Funder: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $80,000 total; stipends up to $1,000 per team member, plus up to $225 for administrative costs
Summary: Supports Massachusetts school and district teams using the Arts & Cultural Vitality Index to review and strengthen equitable arts education.
Key Information: Recipients must provide a facilitator for a virtual launch, four professional learning sessions, and an exit interview.
Description
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) administers this competitive grant to help schools conduct and use arts program reviews based on its Arts & Cultural Vitality (ACV) Index and model. Funding supports team stipends and necessary grant-related materials, with guidance from DESE’s arts specialist and a professional learning community.
Four tracks support initial reviews, action planning, implementation, and monitoring through ongoing data collection. Experienced returning teams also mentor first-time participants. The program prioritizes equity and access to high-quality, culturally responsive arts education, helping students develop agency to celebrate their own and other cultures through the arts. The Index examines infrastructure, opportunity, participation, and impact within school arts and culture programs.
