An Agency of State Government
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.
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 provides funds in support of a wide range of arts learning projects.
The AISC Experiences grant program supports arts learning activities in three categories:
AISC Experiences is designed to engage learners as audience members, viewers and artists through activities that plant a seed of inspiration, proving both foundational and transformative.
Submit applications online at https://art.mt.gov/application
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and scored against the following criteria:
Applicants may be prioritized to equalize arts learning opportunities across geographic area, arts disciplines, and core learning groups.
FY22 AISC Experiences grants will support activities taking place between February 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. Please note that funds cannot be awarded in support of project activities that have already occurred.
Requests submitted to AISC Experiences must fall within the range of $250 - $2500. An applicant cash match is not required in this category.
Eligible Applicants
For questions or assistance with the application process or to discuss development of your project, contact Monica Grable, Arts Education Director, at (406) 444-6522 or Monica.Grable@mt.gov. 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.
A final report will be required, due 30 days following the project completion.The final report will include:
Requests submitted to the AISC Experiences category will be reviewed by the Council's Arts Education Committee.
The Arts Education Committee will discuss requests in a public meeting to be held approximately one month after each due date; applicants are invited to attend. The committee will make recommendations to the Executive Committee of the Montana Arts Council which will then make the final funding determinations.
A summary of reviewer's 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.
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions approximately six weeks after each deadline, following the quarterly meeting of the Council's Arts Education Committee.
In addition to the AISC Experiences grant category, you may wish to consider applying to these other MAC grant programs:
Project Name*
Character Limit: 100
Amount Awarded
Character Limit: 20
Project Description*
Please provide a brief one-sentence description of your project.
Character Limit: 250
Project Start Date*
Character Limit: 10
Project End Date*
Character Limit: 10
Is this the applicant's first AISC request?*
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Yes No
Uncertain
Approximate total number and primary age group(s) of the learners to be served:*
Character Limit: 100
Will students of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity be served through this residency?*
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Yes No
Uncertain
Project Lead Contact Name*
Character Limit: 50
Project Lead Email Address*
Character Limit: 100
Is the applicant organization itself serving as the arts learning provider?*
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Yes No
Arts Learning Provider Name*
If your project involves a guest artist(s), name the artist(s) or arts organization providing the experience. If the applicant is providing the arts learning experience, enter the applicant organization name here.
Character Limit: 250
Arts Learning Provider Primary Discipline*
From the drop-down menu, choose the primary artistic discipline of the organization or artist providing the arts learning experience.
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Arts Integration
Dance
Film
Folk/Traditional
Literary Arts
Media Arts
Multidisciplinary
Music
Performance Art
Theatre
Visual Art
Other Arts
Non-Arts
Arts Learning Provider Phone Number*
Character Limit: 15
Arts Learning Provider Web Link (Artist or Organization)
Provide a URL to the lead artist's and/or organization's website or primary public interface. If none, leave blank.
Character Limit: 2000
Second Arts Learning Provider Web Link (Artist or Organization)
Provide a second URL to the arts learning provider's website or primary public interface as needed.
Character Limit: 2000
Which of the following describes the primary focus of your grant request?*
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Equipment, small tools or supplies
First-hand experience with art or artists Transportation
Arts Learning Objectives*
Define up to 3 succinct arts learning objectives.
What arts-related knowledge, skills or experience do you hope the learners will have gained from the project activities?
Character Limit: 500
Project Overview*
Please describe the project in detail.
What art discipline, media or methods will the learners explore? Or, how will students engage with art or artists? How is the project structured and who is involved?
Character Limit: 2500
Planning Process*
Provide details on the steps taken, to date, in planning for the proposed activities. If partnering with other educators, artists, organizations or administrators, please identify their role(s) in planning.
Character Limit: 1500
Montana Arts Standards and Indian Education for All
Please list and comment on any Montana Standards for Arts the proposed project will meet. Additionally, if your project involves the study of Native American artwork or culture, briefly address how the proposed project meets Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians.
