Funding & Advocacy for School Arts Programs

Mar 13, 2026

BYU ARTS Partnership

Content originally researched, developed, and published in 2018.

It is a rare school that has sufficient resources of its own to offer exceptional arts-rich experiences to its students. Public and private funding sources are available to help. Writing grant requests and seeking philanthropic support from private donors or businesses do take time, and your school’s arts team can be a crucial support.

Not all grant requests are successful. However, one thing is predictable and consistent—100% of unwritten grants receive no funding. The following list provides a starting point to explore free and low-cost complementary programs, as well as potential grantors and other sources of external funding. Click here to access the full handbook.

1. Free Arts Education Resources

POPS: Professional Outreach Programs in Schools

POPS groups are professional arts organizations in Utah that receive funding from the Utah State Legislature to provide performances, workshops, demonstrations, and arts experiences for students in K–12 schools. Read details on services offered by POPS in each of the following art form-specific sections.

POPS organizations also provide free and subsidized opportunities for teacher development in arts skills and pedagogy. Performance matinees, museum tours, and field trips are often free as well, although busing costs may need to be covered by the school. Additionally, inclusive arts programming for students with disabilities is offered by Art Access and the Inclusive Arts Festival.

2. Grants

Utah Division of Arts and Museums

UA&M encourages partnerships in the classroom between teachers and professional artists to increase active student engagement in the creative process by offering Arts Learning Grants up to $7,000. Teachers are encouraged to partner with artists as a tool for professional development as well.

UA&M provides a limited number of site-specific professional development workshops in the arts. School faculty determine the discipline and instructional plan, and UA&M funds the presenter. They also partner with multiple arts organizations to offer professional development workshops in dance, music, theater, and visual arts throughout the state.

UA&M maintains a roster of approved teaching artists in dance, music, theater, visual arts, media arts, folk arts, and creative writing. Artists are selected for both artistic and educational excellence. UA&M additionally offers technical assistance in writing grants, developing long-term arts education goals, and access to prevailing research in arts education. Advocacy tools produced by UA&M, such as the "Ten Lessons the Arts Teach," the arts/science brochure, and a parent arts education advocacy booklet can be shipped to schools upon request.

Arts Learning Grant: Provides funding for interactive and comprehensive arts education-based projects where a qualified teaching artist(s) works with a specific community population, organization, or school. Funding ranges from $2,000 to $7,000. Applications are due in March.
Teacher-Initiated Project Grant: Provides opportunities for teachers or administrators to gain knowledge and skills in an artistic discipline of their choice by working one-on-one with an artist. Funding is up to $500 and available year-round.

Visit artsandmuseums.utah.gov/arts-education-grants for more details.

Utah Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Arts Education Grant

Offers funds for arts programs in Utah schools sponsored by individual PTA units, matching funds that local school PTAs provide for enhancing art programs for elementary and secondary students.
May be requested to improve an existing arts program or to create a new one, including funds for supplies, musical scores, royalties and rights to scripts, costuming, theatrical props, etc.
Up to $500
Due February 1st

3. Local Arts Councils

Your local arts council may be able to support your arts mission:

4. Philanthropy and Crowdsourcing

Philanthropy could include donations from foundations, businesses, or individual donors who share your vision, mission, and values. Some philanthropic gifts can be substantial. These relationships often require cultivation, trust-building, and time.
Crowdsourcing refers to a funding effort that raises small amounts of money from a large number of people, usually on the internet. The following crowdsourcing sites are specifically designed to help teachers solicit funds to purchase supplies, materials, and/or equipment to support their curricular and co-curricular work. Generally, teachers describe their projects, the intended educational outcomes, and the list of materials and resources they need to complete their project successfully. Donors from their community, from across the country, or from around the world can contribute funds to their project.

DonorsChoose.org
Kickstarter.com
Adoptaclassroom.org
Classwish.org

Enhancing arts education requires leveraging public and private funding sources to provide exceptional experiences for students. Schools can utilize resources like POPS programs, UA&M grants, and the Utah PTA Arts Education Grant. Philanthropic efforts, crowdsourcing, and local arts councils also play significant roles in supporting arts initiatives. By combining these resources, administrators can build strong, sustainable arts programs that enrich education.

For more detailed guidance for building an arts-rich school, download the Arts-Rich School Handbook, which covers everything from hiring educators to producing student performances and exhibitions. This resource is a crucial tool for any school looking to enhance its arts programs and foster a vibrant, creative culture and community.