The Maryland State Arts Council has a variety of grants for arts organizations and individual artists. Please connect to their website for the most current information, deadlines, and grant applications.

This guide was developed in response to the tremendous interest in strengthening schools, communities and the economy through the arts that was voiced through the National Endowment for the Arts' American Canvas. It is intended to help local and state leaders and arts education practitioners learn about opportunities in U.S. Department of Education programs for securing funding for improving arts education and using the arts to improve overall student performance. The information in this guide will help arts educators and parents in their discussions with local or state education decision-makers identify possible financial support for improving schools through better arts education programs.

The 21st CCLC Program is a key component of the Administration's efforts to keep children safe, to provide academic enrichment, and other recreational and enrichment opportunities, such as band, drama, art, and other cultural events for children; and to provide life-long learning opportunities for community members.

The focus of this program, authorized under Title X, Part I, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is to provide expanded learning opportunities for participating children in a safe, drug-free and supervised environment. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLC) program enables schools to stay open longer, providing a safe place for homework centers, intensive mentoring in basic skills, drug and violence prevention counseling, helping middle school students to prepare to take college prep courses in high school, enrichment in the core academic subjects as well as opportunities to participate in recreational activities, chorus, band and the arts, technology education programs and services for children and youth with disabilities.