Arts Residencies in Schools Grants
Arts Residencies in Schools Grants (ARSG) are available to teaching artists that reside in Montgomery County, MD. Grant awards support individual teaching artists based in Montgomery County, MD, trained in curriculum-based art techniques to serve students from communities that have traditionally received insufficient resources and have had limited access to arts education experiences throughout the school year. Teaching artists are required to collaborate with a classroom teacher to develop an arts program for students during the school day. The program must benefit students in a public or non-public elementary, middle, or high school located in Montgomery County, MD. Grants for FY25 will be awarded for activities occurring between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
Awards range from a minimum $1,000 up to a maximum of $6,000.
By awarding Arts Residencies in Schools Grants, the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) seeks to:
- Provide funding for arts-based programming that connects to the Montgomery County or Maryland State curriculum;
- Promote diverse arts education offerings and experiences to students in Montgomery County;
- Forge relationships amongst artists, teachers, and students through interactive, participatory programs;
- Allow students to interact and learn from artists; an opportunity that students may not have if these collaborations did not exist;
- Support students from communities that have traditionally received insufficient resources; and
- Encourage artists and scholars to apply for the Maryland State Arts Council’s Artists in Residence Roster.
Important Dates
Questions?
- Dates + Deadlines
- Webinars
- Guidelines + Eligibility
- Application + Templates
- Previous Grants Awarded
- FY24 Grantees
FY25 Important Dates
- Guidelines published – Friday, September 20, 2024
- Application Deadline – Friday, October 25, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
New applicants are highly encouraged to contact AHCMC grants staff. All applications and relevant materials must be submitted online through AHCMC’s grants portal, SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply).
Late applications and relevant materials will not be accepted.
Additional Dates Post-Application
- Panel Review (virtual) – December 2024
- Award Announcement – December 2024
- FY25 Grant Change Request Deadline – November 30, 2025
- FY25 Final Report Due – January 31, 2026
Webinars
- Thursday, October 3, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 21, 2024 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
- Register on Eventbrite!
All AHCMC webinars will be hosted through the Zoom platform. Visit to our Webinars page to see upcoming workshops and webinars for all open grant categories.
Webinars allow grant-seekers to ask AHCMC grants staff specific questions about the grant guidelines, application, and online grants portal.
At each webinar, AHCMC grants staff review eligibility requirements and offer technical assistance for both the application process and the online grants portal.
FY25 ARSG Application Webinar
AHCMC Project Budget Tutorial
- View PDF slides of AHCMC’s Project Budget Tutorial
SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply) Tutorial
Guidelines
- View a PDF of the FY25 ARSG Guidelines
Required Application Materials:
All applicants must submit:
- A Completed Narrative
- Fillable form in SM Apply.
- Download a template of the application under the “Application + Templates” tab on AHCMC’s website. Please note that templates are for the applicant’s reference only; all applications and materials must be submitted through SM Apply.
- The form will ask applicants to provide a link to the Artist Profile from the MSAC Teaching Artist Roster. AHCMC’s Teaching Artist Roster is permanently closed. Applicants who were previously approved to be on AHCMC’s Roster do not have to submit an AHCMC Artist Roster profile.
- Letter of Commitment
- Download a template of the Letter of Commitment under the “Application + Templates” tab on AHCMC’s website. Please note that all materials must be submitted through SM Apply.
- The letter should state the residency dates, the name(s) of the collaborating teacher(s), the school’s commitment to partnering with the applicant on the residency as described during the allowable grant period, and the school’s agreement to comply with the FY25 ARSG guidelines. The letter should be signed by the primary collaborating classroom teacher and school principal.
- If completing a second residency at a different school, the applicant must upload a Letter of Commitment for each participating school.
- MCPS Schools at a Glance Information Sheet
- MCPS Schools at a Glance website
- If the applicant is collaborating with a non-public school, provide information that is comparable to that found on the MCPS website, including the FARMS rate and programs for ESOL students and students with disabilities.
- If completing a second residency at a different school, the applicant must upload a Schools at a Glance page for each participating school.
- Lesson Plans
- Programming Support Materials
- Work Sample(s)
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
An applicant is eligible to apply for an award if they meet all the following requirements by the published application deadline:
- Is a teaching artist listed on the AHCMC Teaching Artist Roster and/or the Maryland State Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster;
- Has established a relationship with a public or non-public elementary, middle, or high school based in Montgomery County, MD to provide an arts residency;
- The school must hold a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Board of Education or be operated by a bona fide church organization as defined by the regulations of the Maryland State Board of Education;
- The school must be able to commit at least one teacher to collaborate with the artist;
- Has resided in Montgomery County, MD with a verifiable mailing address in Montgomery County, MD for at least 12 months prior to the deadline (P.O. Boxes not accepted as proof of residency);
- Is at least 21 years old;
- Is not a full-time student;
- Is able to provide AHCMC with a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) prior to undertaking the grant activities; and
- Has met all outstanding requirements for any grant(s) received from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County in prior years.
Residency Eligibility Requirements
Eligible residencies must:
- Take place between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025;
- Take place in Montgomery County, MD;
- Residencies may be in person or virtual. In-person activities must follow current COVID-19 guidelines as required by the Montgomery County Health Department. (Additional COVID-19 resources)
- Be implemented by the applicant, who is listed in one of the approved rosters under Eligibility Requirements;
- Serve students at a school with a school-wide FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals System for MCPS) rate of 35% or more, as listed on the MCPS Schools at a Glance website.
