AISC Residencies FY26
Montana Arts Council
Guidelines
Montana Arts Council
The Montana Arts Council is the agency of state government established to develop the creative potential of all Montanans, advance education, spur economic vibrancy, and revitalize communities through involvement in the arts. Fifteen individuals appointed by the Governor oversee the Montana Arts Council.
Artists in Schools and Communities Grant Program
The Montana Arts Council strives to foster access to robust arts learning on behalf of citizens of all ages and abilities. To that end, the Artists in Schools and Communities (AISC) grant program supports a wide range of arts learning projects through its two subcategories: AISC Experiences and AISC Residencies.
The AISC Residencies grant connects learners of all ages and abilities with professional teaching artists through a diversity of learning formats and settings. Residencies range from a couple of hours to months-long experiences and may engage one or several guest artists working with a single core group of learners or with multiple groups, all sharing the key components of experiential learning, a depth of knowledge gained and a strong emphasis on the process of art creation. Because of this emphasis, activities under the AISC Residencies grant category must include hands-on learning.
Applications are submitted electronically through MAC's online grant management system.
Applications will be reviewed and scored against the following criteria:
The project exhibits artistic and educational merit.
Thorough plans for implementation and evaluation are evident.
Preliminary planning will ensure access and community involvement.
Project management and budget appear sound
Applications may be prioritized to equalize arts learning opportunities across geographic area, arts discipline, and core learning groups.
Requests submitted to the AISC Residencies category will be reviewed by a panel comprised of local and regional professionals from the arts, nonprofit and arts education communities, chaired by a non-voting member of the council. The process is competitive in that there may not be funding available to award grants to all eligible requests or at the amount requested; applicants should carefully consider the review criteria.
The AISC Residencies review panel will discuss requests in a virtual public meeting to be held in late April 2025 where applicants will be invited to attend as observers. Review panelists will subsequently make recommendations to the full body of the Montana Arts council which will then make the final funding determinations.
A summary of panel comments is made available to applicants upon request. Applicants are encouraged to contact MAC staff following the review to receive comments--regardless of the outcome--as they provide useful insight for the project and/or future grant requests.
AISC Residencies FY26 grants will support activities taking place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. Please note that funds cannot be awarded in support of project activities that have already occurred.
Requests in this category must fall within the range of $2500 - $10,000.
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by June 1, 2025.
All applicants must be one of the following:
Formally organized and continuously operating in Montana for a minimum of one year by the beginning of the grant period. Organization compliance will be verified by information on submitted 501(c)(3). Nonprofits organized and operating in an alternate structure for the past year (for example, under the umbrella of another organization) need to contact MAC staff to determine eligibility.
University or Tribal College arts departments with ongoing outreach programs that continually and significantly extend services beyond the campus. Tribal or university arts programs must submit a letter with the date the program seeking support was established, signed by the authorizing official.
Tribal K-12 school
Unit of government
Public educational institution
Local chapter of a tax-exempt national organization registered and operating within the state of Montana
AISC grants may not be awarded to individuals.
Projects may not be funded retroactively and must not begin until July 1, 2025 or later.
Recurring projects will not be funded unless a significant change in the project can be demonstrated.
Organizations are not prevented from submitting to more than one AISC category during the FY26 cycle, such as Experiences and Residencies.
A 1:1 cash match. For first time-grantees, Tribal schools or Class C or smaller schools, MAC will provide a 2:1 match (2/3 of total project funding.)
Organizations must be in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Applicants must be formally organized and continuously operating in Montana for a minimum of one year prior to project start date.
Grantees will be required to obtain a SAM number as a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier). Applicants may obtain this number from https://sam.gov/content/home using the “Get a Unique Entity ID” button. There is never a charge to receive a SAM number.
All current and prior MAC reporting must be in compliance and a SAM UEI# obtained in order to receive funding.
Organizations must maintain eligibility and continued compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Grantees must appropriately credit the Montana Arts Council in materials and announcements related to the supported project during the award period.
Modifications to the planned grant-supported project need to be submitted in writing to the Montana Arts Council and approved by MAC staff.