Character Limit: 2500
Curriculum Integration
If your project takes place with K-12 learners, will the project activities involve integration with other subject areas?
If yes, please describe in detail.
Character Limit: 1500
Core Learners*
Describe the core group(s) of learners participating in the project.
Who are the learners who will gain experience through the project and what is the age range and/or ability level of those involved? Why was this particular group chosen?
Character Limit: 500
Need Addressed*
What is the arts learning need that is being addressed through the proposed project? Please elaborate.
Character Limit: 1500
Access to Project Activities*
Please share the steps taken to ensure equal access to the project activities by the designated arts learners.
Character Limit: 1000
Assessment of Student Learners*
How will you assess participant learning and understanding during the project? Simple tools or activities may be used to assess that learners have met the objectives, such as verbal or written responses.
If using a formal assessment tool(s), such as a survey, please upload below.
Character Limit: 1000 | File Size Limit: 2 MB
Project Activity Location*
Please list the physical addresses of all sites where the learning will take place, along with the county name.
Character Limit: 500
Arts Learning Provider (Artist or Organization) Selection
If activities involve first-hand experience with an artist or arts organization, please provide detail on the artist selection process and why they are the best fit for the planned activities.
Character Limit: 1500
Artist Resume, Brochure or Promotional Piece
Provide documentation for each arts learning provider (artist or organization) involved in the project 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: 8 MB
Site Information for Transportation Requests
If you are requesting support for transportation-related needs, provide information about the destination(s) chosen and how the experience of visiting the site(s) will lead to arts learning.
Character Limit: 1500
Information on purchase of tools, supplies and small equipment
Please share details of the purchases being planned.
Character Limit: 1500
Project Work Samples
Provide any relevant documentation (images, brochures, lesson plans, production information, other) 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
Project Schedule*
Briefly describe the timeline of the project activities.
If the project involves multiple sessions, core groups of learners, or more than one teaching artist, upload a detailed schedule or timetable below. If the project involves tools, supplies or equipment, share your timeline for purchase and use. Highly detailed schedules or charts may be uploaded below.
Character Limit: 500
Schedule Upload
Use this upload space as needed for complex schedules or charts ( as Word doc or PDF)
File Size Limit: 4 MB
Amount Requested*
Character Limit: 20
Project Budget*
Use the form provided here to submit your project budget; be sure to include the amount you are requesting from MAC. Once completed, use the naming convention below to rename the file and upload. In the space provided, add budget notes as needed. Note: If your budget has been created in Numbers rather than Excel, please save as a PDF before uploading.
Character Limit: 250 | File Size Limit: 2 MB
Additional Support Materials
Upload additional items, if any, that would help inform your request; use the space provided to identify the uploaded item(s).
Character Limit: 500 | File Size Limit: 8 MB
Assurances Statement*
Click here to read the assurances. Check the box below to certify that you have read and understand the assurances.
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I have read and understand the assurances
Terms of Payment*
Grant funds are initiated upon return of the grant award contract. It is the grantee's responsibility to pay the total amount due to any contracted guest or 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 activity.
Application Signature Page*
Click here to access the application signature page.
The signature page must be signed by someone who is authorized to commit funds for the school/organization. This person is almost always a principal or superintendent for a school, an executive director or the president of the board for an organization. The signature of the teaching artist, or representative of artist organization or guest artist/company,
signifies commitment to the project.
Please print the signature page, have the appropriate authorizing officials complete and sign, then upload using the button below.
File Size Limit: 2 MB
Review of Application*
Click on the print application link and review a pdf file of the application.
I understand that this is how it will appear to the review committee, that all items required appear in the pdf file, and that the way my application appears is my responsibility. I have reviewed the guidelines and understand that my application will be reviewed based on this criteria.
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I have reviewed my application.
Grant Contact*
I have added administrator@grantinterface.com to my contact list.
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Yes
Please type your name in the box below.*
Character Limit: 50
Date*
Character Limit: 10
Signature Verification*
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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