Established in 2017, the School of the Arts actively cultivates new models of interdisciplinary innovation, entrepreneurial initiative and collaborative community engagement to further prepare 21st-century artists and scholars to live, create and thrive in today’s world. The school serves as a vibrant urban hub for the study, practice and integration of the arts across the university and in the community.
The School of the Arts, in collaboration with the COAS RCA Hub, invites proposals for three grant programs from arts faculty and potential collaborators to support new creative work or existing work that can grow and expand and align with school goals and the College of Arts and Sciences strategic plan.
Cross-pollination
Collaborative engagement and/or entrepreneurship in research and creative activity (i.e. specific project development and investment, programming to get to know faculty and units from across the university, creating time and space to explore new partnerships). Faculty from at least two different disciplines who would like to collaborate may submit joint proposals of up to $10,000. Smaller grant applications are welcome.
Student success
Experiential learning and career readiness in teaching (e.g. integrating career readiness into syllabi, reviewing course activities, developing an internship program with civic organizations, incorporating community engagement into courses, exploring field schools and other types of experiential learning, creating linked learning community structures, supporting arts residency and fellowship programs for students, etc). Award amounts for single faculty projects: up to $5,000. Award amounts for projects with multiple faculty: up to $10,000. Smaller grant applications are welcome.
Project completion
This program supports performances, publications, exhibitions and other presentations that require modest additional funding to complete. The program assists with such needs as space and equipment rentals, recording fees, fabrication, shipping, book subvention, reproduction, transportation and performers’ fees. The primary evaluative criterion is that the funds will help secure a wider audience for the applicant’s work and ensure greater impact on their field. Each proposed project must be completed within one year of receiving an award. Award amounts for single faculty: up to $1000.
The School of the Arts encourages, but does not require, proposals that include students, and/or colleagues from beyond the School of the Arts and/or the participation of arts entities and organizations outside the university.
Grant program details
Grant program overview
The program has a $35,000 budget thanks to generous support of the College of Arts and Sciences. COAS Central has designated these funds to advance schools that “facilitate meaningful connections and experiences for students, faculty and staff” (COAS, Strategic Plan: Goal 5) and to seed revenue-generating ideas connected to improving education access and student success (COAS, Strategic Plan: Goal 1).
The grant program is open to full-time faculty in the School of the Arts’ Departments of Art, Design, and Visual Studies; Music; Theatre, Film and Creative Writing; Arts Entrepreneurship; Games, Interactive Media and Mobile Technology; and faculty associated with the Stein Luminary and Blue Galleries. Collaborative projects may be submitted by faculty outside of these areas so long as one of the collaborators comes from a School of the Arts department and is serving as lead, or a strong co-lead, within the grant proposal.
Award
If a grant is awarded, the recipient will need to provide a paragraph explaining their project for marketing and communication purposes by February 15, 2026.
In addition, they may be asked for an interview to share their ideas and work, and they may also be asked to present at a School of the Arts event or convening.
Call for proposals released: November 10, 2025.
Proposal submission deadline: December 19, 2025.
Application should include a project narrative of no more than 4 pages (12 pt. double-spaced), which includes:
Identification of the grant track you are applying to and how it connects to the School of the Arts mission.
Description of the project, the roles of its personnel, its audience and venue and how it features the track area. If students or community partners will be part of the project, please explain the role they will play.
An itemized budget. Funding should defray project costs; it is not a stipend. Project costs may include types of travel that are distinct or not covered from other COAS travel fund programs. If there are additional sources of funding supporting the project, please identify the sources, amount and status of the funding especially if this is an ongoing request. Please be sure to include staff time given that projects usually require some kind of important support from these valued team members, and we appreciate you notifying your chair that you may ask for this staff assistance.
Plan for assessing outcomes and impacts of work.
Project timeline that demonstrates the ability to complete the project, which includes key project milestones and anticipated points in the project’s development where the School of the Arts could document your work through video or photographs.
Proposals will be evaluated by a faculty and staff selection committee from the School of the Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences RCA Hub. They will make recommendations to Amanda Ashley, Director of the School of the Arts, and Grady Wright, Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Education, Research and Creative Activity, who will make the final determination.
The review will be based on these criteria:
Artistic merit
Centrality of the track area to the project
Connection to the School of the Arts mission and COAS strategic plan
Clarity and feasibility of the budget and timeline
Ability to represent the energy and potential of the School of the Arts
Student or civic partner involvement (a preferred, not required, project component)
Inclusion of non-school colleagues and/or disciplines for the cross-pollination track (a preferred, not required, project component)
Inclusion of a thoughtful approach to assess impact and contributions
Final reporting
Within 30 days of project completion, or at the latest by December 31, 2026, grant recipients are required to file a final report with the School of the Arts. The final report narrative should describe the activities and actual outcomes and impacts of the project.
The final report narrative of no more than three pages (12 pt. font, single- or double-spaced) should include:
Description of activities and actual outcomes of the project.
Assessment of outcomes and impacts, including audience size, students reached, student outcomes or other relative statistics or indicators providing evidence of positive impact stemming from the project and grant award.
A final budget identifying total expenses and income amounts and sources of funding.
Digital photographs of project activities or other documentation (i.e., flyers, evaluations, invitations, media coverage, etc.) as appropriate.