Created and reviewed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ AZ Youth Arts Council, the Creative Youth Grant is a funding opportunity for young artists ages 12 -17.

What does it fund?

To support young artists as they develop new skills or advance their artistic practice outside the traditional school day. This may include paying for lessons, attending a workshop, or paying for supplies and equipment.

Who is it for?

Eligible applicants for the Creative Youth Grant include Arizona young artists ages 12-17.

Applications that are developed by adults will be ineligible for funding. Parents, guardians or teachers may not apply for the young artist.

Award Amount

Individuals can request between $250 and $500 based on eligible expenses.

Grant funds may be used for any of the following (this list is not comprehensive):

  • Fees for private lessons or workshops.
  • Materials or supplies related to your artistic practice.
  • Equipment, instruments or technology related to your artistic practice.
  • Travel costs.

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing the application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact the Director of Arts Learning, Elisa Radcliffe, by phone at (602) 771-6528 or by email at [email protected].

Prepare Narrative Responses

You can type your proposal narrative, or you can upload audio or video recordings of your responses. The narrative has a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative in a video or audio recording keep it simple and to the point. The recording should be just you, describing your proposal and answering the questions listed above. Please do not include edits of your work samples or special effects. Production quality of this recording will not be considered in your review. Just make sure we can hear and understand you and keep editing and post-production embellishment to a minimum. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3).

When you’re ready, click on the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

APPLY NOW

CLOSED

Narrative

(600 word limit, 5 minute audio/video limit)

Answer each of these questions.

  1. Tell us about yourself and your artistic practice.
  2. Describe how you will use the grant funds. Why are these activities or purchases important to you as a young artist?
  3. Provide a timeline of the proposed activities or purchases. All activities or purchases must take place July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Work Sample

Submit a work sample you’ve completed. All levels of artists are encouraged to apply. The panel will use the work sample to support the narrative you have provided. They will not be judging the quality of the work sample as a part of their review.

From the list below, please choose the most appropriate artistic work sample format to represent your discipline:

  • 3 minutes of recorded audio
  • 3 minutes of recorded video
  • 6 images
  • 3 pages of double-spaced text or 3 poems

Work Sample Narrative
(200 word limit, 2 minute audio/video limit)

Provide a brief description explaining how the submitted work sample relates to your proposal. Why did you choose them?

Budget

Expenses 

List all expenses related to your proposal and provide a short explanation of the expenses.

Grant Amount Requested 

Indicate the grant amount you are requesting, based on eligible expenses, between $250 and $500.

Budget Narrative (200 word limit, 2 minute audio/video limit)

If your total expenses exceed the grant amount requested, explain how you will pay for the remaining costs.

Your narrative responses will be evaluated by AZ Youth Arts Council members based on the following criteria.

Quality of Proposal
Did you clearly outline your artistic form and how you will spend the grant funds?

Potential Impact 
Did you describe how these funds will impact you as a young artist?

Viability 
Are the expenses you describe appropriate for the grant? Does the application demonstrate substantial evidence that the proposal will be realized within the proposed timeline?

  • Food and beverages for any purpose.
  • Fundraising projects.
  • Opportunities that take place outside of the funding period.
  • Equipment not related to the opportunity.
  • Opportunities related to academic research or formal study toward an academic or professional degree, such as capstone projects.
  • Applications that are developed by adults will be ineligible for funding.
  • Grant administration, overhead or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors.

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.