The California Arts Council is now accepting applications for its Artists in Schools program. The Artists in Schools program integrates community arts resources–professional artists and arts organizations–into a comprehensive, standards-based program, underscoring the critical role the arts play in shaping a student’s overall well-being and academic achievement. Deadline: March 9, 2012.

The Artists in Schools Program provides funding for residency activities that emphasize long-term, in-depth interaction between professional artists and a group of students, during school or after-school programs. Arts organizations of all disciplines are eligible to apply in one of three categories:

• In-school partnerships,
• K-12 standards-based arts in after school programs, or
• Planning grant

Please see guidelines for in-school or after-school categories for more information. (Planning grant guidelines are in a separate document.) Potential applicants should review the Artists in Schools page and links for full information, including technical assistance subjects.

All applicants are required to have a California Cultural Data Project profile, and applications submissions are electronic through the California Arts Council’s “Culture Grants” website for Artists in Schools. Members of the media may contact Mary Beth Barber, Information Officer, at 916-322-6588 or mbarber@cac.ca.gov.

Stay Tuned! The California Arts Council will have an informational dial-in training session for potential Artists in Schools applicants in mid- to late February. This seminar will be a great way to learn more about the program, the application process, suggestions for grants applicants, etc. Date and time to be announced soon. Check the Arts Council’s website, watch for announcements on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, or keep an eye on the weekly California ArtBeat e-newsletter. For more information, contact Wayne Cook at 916-322-6344 or wcook@cac.ca.gov.