Grantees are encouraged to share news of their awarded project with their local legislators to help demonstrate the impact of the grant funds.
A final report will be required, due 30 days following the project's completion. The final report, to be assigned as a follow up in the grants management system, will include:
A finalized project budget with accompanying explanation(s) of budgetary differences
A narrative summary of grant project activities and outcomes, together with assessments if used
A minimum of three pieces of supporting documentation, to include samples of artwork related to the project, process photos, audio or video of the artist working with participants, websites or other digital media, newspaper articles or social media pieces about the project, and formal or informal survey results
Copies of letters or other communications shared with legislators as applicable
In addition to the AISC Residencies grant category, you may wish to consider applying to this other MAC grant program:
AISC Experiences grants fund a wide array of arts learning experiences for students of all ages and abilities through:
a school or organization's purchase of tools, supplies and small equipment to support experimentation with new arts media and methods;
transportation to support first-hand experiences with art or artists; or
fees supporting direct engagement with guest artists for a virtual or in-person learning session that may or may not include hands-on learning.
Applications to the AISC Experiences process are accepted three times per year with deadlines in mid-April, mid-August and mid-December.
Project Information
Character Limit: 100
Please provide a brief one-sentence description of your project. This description will be used publicly should a grant be awarded.
Character Limit: 250
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Yes No
Uncertain
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Yes No
Character Limit: 100
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Same day with a single group of learners Same day with multiple groups of learners
Over days, weeks or months with the same group of learners Over days, weeks or months with multiple groups of learners
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Yes No
Name the artist(s) or arts organization providing the residency activities.
Character Limit: 50
Character Limit: 100
From the drop-down menu, choose the primary artistic discipline of the residency artist(s) or organization.
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Arts Integration Dance
Film Folk/Traditional Literary Arts Media Arts Multidisciplinary Music
Performance Art Theatre
Visual Art Other
Character Limit: 100
Character Limit: 15
Use the spaces below to provide links to the residency artist's or organization's website and/or primary public interface.
Character Limit: 2000
Character Limit: 2000
Financial Information
Character Limit: 20
Use the table below to enter your expenses for this project. Expenses must match or exceed the amount of the request.
Please contact Monica Grable (Monica.Grable@mt.gov) with any questions.
Admin Only | Cost Category | Enter a description of the expense item | Amount |
Total Expenses - Must Equal MAC grant request & matching funds |
Please use the space below to further clarify the amounts entered above or to add additional information you wish to share with the review committee.
Character Limit: 1000
What is "applicant cash"?
Applicant cash is the portion of the project budget, if any, the organization intends to pay out of their own funds.
Other Funding. What does this mean?
These are other sources of funding. This might include other grants, cash donations, or expected sales, registrations or admissions you anticipate collecting.
Funding Source | Amount | |
Montana Arts Council Grant Request | ||
Total Project Funding - Must match MAC grant plus matching funds |
Please use the space below to further clarify the amounts entered above or to add additional information you wish to share with the review committee. Include explanations of any donated cash, goods or services that contribute to the outcome of this project.
Character Limit: 1000
Narrative
Identify up to 3 succinct arts learning objectives. Begin objective statements with 'learners will'...
What discipline-related knowledge or skills do you hope the learners will have gained by the conclusion of this residency?
Character Limit: 1000
Describe the core group(s) of learners participating in the project.
Who are the learners who will participate and what is the age range of those involved? What is the approximate number of learners to be served by this project? Why was this particular group chosen?
Character Limit: 1500
Please describe the project in detail.
What art discipline(s) will the learners explore and how will students be engaged in hands-on learning in that art form? What specific art making skills will be introduced by the artist(s) and what process steps will the students follow? Will a culminating exhibit or event be included in the project activities?
Character Limit: 5000
If your project takes place in a public school during the regular school day, please list any Montana Standards for Arts the proposed project will meet. Please go into detail to demonstrate how the project activities will address each standard included. Additionally, if your project involves the study of Native American artwork or culture, briefly discuss how the proposed project meets Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians and with whom you are consulting on your project, such as a Native artist, educator, tribal elder or Native American Studies scholar.
