Maine Arts Commission Grants
CURRENT AND UPCOMING GRANTS
Grant | Applications Open | Application Deadline | Notifications |
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Organization Operations FY25 | Sept 3, 2024 | Sept 30, 2024 | Late January 2025 |
Maine Craft Apprenticeship (2025) | Oct 7, 2024 | Dec 6, 2024 | January 2025 |
Arts and Humanities Grant | Sept 24, 2024 | Oct 22, 2024 | TBD |
Creative Communities Grant | Feb 12, 2025* | Mar 19, 2025* | TBD |
* Subject to Change
More Upcoming Opportunities |
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The Maine Arts Commission offers grant funding to Maine organizations, individuals, schools, and municipalities. The grant cycle opens in January each year with the majority of deadlines before the end of April, with some offerings that have additional autumn deadlines. Funding support must be used for projects between July 1 of this year and June 30 of the following year. If a project has components that fall outside of the timeframe, those components cannot be funded, although components within the timeframe are eligible for funding. Applicants are welcome to apply to multiple grants, unless it is otherwise stated in the application. All applications must be submitted through the agency online Application Portal.
If you have questions about how to apply or other aspects of the Agency grants process; please go to the Grants Help page. The Help Page offers a list of documents that address general questions and also provide specific details about certain application processes. If you are unable to find the answers you need please feel free to contact agency staff. Applicants are also encouraged to contact staff if they feel such feedback would strengthen their application.
Vision of the Maine Arts Commission:
We believe that all people deserve equal access and opportunityto participate in a vibrant, creative life.
-- Artist Funding --
Grants for individual artists are offered to support Maine artists with their work. Funds assist artists with the creation of new work, the continuation of existing practices, and participation in professional development programs and activities. Applicants do not need to be affiliated with a 501c3 organization in order to be eligible for funding. Artists are also eligible to apply for a Maine Artist Fellowship and to participate in the Apprenticeship Programs. While these offerings are different from grant funding, they support artists in advancing their creative practice.
Artist Project Grant
Maximum Award: $2,500Required Match: NoneAward Cycle: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025Artist Project Grant supports individual Maine artists with funding for the creation of new work, the continuation of existing practices, and participation in professional development programs and activities. Projects can be in any artistic discipline and on any scale.
Artist Springboard Grant
Maximum Award: $1,500Required Match: NoneAward Cycle: July 1 to June 30The Springboard grant supports artist projects throughout Maine. Funds assist individual artists who have not been previously funded by the Maine Arts Commission, (with an exception of awardees of the Apprenticeship programs) with the creation of new work, the continuation of existing practices, and participation in professional development programs and activities.
Maine Artist Fellowship
Maximum Award: $5,000Required Match: NoneAward Cycle: July 1 to June 30Maine Artist Fellowships are awarded annually to recognize artistic excellence and advance the careers of Maine artists. Fellowships are not grants, they are merit-based awards that are informed by an applicant’s work as documented through materials included in the application. Maine Artist Fellowships are available in the categories; Fine Craft, Literary Arts, Multimedia/Film, Performing Arts, Traditional Arts, and Visual Arts.
Maine Craft Apprenticeship
Maximum Award: $4,500Required Match: NoneThis program supports craft artists in sharing their skills with a qualified apprentice. Apprenticeships help craft artisans in acquiring new skills, tools and management habits that help them adapt to the changing environment of craft consumers. This is a partnership between the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Craft Association. Please visit www.maineCAP.org for more information.
Traditional Arts Apprenticeship
Maximum Award: $3,000Required Match: NoneAward Cycle: July 1 to June 30The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship helps communities sustain their cultural heritage by providing an opportunity for master traditional artists to pass on their skills to a qualified apprentice or apprentices.
-- Organization Funding --
Organization support from the Maine Arts Commission comes in a variety of forms. The Agency offers project funding to any Maine 501c3 wishing to undertake the production of high-quality creative activities, the creation of new work, and the continuation of existing arts programs. Operational support is available for eligible 501c3 arts organizations. There are also some specialty projects like the Arts and Humanities Grant and the Creative Communities Grant that focus on a specific kinds of programming.
Arts and Humanities Grant
Maximum Award: $1,000Required Match: 1 to 1 (In-kind or cash match)
Award Cycle: Variable
The Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Humanities Council collaborate to provide Arts & Humanities grants that assist organizations in Maine to investigate and present stories and cultural expressions of the state, its communities and its people. Information can also be found at the Maine Humanities website at https://mainehumanities.org.
Organization Operations Grant
Maximum Award: $7,500 Required Match: 1 to 1 (In-kind or cash match).Award Cycle: July 1 to June 30The Organization Operations Grant provides unrestricted operating funds to 501c3 arts organizations. It is not a project based grant, however, applicants are expected to identify how funding will be applied within the operations of their organization.
*NEW* Creative Communities Grant
Award: up to $7000Required Match: 1 to 1 (In-kind or cash match).Award Cycle: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026The Creative Communities Grant (NEW!) supports arts and cultural activities of organizations in service to Maine communities and residents. The purpose of this grant is to support community-driven, arts-based projects that serve as catalysts for livability, economic development, and community connectedness. Sometimes called creative placemaking or place-keeping, the funded projects will have a demonstrated, positive impact on their respective communities.
ACCESSIBILITY
Grant information is available in large print format by request.
If you require an alternate format or need assistance to access the guidelines or application, please contact our ADA Accessibility Coordinator Eli Cabañas by email at vog.eniam@sanabac.ile or at 207.287.6746.
It is the policy of the Maine Arts Commission not to discriminate on the basis of disability, and the Commission is dedicated to making our programs accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and assist individuals with disabilities in connecting them with resources for access to the arts. All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.