The Early Childhood Arts Partnership grants provide early education programs with direct opportunities to help children gain an appreciation for the arts and be better prepared for school.
Donor Name: Vermont Arts Council
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/17/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Starting in FY25, this program replaces the Head Start Arts Integration program. The change seeks to:
- broaden eligibility to include a broader range of early education programs and partnerships
- expand opportunities for educator professional development in partnership with arts organizations
- increase equitable access to the benefits of arts and arts integrated instruction.
The program prioritizes partnerships (such as partnerships with and between arts organizations, Head Start programs, regional early education collaboratives, and/or school districts) and programming targeted to support the needs of the applicant’s learning community to ensure the availability of impactful opportunities, such as expanding access, engaging families, supporting communication skills, supporting holistic instruction, or supporting instruction for other specific learning targets.
Funding Information
Organizations may request up to $6,000 to ensure access to arts-based and creative programming for children and families.
Grant Period
Fundable project activities take place between January 1, 2026, and August 31, 2026.
Uses of funds
Examples of how grant funds support early childhood programming include:
- employing a teaching artist experienced in an arts discipline and in early childhood settings for a multi-day residency
- supporting children in reaching arts and arts-integrated curriculum outcomes aligned with TS Gold, Vermont Early Learning Standards, or National Core Art Standards, for example
- supporting classroom teachers with incorporating arts and arts-integrated activities in their classrooms during and/or beyond the timeframe of the grant
- promoting opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and/or planning between teaching artists and the classroom teachers.
Who May Apply?
- Public schools or school districts providing preschool programming recognized by the Vermont Department of Education
- Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status registered in Vermont. This may include:
- early childhood education providers serving preschool-aged children, such as Head Start centers
- arts organizations
- social service organizations
- Organizations/schools that ensure access to students regardless of race, ability, income, or gender identity
- Organizations/schools that have been in operation for at least one year before applying
- Organizations/schools with a Unique Entity ID (UEI).
For more information, visit Vermont Arts Council.