If your proposed project takes place outside the school day, please consider how the Arts Standards or Essential Understandings might enhance your project.
Character Limit: 10000
If the residency takes place in a public school during the school day, will the artistic skills and knowledge shared by the teaching artist(s) be integrated with other subject areas?
If yes, please describe in detail.
Character Limit: 2500
Briefly, what specific educational or artistic need is being addressed through this residency?
Character Limit: 1000
Provide details on the process undertaken, to date, in planning for the proposed residency activities.
If partnering with a group of community members, educators or administrators, please identify the stakeholders involved and their respective roles as well as the meetings that have taken place or are planned to take place.
Character Limit: 2500
Please share the steps undertaken to ensure equal access to the residency activities by the designated arts learners. Also share your plan, if any, to make the learning visible through community involvement.
Character Limit: 5000
If a public event (art show, concert, etc.) is a part of this project, please enter that date below. If the public component stretches over multiple dates, enter the date of the first public event.
Character Limit: 10
Character Limit: 1000 | File Size Limit: 2 MB
If sponsoring the artist(s) in residence, please provide detail on the artist selection process and why they are the best fit for the planned residency activities. If engaging an artist(s) or organization you have worked with previously, briefly address why it is important to invite the same artist(s) to return. If the applicant is directly providing the residency activities, please share your unique capacity to carry out the proposed activities.
Character Limit: 5000
Provide a resume/CV or one-sheet for each residency artist or organization leading residency activities. Only one upload is allowed, therefore multiple items must be combined into a single PDF. Please contact MAC staff for assistance in combining files if needed.
File Size Limit: 4 MB
Provide work samples (images, lesson plans, other) by residency artist(s) here. Only one upload is allowed, therefore multiple items must be combined into a single pdf. Please contact MAC staff for assistance in combining files if needed.
File Size Limit: 8 MB
Briefly describe the residency structure.
If the project involves multiple sessions, core groups of learners, or more than one teaching artist, please upload a detailed schedule or timetable below.
Character Limit: 2500
File Size Limit: 2 MB
How will you assess participant learning and understanding during the project? How will you know students have gained the knowledge and skills in the artistic form listed as your objectives above? This might be as simple as recording student's audio responses post-activity or using a short survey tool.
Character Limit: 2500
For school-day projects using a formal assessment tool, please upload that sample here.
File Size Limit: 2 MB
Upload any additional items that would help inform your request, using the space provided here to identify the uploaded item(s).
Character Limit: 1000 | File Size Limit: 8 MB
File Size Limit: 8 MB
Contacts and Accessibility
For questions or assistance with the application process or to discuss development of your project, contact Monica Grable, Arts Education Director, at Monica.Grable@mt.gov or (406) 444-6522. MAC staff is available to provide technical assistance—including a review of your application draft—or to provide an alternate format of the guidelines or application as needed.
For other ADA accommodation needs, please contact Kristin Han Burgoyne, Accessibility Coordinator, at kburgoyne@mt.gov or 406-444-6449.
Assurances and Signatures
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I have read and understand the assurances
The guidelines available at the top of this application form include information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, important project dates and more. Please indicate below that you have read and understand the guidelines.
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I have read and understand the guidelines
Grant funds are initiated upon return of the grant award contract. It is the grantee's responsibility to pay the total amount due to the teaching artist(s), based on mutually agreed upon terms, no later than the final day of the project.
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I understand that the teaching artist(s) must be paid no later than the conclusion of the residency.
Please print the signature page, have the appropriate authorizing officials complete and sign, then upload using the button below.
File Size Limit: 2 MB
Click on the print application link in the top right of this form and review a pdf file of the application; check that all items required appear in the pdf file. Using the button below please indicate your understanding that this is how it will appear to the review committee and acknowledge that the way the application appears is the applicant's responsibility.
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I have reviewed my application.
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Yes
Character Limit: 50
Character Limit: 10
By clicking "I Agree" below and typing my name in the box above, I am authorized to make application on behalf of this individual or organization and the information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
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I agree