Arts in Arkansas Fund

Arkansas Community Foundation, in partnership with CACHE (Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange), invited small arts nonprofits state-wide to apply to the Arts in Arkansas Fund which will provide a total of $5,000 to support general operations ($2,500 in year one, and final installment of $2,500 in year two). The purpose of this grant is to provide small arts organizations with 2-years of general operating support. Priority consideration will be given to organizations led by or prioritizing programs for Black, Indigenous and other People of Color, and to geographic diversity among the grant recipient organizations.

Click here for some Frequently Asked Questions about the Arts in Arkansas Fund.

Click here for the Spanish version of the Frequently Asked Questions.

Grant decisions will be made by a committee with representation from Arkansas Community Foundation, CACHE, and community leaders with experience in various artistic disciplines from throughout the state. Grant Awards to 15 organizations will be announced by February, 2023.

Arts in Arkansas Fund Grantees

  • Youth Advocate Resource Network, Mayflower – Let’s Make Reading Fun – Art Camp
  • Mr. Mac’s Learning and Arts Center, North Little Rock – Youth Drum Academy and Choir; creative arts education
  • Building a Better Life Mentor Organization, Jacksonville – Art Education Program
  • Creative Institute of Central Arkansas, Conway – Conway Art Walk and Emerging Talent program
  • Latin Arts Organization, Springdale – Ballet Folklorico Youth Dance program
  • Art Ventures, Fayetteville – K-12 Gallery Initiative
  • Music Education Initiative, Rogers – Workforce training for music industry careers
  • Creator’s Village, North Little Rock – Artist professional development and resources
  • Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation, Bentonville – Indo-African Music Collaboration
  • Voice of Arkansas Minority Advocacy Council, Jonesboro – KLEK Performing Arts Project
  • Delta Arts, W. Memphis – Art Education and K-12 Art Show
  • Chance for Change, Forrest City – T.A.L.E.N.T.S Visual and Performing Arts After-School program
  • Southwest Arkansas Arts Council, Hope – After school programs, community theatre and arts-based programming
  • Widows Empowering Widows and Reaching Others, Dumas – Widows Empowering Youth in the Performing Arts
  • La Rosa Collective, Little Rock  – Fostering community and support of artists/creators

Sign Up

Currently we are not accepting applications for this grant program. No future application date for this grant program is currently available. For questions or more information contact Annetta Tirey, atirey@arcf.org.

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Who’s Eligible for These Grants?

Organizations must:

  • Have had a total annual operating budget of $500,000 or less during the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year
  • Have a primary mission or key programmatic focus on visual and/or performing arts
  • Have a demonstrated track record of providing visual and/or performing arts programming, a majority of which were delivered in the state of Arkansas within the last 12 months
  • Be located in the state of Arkansas
  • Hold 501(c)3 nonprofit status from the IRS (or have a fiscal sponsor who confirms their support of the application)

Funding Range

The Community Foundation will award a total of $5,000 to support general operations ($2,500 in year one, and final installment of $2,500 in year two.)

What We’re Looking For

Priority consideration given to organizations led by and/or prioritizing and centering Black, Indigenous and other People of Color.

Grant decisions will be made based on the following considerations:

  • The need expressed in the application for general operating support. This can also include maintaining vital arts programming and/or providing or expanding new arts programming that is otherwise inaccessible or limited to the organizations’ target audience
  • Geographic representation. Grants will be distributed throughout the state

When you apply, we’ll ask you to share more about your organization. Please be prepared with the following information:

    • Mission, history, and impact in the community
    • Need: expressing how this funding for general operations could help your team focus on your mission and thus positively impact your community 
    • Financial information from the most recently complete fiscal year

Fund Requirements

Awardees must commit to:

  • Complete a brief final report (format to be determined) outlining the impact of the funding
  • Optional/as applicable, show off your progress using the press kit here (photos, social media, other media)
  • Expend all grant funds between February 2023 and February, 2025

Have Questions? Please stay tuned for access to recorded “how-to” information videos (coming soon.)