K-12 School Arts Grant

Performing Arts Society Mission Statement

The purpose of the Performing Arts Society shall be to assist the College of Fine Arts and Communication in raising funds to support arts programming through the Youth Performing Arts Series, the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and other programming centered around the arts at Western Illinois University and the Macomb community. Activities shall include community and audience development, fund-raising, providing a social atmosphere for cultural activities, and increasing the public awareness of the need and value of the performing arts.

General Information

The PAS K-12 Arts Grant will “support arts programming and development in K-12 schools” and “increase the public awareness of the need and value of the arts” through its support of arts programs and development in K-12 schools serving McDonough County, providing financial assistance for performing arts activities provided through the schools, or to support travel for regional or national performance opportunities through McDonough County K-12 schools. All awards are contingent upon available funding.

Application Deadline

Grants are due by the listed deadline below. Please download the application and email your typed application to cofac@wiu.edu by the deadline.

Download the Form

Application Deadline - May 10, 2024.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be employed by a school district within McDonough County or belong to an organization providing arts programming/development to a school district within McDonough County.
2. PAS Faculty Arts Grant recipients and PAS Community Arts Grant recipients are not eligible.
3. This application is open to all ages, however, if the applicant is 16 years or younger at the time of applying, the applicant must provide a letter of approval from a parent or guardian.
4. All facets of the application must be complete to be eligible for consideration.

Selection Criteria

1. Grants are awarded based on projects, activities, performances or events that directly relate to the mission of the Performing Arts Society. Special consideration will be given to activities that seek to build audiences, impact student recruiting, and/or enhance the programming of the WIU Center for Performing Arts.
2. Projects, activities, performances or events must promote excellence in the performing or visual arts, provide cultural activities, and increase the public awareness of the need and value of the arts.
3. Special consideration will be given to those proposals that include matching funds from department, college, university, or other entity.

Requirements

1. Grants are awarded based on projects, activities, performances, or events that directly relate to the mission of the Performing Arts Society. Special consideration will be given to activities that directly impact the arts in McDonough County Schools.
2. Projects, activities, performances, or events must promote excellence in the performing or visual arts, support arts education, experience, and development for K-12 students, and increase the public awareness of the need and value of the arts.
3. Upon completion of the event, awardees are required to submit a report to the PAS Board within thirty days. The report should include a narrative describing how the funds were spent and outcomes achieved by the event.
4. Funding must be spent during the period for which it is awarded. Funding may not be used to fund receptions, to pay stipends to WIU employees or students, or to fund graduate assistantships.
5. Grant recipients must coordinate any promotional material with the COFAC Assistant to the Dean for Marketing and Communication. Recipients are responsible for all promotion and marketing costs. Promotion and marketing efforts about projects, activities, performances or events must include, at a minimum, mention of the Performing Arts Society’s sponsorship on the school’s website and social media outlets.
6. Special consideration will be given to those proposals that include matching funds from WIU or other entities.
7. All awards are contingent upon available funding. If no funds are available, no awards will be given.

Arts Grant Committee

The PAS Arts Grant Committee, a standing committee of PAS, will review applications and make recommendations to the PAS Board of Directors for approval.

Application and Timeline

Funding is contingent upon availability of funds and will be awarded to applicants that meet all criteria, submit a complete application, and are positively reviewed by the Arts Grant Committee. All proposals are subject to review and approval by the PAS Board of Directors.