Purpose

To facilitate and support arts learning for students, educators, youth, and adult citizens, reaching those who are underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented, by providing opportunities to work with highly qualified professional teaching artists in traditional and non-traditional learning environments.

Description

Lifelong Learning Grants fund sequential hands-on learning programs and experiences designed to encourage artistic skills, processes, and creativity. Artistic and/or cultural discipline(s) may include, but are not limited to dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theatre, traditional and folk arts, and visual arts. Arts learning programs include specific objectives, outcomes and methods of evaluation that are well defined and relevant to the learners involved.

Eligible Applicants (Serving Underserved, Under-Resourced, and Under-Represented)

• Virginia federally tax-exempt schools (public, public charter, private, alternative, special education schools, homeschools, career and technical centers)
• Virginia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
• Virginia units of local and tribal governments (including libraries, departments of parks and recreation, and correctional facilities, etc.)

NOTE

Applicants receiving FY27 General Operating Support (GOS) or FY27 Community Impact Grants may not apply for Lifelong Learning Grants.

Eligibility Requirements

• Meets the basic eligibility requirements listed on page 9 of the Guidelines for Funding
• All programming must take place in Virginia ADA-compliant facilities
• Must not be under current debarment or suspension from federal funding
• Must have no past due Final Reports to the VCA at the time of application

Eligible Activities

Lifelong Learning Grants support hands-on, multi-session arts instruction and experiences for learners of all ages and disciplines, including intergenerational programming. Programs must provide sustained, skill-building experiences that develop knowledge and abilities over time rather than through a single exposure event. Applications must clearly articulate measurable learning objectives and describe how participant outcomes will be assessed. Applicants may request support for arts learning programs that serve diverse communities of learners, including but not limited to the following:

• New or expanded in-school, after-school, or summer arts education programs.
• New or expanded workshops, including intergenerational programming, based upon identified learning goals. Grant funding supports multi-day projects.
• New or expanded training for artists or arts educators, or arts integration professional development for educators who work with Virginia’s Pre-K-12 students.

NOTE

Virtual programming is not allowed. The Commission will not fund the same project for more than three consecutive years unless the applicant demonstrates program expansion, redesign, or measurable growth in impact.

Teaching Artist Selection

Teaching Artists may be selected as follows:

• Independent Teaching Artists may be proposed in the application with supplemental documentation required to support the artist’s qualifications or
• VCA Teaching Artists may be proposed as program facilitators. Visit VCA’s online Teaching Artist Roster to identify potential teaching artists.
• Teaching Artists who have demonstrated experience working with underserved, under-resources, and under-represented communities such as but not limited to diverse ethnic populations, people with disabilities and people age 60 years and older to name a few.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funds may be used for expenses directly related to the implementation of the proposed arts learning project. Eligible expenses include:

• Teaching Artist fees (must represent at least 50% of the total project budget)
• Administrative expenses directly associated with the project (e.g., project staffing, program coordination, documentation, evaluation)
• Materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to carry out the project
• Travel expenses directly related to project activities

Application Deadline

This grant will be awarded on a rolling first-come, first-served basis for two grant cycles until funds are exhausted. Applications for a given cycle must be submitted no later than four (4) weeks before the grant activity will take place.

• Cycle 1: Opens July 1, 2026 – December 1, 2026 (for activities taking place August 1, 2026, through June 15, 2027)
• Cycle 2: Opens January 1, 2027 – May 1, 2027 (for activities taking place February 1, 2027, through June 15, 2027)

NOTE

Applicants may only apply for one (1) Lifelong Learning Grant per fiscal year.

Assistance Amount

Grants are available in amounts up to $4,000 and require a minimum 10% cash match of the total project expenses.

Cash Match

Lifelong Learning Grants require a minimum 10% cash match of the total project expenses. The maximum grant request is $4,000.

Sources of matching funds may include project-generated income; contributions from individuals, foundations, or corporations; government support from federal, state, or local sources; or cash from the organization’s own accounts. In-kind contributions may not be used to satisfy the cash match requirement.

Example:
If the total project budget is $4,400, the applicant may request $4,000 from the Commission and must provide at least $400 in cash match.
If the total project budget is $2,200, the applicant may request up to $2,000 and must provide at least $200 in cash match.

In-Kind Support

In-kind contributions cannot be counted as part of a cash match. In-kind contributions are the dollar value of materials and services that are provided to a project at no cash cost from sources other than the applicant, e.g., volunteer hours or donated space. However, it is important to document and include information on in-kind contributions as part of the application budget.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is interested in innovative and collaborative arts education programs and/or services with the following priorities:

Lifelong Learning Impact – The extent to which the applicant demonstrates intentional strategies to reach underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented communities.

Artistic Excellence – The extent to which the Teaching Artist demonstrates well documented artistic expertise, along with a strong commitment to delivering impactful, high-quality arts programming.

Accessibility Impact – The extent to which the applicant demonstrates specific engagement with underserved, under-represented, and under-resourced communities which may include but is not limited to ethnicity, people with disabilities, people age 60 years and older, and active-duty military/veterans and their families.

Required Attachments

The following forms are provided by the Commission via upload in the online grant application:

• Project Budget Form
• Signed Certification of Assurances Form
• Virginia W-9 Form

Applicants must generate and upload the following support documents:

• Residency/Workshop Lesson Plan
• IRS 501(c)(3) Determination Letter

Applicants must also generate and upload the following documents if not using an artist from the VCA Teaching Artist Roster:

• Teaching Artist(s) Resume(s)
• One Letter of Reference
• Three Documents Reflecting Artistic Excellence

Reporting Requirements

If a grant is awarded, applicants must submit a Final Report within 30 days of completing their grant activities. The Final Report will require receipts, narrative responses, and/or other documentation of the grant activities (photos/videos).

Application/Review/Payment Process

1. Applicant must complete and submit the online application to the Commission four weeks before the activities take place.
2. The Commission staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility prioritizing underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented populations.
3. Lifelong Learning Grants are not automatic. Confirmation/grant award letters are generally emailed two weeks after receipt of a completed and approved application
4. The Commission will reimburse funded expenses in full approximately 30- 45 days after receipt of completed and approved Final Report. However, the Commission reserves the right to use an alternative payment schedule in special circumstances.
5. Grantees must submit a Final Report within 30 days of program completion and no later than June 1, 2027. For activities taking place between June 1 – June 15, 2027, Final Reports will be due on July 16, 2027. Failure to submit the Final Report by the stated deadline may result in forfeiture of the grant award and/or ineligibility for future funding.