Community Arts Development Grants
Community Arts Development Grants assist small nonprofit Alaskan organizations in developing art programs in underserved areas of the state and/or underserved disciplines. Exhibits, concerts, dance performances and festivals, workshops, readings, theater productions are examples of the kinds of arts projects funded through this grant category. Grants will also be given to assist developing organizations in the area of arts administration such as board development, accounting systems and budget development. Priority will be given to those organizations that operate on a volunteer basis with no paid staff.

Community Arts Development grants are designed to stimulate grassroots arts activity, and to encourage public interest and participation in the arts throughout Alaska. Grant amounts will not exceed $5,000. To apply CAD Grant Application

For any questions, please contact Saunders McNeill, Community and Native Arts Program Director at 907-269-6610.

Operating Support
Operating Support grants are annual grants available to eligible organizational applicants to support a portion of ongoing artistic and administrative functions. These may include, but are not limited to, salaries, travel, promotion and production costs of an entire program, or a majority of the organization's yearly activities. To apply OS Grant Application and Guidelines

Workshop Grants
Workshop grants are made to Alaskan nonprofit organizations to provide them with the opportunity to hold an arts-related workshop of limited duration using artists and other professional resource persons as instructors.

A workshop may include all areas of the visual, performing, traditional, craft, media, and literary arts, as well as arts administration. Workshop grants can be used to cover artist/instructor fee and to assist with round-trip travel for the artist/instructor. Grants usually average around $1,000. To apply Workshop Grant Application

For any questions, please contact Andrea Noble-Pelant, Visual & Literary Arts Program Director at 907-269-6610.

Harper Arts Touring Fund Grants

Overview
The Harper Arts Touring Fund was established by the Rasmuson Foundation in 2002 to increase access to high quality performing arts, visual arts and material culture exhibits in communities throughout Alaska. The program is designed to encourage tours of Alaska’s arts presentations and exhibits; build the capacity of organizations in small communities to present and exhibit; and to build audiences for cultural events and exhibits. The Fund provides grants to subsidize travel and freight expenses associated with the presentation of touring performances, or visual arts and material culture exhibits in communities without regular access to these types of programs. Through a partnership with the Alaska State Council on the Arts, training and technical assistance are provided to help communities strengthen their ability to successfully present performing arts activities and visual arts and material culture exhibits.

Deadline for Application
Harper Arts Touring Fund Grant applications are due to the Alaska State Council on the Arts no later than 90 days prior to the planned activity, though organizations may apply earlier. If you are applying earlier than 90 days prior, or if your project falls in the months of June or July, please contact the Alaska State Council on the Arts to discuss the appropriate time to apply. Contact Laura Forbes at (907) 269-6682 or at laura.forbes@alaska.go.

Eligible Orgranization

• Alaskan organizations that have received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service and are classified as "not a private foundation" under section 509(a) of the Code.
• Units of government and tribal entities.
• A school, college or university if the proposed activity is open to the general public and the primary purpose of the project is NOT a school residency or to generate academic credit;
• The organization meets one of the above requirements and the presentation/exhibit is specifically programmed to attract new audiences or reach an underserved population; OR
• The organization functions as the lead presenter working with organizations in underserved communities to provide access to a new presentation/exhibit; OR
• The presentation/exhibit is the work of an Alaska-based artist and/or arts organization

Additional Requirements:

The applicant organization must be based in the host community to which the performer/exhibit is traveling AND must be the local presenter/exhibitor of the planned activity.

If you have a question regarding your organization’s eligibility or you need technical assistance with the application process, please contact Laura Forbes at the Alaska State Council on the Arts at (907) 269-6682 or laura.forbes@alaska.gov.

Harper Arts Touring Fund Grant Guidelines - word

Template Individual Host Community Letter of Support for Harper Arts
Touring Fund - word

Harper Arts Touring Fund Exhibit Application - pdf

Harper Arts Touring Fund Performing Arts Application - pdf

Harper Arts Touring Fund Grant Final Report - pdf

Walker Arts Presentation and Touring Grant

The Helen Walker Performing Arts Fund Grant is named for Helen A. Walker, a major arts advocate in the state until her death in 1996. Ms. Walker was a recipient of the Governor's Award for the Arts in 1984, a founder of the Fairbanks Arts Association and the Sitka Summer MusicFestival, as well as Arts Alaska. She served as a board member for numerous cultural groups, including the Alaska Repertory Theater, the Fairbanks Library Foundation, the University of Alaska's KUAC Advisory Board, and Fairbanks Commissions for Urban Beautification, Parks and Recreation, and the Library.

Arts Alaska provided professional management services for the state's performing arts tours and other programs from 1975 to 1988. Since that time, the Arts Alaska Endowment Fund awarded over $100,000 to qualifying sponsors/presenters for performing arts projects in small Alaskan communities.

In 2006, the Arts Alaska Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization and invest the funds through the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation. Each year, interest from this fund will provide grants to support the performing arts in Alaska.

Walker Art Grant Guidelines

Walker Art Grant Application

For any questions, please contact Laura Forbes Arts Education Program Director at 907-269-6610.