The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) has opened applications for several grant programs supporting arts and culture initiatives. The grants are available to organizations, educators, artists, folk and traditional artists, and those working on arts and health projects. A new grant program, the Arts and Health Incubator Grant, has also been announced.
The Arts and Health Incubator Grant is designed to fund planning, professional development, capacity building, pilot projects or coalition-building efforts that use the arts to address health priorities outlined in Governor McKee’s RI 2030 Plan. These priorities include physical health and well-being, behavioral health, support for older adults and caregivers, healthcare system improvements, and promoting equity for underserved communities.
Grant recipients will participate in a peer learning cohort with other artists, organization leaders, creatives, and health professionals. This group will share experiences and best practices while developing strategies for evaluating their work.
“We are excited to be announcing this new grant program, which supports the work artists and organizations in Rhode Island are doing to improve individual and community health and well-being through the arts,” said Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA. “A robust body of research links arts participation to positive health outcomes, demonstrating that the arts can improve the social, emotional, physical, and psychological well-being of individuals while also enhancing social cohesion and belonging, reducing the significant health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness.”
Applications for all programs must be submitted by April 1 at 11:59 p.m.
To help applicants understand the process and requirements for these grants, RISCA staff will host information sessions online as well as at public libraries in Warwick and South Providence. They will also offer application walk-throughs and office hours.
Among the available grants are Project Grants for Organizations supporting community-relevant arts projects; Project Grants in Education aimed at engaging students through artistic experiences; Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships fostering skills between mentors and apprentices from shared cultural backgrounds; Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowships recognizing skilled individual artists; Arts and Health Grants funding non-clinical art activities that promote individual or public health; Community Engaged Project Grants supporting resident-involved projects; and Make Art Grants providing direct support to artists creating or continuing artwork.
Further details about all information sessions are available on RISCA’s website.
