per day may be scheduled. Each session is restricted to a single classroom or group and classes cannot be combined.
Nonprofit organizations incorporated in Nebraska that are federally tax-exempt, public agencies, and sub- divisions of governmental agencies, including PreK-12 accredited schools are eligible to apply.
Colleges and universities may apply only when significant public participation is planned, with substantial evidence of service beyond the campus community.
Applications are due at least six weeks before the program start date and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applicants may request between $300 – $2,000. There is no cash match required. If artists live more than 30 miles from the program site, all travel-related and accommodation costs for visiting artists are the responsibility of the sponsor.
Contact us by phone at 402-595-2122 or via email at nac.grants@nebraska.gov for more information.
Set Deadline AISC – Applying for a residency of more than 30 sessions (grant request over $2,000)? Apply at the March 15 or October 1 deadline:
School and community visits or residencies may be conducted virtually or in-person. In-person sessions must adhere to school district and local health and safety policies.
Sessions must be no more than one hour in length and no more than five sessions per day may be scheduled. Each session is restricted to a single classroom or group and classes cannot be combined.
View Full GuidelinesNonprofit organizations incorporated in Nebraska that are federally tax-exempt, public agencies, and sub-divisions of governmental agencies, including PreK-12 accredited schools.
Applicants may apply more than once during the fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) for an AiS/C grant but may apply only once per fiscal year for the same artist to lead a residency at a particular school or site.
Note: Colleges and universities may apply only when significant public participation is planned, with evidence of substantial service beyond the campus community.
Spring deadline: March 15 (for residencies taking place July 1-June 30)
Fall deadline: October 2 (for residencies taking place January 1-June 30)
Note: Residencies that span the summer may have a start date as early as June 1 and an end date as late as August 31. If a deadline falls on a weekend, applications will be due the following business day.
Your school or non-profit must first be registered in NAC’s online grant system. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact NAC by email at nac.grants@nebraska.gov.
The set deadline for AiS/C grant program is for requests over $2,000*. The maximum grant request for a single teaching artist is $7,500, or $15,000 if applying to hire multiple artists.
*See separate guidelines for AiS/C requests of $2,000 or less.
Contact us by phone at 402-595-2122 or via email at nac.grants@nebraska.gov for more information.