Arts in Education Grant Program

The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts (VICA) administers the Arts in Education (AIE) program, a funding initiative that supports educationally focused artistic projects. The program provides financial, technical, and project-based assistance to programs integrated within or supplementary to school curricula. AIE emphasizes enhancing access to the arts in educational environments, including in-school and after-school settings. Eligible applicants for the AIE program include individual artists, nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, service organizations, and professional associations operating within the U.S. Virgin Islands. All applicants must demonstrate a minimum of two years of residency or active operation in the territory. Nonprofit applicants must be registered with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and listed in the federal SAM.gov registry with a valid tax exemption number. Individual applicants must hold a DUNS number and provide resumes, and projects occurring on school campuses require a letter of endorsement from the school’s principal or relevant education official. Grants under the AIE program are limited to $5,000 per fiscal year and are subject to a matching requirement, which can include a mix of in-kind services and financial contributions. Eligible in-kind contributions must hold direct value to the project and be documented at fair market value. The grant does not support completed or ongoing projects, entertainment expenses, capital expenditures, or full-year tuition, among other exclusions. The application process mandates attendance at a “How to Apply” workshop hosted annually on each island. Applications must include a complete proposal along with supporting documentation, such as lyrics, demos, or video trailers where applicable. All grant promotions must acknowledge VICA and the National Endowment for the Arts, with appropriate use of logos or verbal credit where print materials are unavailable. The annual deadline to submit applications is August 31. Applications are reviewed by VICA’s Board of Directors within 30 days post-deadline, and funding determinations are made based on several criteria, including artistic merit, community need, clarity, accessibility, and applicant financial management. Once approved, recipients must promptly return the signed contract and payment voucher and complete a final report with receipts and checks by August 1 of the following year.