Our Grants

General Operating Support for Organizations provide multi-year operating support to arts and culture organizations that meaningfully engage and inspire their community through arts and culture programming. The program will move to a deadline of once every three years. It will open for applications on July 1 with a Sept. 1 deadline. After Sept. 1, the next deadline will be Sept. 1, 2029, with applications opening on July 1, 2029.

General Operating Support for Artists program provides grants for three consecutive years for three artists to work toward large, specific, self-identified goals in their art practice. Opens: July. 1. Deadline: Sept. 1. 

Artist Open Studio Tour grants provide support for marketing and administration of artist-initiated open studio tour. The studio tour must consist of multiple artists within one studio building or several nearby buildings and be open to the public. Rolling Deadlines. Re-opens in August. 

Big Yellow School Bus provides grants of up to $500 to support arts learning in the school. To qualify for this funding, schools must plan an in-person arts and culture field trip with an arts and culture organization in Rhode Island. Grants for the school year open on Sept. 1 with a rolling deadline until all funds are awarded.

Arts and Health Grants supports arts and cultural projects or artist in residence programs that contribute to overall health and well-being for individuals and communities. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1.

Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships are designed to foster sharing of traditional (folk) artistic skills between a mentor and an apprentice. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April. 1. 

Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowships support individual folk artists who demonstrate the highest level of skill and accomplishments in their craft. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1.

Community Engaged Project Grants offer funding for artists or groups of artists to create arts and culture projects that are directly and actively engaged audiences. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1. 

Make Art Grants program funding is for artists or groups of artists to create or continue specific artwork in any discipline. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1. 

Project Grants in Education provide support to schools, non-profit organizations, arts educators and teaching artists. Recipients engage students in rich and meaningful artistic experiences in dedicated learning environments. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1.

Project Grants for Organizations provide grants to support of arts and culture projects that are relevant and meaningful to Rhode Island communities. Opens: Feb. 1. Deadline: April 1.

The State Cultural Facilities Grant Program promotes careful planning for capital improvement, preservation, renovation, and new construction projects for public and nonprofit artistic, performance centers, museums and cultural art centers located around the state. Through its matching requirements, the program stimulates broader support and participation in cultural facility projects statewide. Applications open Aug. 1. Rules and Regulations for Cultural Facilities Grant Program (665-RICR-20-00-1) - Rhode Island Department of State.

• 2026 State Cultural Facilities Grantees
• Past State Cultural Facilities Grantees listing.

Arts and Health Incubator Grants was a one-time program that funded organizations or artists for planning, professional development, capacity building, pilot projects, or coalition building that use the arts to address one of the Creating a Healthier Rhode Island priorities in the RI 2030 Health Plan: physical health and well-being, behavioral health, older adults and caregiving, healthcare system strengthening, and/or equity for underserved communities. Closed April 1.

State Poet of Rhode Island is appointed by the Governor and serves as an advocate for poetry. The Poet Laureate also promotes the appreciation and participation in poetry and literary arts activities among the state’s residents. The position of State Poet of Rhode Island was established by the legislature in 1987. The term is for 5 years. Currently closed; the next deadline will be in 2030.

Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program is supported by a collaboration with Rhode Island Foundation, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), and Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, the Rhode Island Expansion Arts Program. The program offers three years of funding and organizational assistance to community-based, arts and cultural organizations.