A young girl painting a figurine yellow. Text reads: Arts Education Grant Program

 The 2024 Arts Education grant program is now closed.

Grant Program Overview

A high-quality arts education is vital for developing imaginative thinkers able to address tomorrow’s most pressing problems and contribute to the vibrancy and culture of their communities. Student involvement in the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, greater involvement in community service, and lower dropout rates. Unfortunately, arts programs are frequently cut from the curriculum for budgetary reasons. Consequently, schools turn to parent-teacher associations and fundraisers to continue to operate arts programs. This reliance on outside funding has exacerbated widespread disparities in access to high-quality arts education in our community. Community Foundation Sonoma County is committed to equitable access to arts education. Our Arts Education grant program supports nonprofits providing high-quality arts education for students furthest from these opportunities. Arts education curricula should be delivered by qualified Sonoma County visual, performing, or literary artists providing instruction and creative experiences directly to young people.

The Arts Education Grant Program is invitation only. If you feel your organization meets the criteria outlined below and should be considered, please get in touch with us. 

Criteria

Specific criteria include providing students with the opportunity to:

  • Create and share works of art within the visual, literary, and/or performing arts
  • Share their work through informal presentations or performances
  • Reflect and respond to their own or others’ art
  • Requesting organization in a Sonoma County 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

How to Apply

This grant program is open by invitation. If you have a program or project that strongly fits the Arts Education grant program criteria, please contact Baldemar Ruppert at bruppert@sonomacf.org

2023 Grant Summary

10 grants were awarded in 2023. The median grant size was $15,000.

 

Alexander Valley Film Society to support the Integrated Filmmaking Intensive program
California Poets in the Schools to support California Poets in the Schools programs with inspiring, poetry creation, arts education workshops
Knights of Indulgence Theatre United States to support the Imaginists’ in-school theatre program
Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation to support the LBC’s Artists in the Schools residency program
Santa Rosa Symphony to support the Simply Strings program
Sonoma Community Center to support Sonoma Community Center’s arts education programming
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation to support the Creative Campus
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art to support Sonoma Valley Museum of Arts program
The California Theatre of Santa Rosa to support the Young Actors Studio & Left Edge Theatre
ViVO Youth Orchestras to support the VIVO Youth Orchestra serving low-income, predominantly Latino students
For questions about the Arts Education grant program, please contact:
Baldemar Ruppert

Baldemar Ruppert

Community Impact Officer

707.303.9619
Amy Holter

Amy Holter

Vice President for Community Impact

707.303.9621