2017 Artists in the Schools Grants Available for Neighbor Islands

Nā Wao Ola A`o Pi`ilani (The Life Giving Forests of Maui) at Pukalani Elementary School / Calley O’Neill / stained glass mural / 2017

The Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is now accepting Artists in the Schools grant applications for the 2017-2018 school year. There is a new category of funding for Neighbor Island schools.

All public schools, including public charter schools, may apply for grants of up to $6,000 per school for artist residencies to be conducted during the 2017-2018 school year. Schools must contribute 10% of the grant amount received, in cash, towards residency expenses. AITS grants are meant to enhance a school’s fine arts curriculum, not supplant it.

“We are excited to announce a new category of AITS funding specifically for Neighbor Island schools that have an HSFCA Art in Public Places commissioned work of art on campus that was installed after 1993,” organization leaders said.

The list of eligible schools, along with FAQs about this new pilot project: Artists in the Schools is available online.

The AITS Program provides students with an engaging, creative and fun learning experience based on the Fine Arts standards through residencies with teaching artists from the Artistic Teaching Partners Roster. Many of these artists integrate their art form with other core curriculum areas, such as language arts, math, social studies and science, meeting both Fine Arts and other core standards.

The grant application must be completed online.  The application is due no later than May 2, 2017 at 4 p.m.