Early Childhood Arts Partnership Grants (Formerly Head Start Arts Integration)

The Early Childhood Arts Partnership Grants aim to enhance preschool education by integrating arts into early childhood programs. By fostering partnerships between education providers, arts organizations, and teaching artists, the initiative seeks to address equity challenges for underrepresented communities.

The Early Childhood Arts Partnership supports preschool-aged children and teachers in early education programs with direct opportunities to think, create, and learn through the arts; helping children gain an appreciation for the arts and be better prepared for school.
Grant funds support arts and arts-integrated instruction or activities through partnerships between early childhood education providers, arts organizations, and/or with highly qualified teaching artists in preschool classrooms. The program prioritizes proposals focused on addressing equity challenges, for example, projects and/or partnerships designed to serve English language learners, families with low incomes, or children who live in sparsely populated areas. This may include, for example, partnerships with Head Start or public school districts.
Organizations may request up to $6,000 to ensure access to arts-based and creative programming for children and families. Projects should increase creative and culturally relevant learning in and through the arts. Fundable project activities take place between January 1, 2025, and August 31, 2025.

Eligibility

Who May Apply
Public schools or school districts providing preschool programming recognized by the Vermont Department of Education.Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) status registered in Vermont. This may include:early childhood education providers serving preschool-aged children, such as Head Start centersarts organizationssocial service organizationsOrganizations/schools that ensure access to students regardless of race, ability, income, or gender identityOrganizations/schools that have been in operation for at least one year before applyingOrganizations/schools with a Unique Entity ID (UEI)

Ineligibility

Who May Not Apply or Receive Fundingorganizations that have received any other Arts Council grant in the same year to support the same projectorganizations that have previously received Arts Council grants and have not completed required reporting