Providing opportunities for children in the City of Boulder to have unique experiences with practicing artists, access to tools and techniques, or improved instruction in the creative professions.

Si prefiere leer esta página en español por favor haga clic aquí. Se puede responder a la solicitud en español. Un miembro del personal de la Oficina de Artes y Cultura traducirá sus respuestas para que sean revisadas.

For this application in other languages please contact the Office of Arts + Culture Program Manager Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov.

Purpose

The Arts Education Project Grant provides opportunities for children in the City of Boulder to have unique experiences with practicing artists, access to tools and techniques, or improved instruction in the creative professions. The goal of the grant is to increase the exposure of students to unique and memorable experiences that may shape their future in cultural participation and creative careers.

How to Apply

Get Informed

Review the below information in full.

Grant Portal

Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.

Application Contents

  • Online application form
  • Project summary
  • Project budget
  • Partner/collaborator list
  • Venue confirmation letter
  • Letters of support
  • Other supporting documents

Application Confirmation

Look for an automated email message confirming receipt of your application.

Scoring Round One

After the deadline, applications will be sent to the panel for scoring and comments. The panel consists of the seven City Council-appointed Boulder Arts Commissioners.

Respond to the Panel

You will receive notification that the panel’s scores and comments on your application are available. Please review their scores and comments and prepare a one-page response for the panel.

Scoring Round Two

Before the Arts Commission meeting, the panel will rescore the applications. At the decision meeting, the members of the Boulder Arts Commission then deliberate to decide final approval of the applications which will receive a grant.

Completion of Paperwork

When a grant is awarded, staff from the Office of Arts and Culture will contact the successful applicant to complete any necessary paperwork.

Details

Total Funds: $30,000

Awards: Approximately 10 awards at $3,000 each

Details: The award amount of $3,000 is a maximum funding guideline. Smaller requests will be accepted.

Cycle: Annual

Decision Timelines

Deadline to submit application: Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59 p.m.

Decision Timeline:

  • Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline for applications
  • May 14 to May 21 – Review by staff for eligibility and revision by applicants if necessary
  • May 21 to June 4 – Preliminary review and score by panel (15 days)
  • June 4 to June 11 – Score processing by staff
  • June 11 – Preliminary scores and comments sent to applicants via email
  • June 11 to 18 – Applicants prepare and send written responses to the panel’s questions. The written response should be emailed to Sarah Harrison at culturegrants@bouldercolorado.gov by June 18, 2025 at 11:59pm.
  • June 18 to June 20 – Response processing by staff
  • June 20 – Responses sent to panel
  • June 25 (est.) – Panel meeting to discuss applications
  • June 25 to July 9– Final review and score by panel (15 days)
  • July 9 to 25 – Processing of final scores
  • July 25– Final scores published in the Arts Commission meeting packet
  • July 30 – Arts Commission meeting. Discussion and final decisions on grants

Eligibility Requirements

  • General eligibility. Meets all general eligibility requirements.
  • Open to educators, administrators, and presenters. Classroom teachers and school administrators in public schools, private schools, home school associations, and non-traditional classroom settings, as well as artists / individuals / organizations collaborating with schools on programming are eligible.
  • Service area and programming. Projects must have a demonstrated benefit to school children in the City of Boulder. This programming must meet the criteria described in the Chapter 14-1-2 of the City of Boulder Revised Code. For the determination of programming location, the term “Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. For additional information on the planning area and Comprehensive Plan visit this link. As a short hand, office staff use addresses with the zip code starting with 803— to determine if it is in the acceptable area.
  • Timing. Projects must take place after the grant decisions are made and end before the end of the 2026 spring semester.

Review Process

  • Deliberation. Applications are reviewed by the Boulder Arts Commission grants panel. Final funding decisions are made at public Boulder Arts Commission meetings. See schedule.
  • Evaluation of applications. Funding in previous years does not imply continued support. Each application is reviewed anew in the context of current policies and applications. Applicants that have received repeated funding should be aware that the Boulder Arts Commission looks for indication of growth and a fresh approach to their work.
  • Evaluation criteria
    • Benefit to students (Maximum 8 points)
    • Proposed outcomes and evaluation strategy (Maximum 8 points)
    • Community Priorities (Maximum 8 points)
    • Cultural equity (Maximum 8 points)
    • Boulder focus (Maximum 6 points)
    • Encouragement points (Maximum 4 points)
  • The complete scoring system and rubric for the Arts Education Project Grant can be found here.

Apply

Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal to preview and apply. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.

Appeals Process

Written Appeals Process. The deadline for a written appeal is 14 days after funding decisions has been made by the Boulder Arts Commission. Find more information about the appeals process.

Reporting

Grant report forms are on the Boulder Arts Commission grants software. Log in with the same user name and password utilized to submit the application. After logging in, go to the ‘Dashboard’, then you’ll see a ‘Follow Up’ section for the grant. On the far right is the ‘Edit’ button. That will take you to complete the final report.

After you submit the report you’ll receive email confirmation and copy of the report via the email that you have included in the report. Contact Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3907 if you do not receive email confirmation.

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