Grants to Massachusetts public schools, certified arts teachers, and teaching artists in eligible locations to enhance arts education for students. Funding is intended for activities that increase access to quality arts education and to arts career learning opportunities for high school students, as well as to support the professional development and provision of arts supplies for instructors. The goal of the program is to increase equitable access to quality arts education for public school students in Boston.
The BPS Arts Expansion Fund is used to empower BPS schools to embrace, expand and deepen arts instruction in schools.
Grant Focus Areas:
School Arts Index: Increase access to quality arts education as measured by the BPS School Arts Index. For details, see pp. 4-5 in the RFP listed in Supporting Documents below.
Career Connected Learning: Increase or enhance access to quality arts career learning opportunities in grades 9-12. For details, see pages 4 and 6 in the RFP listed in Supporting Documents below.
Individual Arts Educator: Support BPS certified individual arts teachers and teaching artists by building their artistic practice with cash, professional development and arts supplies. For details, see pages 4 and 9 of the RFP listed in Supporting Documents below.
All Boston Public Schools can apply for School Arts Index or Career Pathways grants. Schools
must have a completed 2022-23 School Arts Survey on file when submitting their application. (See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2223BPSArtsSurvey.)
BPS certified arts teachers and teaching artists are eligible to apply for Individual Arts Educator Grants. Teaching artists must be teaching a long term (min. 30 hours) in school arts residency at a BPS school
during the 2023-24 school year to be eligible.
Ineligible
Grant Funds are not intended to support the following:
• One-time field trips or performances, short-term workshops, or other arts exposure activities.
• Equipment purchases or bus transportation as the primary focus of the grant request. Some modest equipment or transportation costs may be considered as part of a larger proposed project. Please note that any equipment or unused supplies and materials purchased utilizing grant funds become property of Boston Public Schools after the project is complete.
• Arts instruction that takes place exclusively during out-of-school time without an explicit connection to in school curriculum or activities.
• Grant Funds may not be used to pay for teacher salaries but may be used for teacher stipends.
• Grant funds should not be used to replace line items in existing school or district budgets. Funds are intended to extend or complement existing resources.
Pre-Proposal Conference
Office Hours:
Potential applicants can schedule a half hour phone meeting with EdVestors staff to discuss their proposal ideas and answer specific questions regarding their application.
Meeting ID: 898 2493 2525
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Pre-Application Information
Timeline:
- Tuesday, February 7, 4pm Information session
- Wednesday, March 22 Grant Applications due by 4:00pm
- Early June Grant Awards Announced
- Tuesday, June 13 Grantee Orientation meeting, 3:30pm
- September 2023-June 2024 Grant Period
Proposals must include a cash school contribution as part of the Total Project Budget equaling at least 10% of the total Grant Request (20% for applicants who have received BPS Arts Expansion support for 3 or more years).
Schools can be connected with no more than 2 proposals.
Arts partners can apply for support to work with no more than 4 schools. If an arts partner is planning to apply with more than 4 schools, please e-mail the funding source to schedule a conversation with EdVestors staff.
- School Arts Index: Typical grant award - $5,000-$10,000
- Career Connected Learning: Typical grant award - $5,000-$10,000
- Individual Arts Educator: Up to $500 each
Term of Contract
Grant Period: September 2023-June 2024
School Arts Index: Returning grantees (funded for 3 years or more with schools in the Expanding or Excelling School Arts Index categories) may apply for a one or two year grant.
