Overview
Consistent arts programming in the K-12 space offers a significant opportunity to close the achievement gap for all students. The Kenan Trust will fund projects that offer curriculum-based, recurring arts exposure or programming to students as part of the school day, after school, or through out of school programs with community partner specializing in arts education.
Eligible Project Types
The Trust will fund projects that:
- Offer long-term, consistent exposure to the arts for K-12 students; or
- Provide community-based arts experiences, including dance, music, theater, or visual arts with an emphasis on access.
The Trust does not offer funding for art-based field trips that only include a one-time experience or exposure for students.
Eligible Organizations
The Trust will consider proposals for the types of projects listed above from:
- K-12 schools or organizations supporting K-12 schools;
- Colleges and Universities offering programming for K-12 students; or
- Arts Education Nonprofits offering community based out-of-school programs with programming for K-12 students.
Size and Duration of Grants
The Kenan Trust awards $250,000 – $350,000 for most grants. Grant sizes may be larger or smaller than this range depending on the size of the organization, the scope of the project, and the potential for broad-scale impact. Grant durations typically range from 1-3 years.
Please note, the grant size and duration listed here are meant as a general guide. A Kenan Grant Officer will work closely with organizations advancing to later stages of our grant process to tailor grant requests if needed.
Featured Grant in K-12 Arts Education: Frost School of Music
The Kenan Trust awarded a grant to The University of Miami’s Frost School of Music to support their award-winning MusicReach program. MusicReach has provided high quality mentoring and music instruction to more than 10,000 underserved and at-risk youth in Miami-Dade County since 2008. Participants experience weekly music lessons taught by a Frost School of Music undergraduate student, who in turn is mentored by a Frost School of Music graduate student. The program fosters positive learning outcomes related to music, music instruction, and community involvement for youth students, undergraduates, and graduate participants.
