Arts in Education Grant Opportunity for Lafayette Teachers

Teachers of Lafayette schools may apply for a grant to support arts-related projects with local students. The Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC) is proud to offer Arts in Education Grants to local schools and teachers for the 10th year in a row. The deadline for application is September 1, 2017.  More information can be found at www.cityoflafayette.com/grants.

Through an allocation from the city, last school year Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission awarded $5,274 to 12 different projects in 8 Lafayette public schools. These are small grants of $500, or less, to supplement art supplies, allow for new art projects, exposure to artists, and much more.  Those projects directly engaged more than 1,200 students from kindergarten through high school. More than 2500 additional students and community members also participated as audience members.  Two projects were on public display reaching thousands more people in less direct ways.   Past projects included sending students to a philharmonic concert, a timeline of Lafayette starting with Native Americans, an identity project using iPads, and Spanish speaking high school students mentoring elementary students using Lafayette’s Art on the Street sculptures.

According to Susan Booker, Cultural Resources Coordinator with the City of Lafayette, more than $30,000 has been granted to local schools over the lifetime of this grant program. It has provided programming to thousands of students who would have missed out on an amazing array of arts opportunities. 

Projects funded include a wide array of disciplines including painting, photography, music, drama, historical enactments, dance, murals, sculpture, poetry, and writing.  Susan Booker notes, “The goal is to provide culturally rich opportunities for students in all grades.  Through the Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission, the City of Lafayette is happy to enrich the lives of our children and their families.”   

LCAC’s Chair, Karen Raforth, said, “Requests for funding from the teachers grow each year.  LCAC is committed to supporting the student needs for creative learning and problem solving that the arts provides.” LCAC knows that fostering creative expression in young people plants a seed for lifelong appreciation of the arts. Research shows that the arts enhance students' overall academic retention and performance. LCAC hopes grants bring cultural arts to all the student bodies as well as the parents, while helping to foster pride, self-esteem, appreciation for the arts, and often awareness of larger social issues.