- Alternatively, the residency may take place at a school with a school-wide FARMS rate less than 35% if the residency will specifically serve students within a clearly defined program that provides for ESOL students or students with disabilities, as listed on the school’s MCPS Schools at a Glance page.
- If the residency will take place at a non-public school, the applicant must provide information that is comparable to that found on the MCPS Schools at a Glance page, including the FARMS rate and ESOL and Special Education programs.
- View a PDF of a compiled list of all MCPS Schools with their FARMS rates for the 2022-2023 academic year: 2022-2023 MCPS Schools at a Glance
Access SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply): https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/
Applicants are highly encouraged to use the application templates to prepare the narrative and supplementary materials.
FY25 ARSG Templates:
*Know that these are templates for your reference only – all applications and relevant materials must be submitted online through the grants portal.*
- View a PDF of the FY25 ARSG Application Template
- Download a Word document of the FY25 ARSG Application Template
- View a PDF of the FY25 ARSG School Letter of Commitment
- Download a Word document of the FY25 ARSG School Letter of Commitment
FY24 Arts Residencies in Schools Grants (ARSG)
$66,000 awarded for January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Arts Residencies in Schools Grants support individual teaching artists based in Montgomery County, MD trained in curriculum-based art techniques to serve students from communities that have traditionally received insufficient resources and that have limited access to arts education throughout the school year. Grantees are required to collaborate with a classroom teacher to develop an arts program for students during the school day. The program must benefit students in a public or non-public elementary, middle, or high school located in Montgomery County, MD. Eleven teaching artists received FY24 awards within this category.
View previous grants awarded for ARSG and other grant categories.
Silver Spring, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds will support two residencies occurring at Einstein High School (EHS). One residency will allow dance students to focus on partnering work in dance. In collaboration with EHS Faculty and a teaching assistant, Clancy will work with a core group of students to create work using improvisation, partnering, and the elements of dance. The second residency will focus on African Diaspora dance styles. In collaboration with EHS Faculty and a teaching assistant, the Clancy will work with students to explore the historical relevance the African Diaspora has on current choreography.
Poolesville, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Galway Elementary School. First grade students will work with the applicant to deconstruct a traditional folk tale and create their own fractured folk tale. Students will explore the power of word choice, understand the elements and structure of a story, and develop their dramatic skills as they weave their own exciting tale of adventure.
Damascus, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Sequoyah Elementary School. Students will work with Quiroga to create a large-scale glass mosaic mural that will be permanently installed in the Media Center. During this collaborative mosaic mural making residency, students will research the history of glass and learn the process of glassmaking.
Chevy Chase, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Neelsville Middle School. Emma G will work with 3 groups of 6th-8th graders for a series of 18 sessions to develop youth empowerment through songwriting. During the sessions students will explore the elements of songwriting, with an emphasis on understanding rhythm and rhyme. The goal is for students to become effective and confident communicators.
Montgomery Village, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Whetstone Elementary. Students will explore and experience multiple theater-based strategies that will differentiate the pre-writing activities and the overall narrative writing process as participants create, refine, and perform original monologues.
Potomac, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds will support two residencies occurring at Glenallan Elementary School. One cartooning residency involves third-grade students writing and illustrating their own original fables in graphic novel format. Each student will complete one page in pen ink and color. The students’ artwork will be displayed at the school and on the school’s website. The second residency involves fourth graders learning about the history, science, and creative possibilities of two- and three- dimensional animation as they create three optical toys with paper, pens and pencils and an animated GIF using Stop Motion Animator on their Chromebooks. The students’ GIFs will be displayed on the school’s website.
Silver Spring, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Flower Hill Elementary School, involving series of art sessions with grades 1 and 2. Students will construct their own community on a large-scale map in mixed media and repurposed materials. The artist residency coincides with students’ social studies classes studying geography and how location makes their community unique.
Silver Spring, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Georgian Forest Elementary School. Second graders will write and perform poetry using theatre and creative writing techniques. Poetry and theatre will enhance children’s understanding of vocabulary, increase their ability to use figurative language, build self-confidence, develop self-respect, create positive group dynamics, and encourage self-expression.
Silver Spring, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support a residency occurring at Sequoyah Elementary School. Fourth and fifth grade students will learn to create and tell stories of their own. Exploring the wide world of descriptive language and understanding the ins and outs of character traits will help students weave their own colorful tales.
Silver Spring, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds support the “Talking Hands” residency occurring at JoAnn Leleck Elementary School, integrated into students regularly scheduled music classes. Fourth and fifth grade students will explore Indian Classical dance, and learn to use facial expressions, hand gestures and body movements to tell a story.
Takoma Park, Maryland ($6,000)
Funds will support two residencies. One residency, occurring New Hampshire Estates Elementary School, will support student’s literacy and social-emotional learning. Programming includes a 25-minute kick-off storytelling performance for grades 1-2 and a 4-session residency, entitled Moving Through My Feelings, for all 1st grade students combined into 2 large groups. The second residency, occurring at Dr, Ronald McNair Elementary School, support 4th grade student’s literacy and social emotional growth. Programming includes back-to-back performances (entire school) and a 3-session residency entitled Moving Through My Story, for 4 classrooms of 4th graders.
The FY24 ARSG cycle runs from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
- View a PDF of the FY24 ARSG Guidelines
Important Dates Post-Application
- Final Report – Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Templates Coming Soon!
All final reports must be completed online through AHCMC’s grants portal, SurveyMonkey Apply (SM Apply). Access SM Apply: https://artsandhumanities.smapply.io/
Need to make changes to your project? Fill out a grant change request form, available on our resources page: https://www.creativemoco.com/find-opportunities/resources/