Mid-America Arts Alliancegrant
Mid-America Arts Alliance Catalyze
Housing: Private lodging and meals provided during the Catalyze Retreat in Little Rock, AR (May 1–2, 2027).
- Who Can Apply: Artists of any discipline, 21 or older, who are full-time residents of one of 52 central, eastern and Arkansas Delta counties. They must have lived there at least one year by the deadline and stay through May 2028, have at least three years of creative practice, and be US citizens, permanent residents or hold a valid SSN. Ineligible: current undergraduate or graduate students, prior Catalyze grantees, recipients of $1,000+ from another M-AAA program in FY2027, and M-AAA full-time employees or their immediate family.
- The Focus: Practice-based grant funding, professional development and coaching for artists of all disciplines.
- The Funding: $10,000 per fellow (25 fellows), paid as $9,500 in June 2027 and $500 in June 2028. Also includes a retreat with meals and private lodging, two one-on-one mentoring sessions and two virtual small-group sessions.
- Key Requirements: Online application with an artist biography (100 words max), artist statement (250 words max), resume/CV (3 pages max) and four narrative responses (250 words max each: Creative Practice Evolution, Future of Your Creative Practice, Fund Use, Professional Development). Up to five work samples (1MB max each). A work sample summary: the guidelines say 1,000-word minimum, but the live form caps it at 1,000 words. Two current proofs of Arkansas residency.
DeadlineTuesday, December 1, 2026
Award$10,000 practice-based grant per fellow (25 awarded annually), paid as $9,500 in June 2027 and $500 in June 2028
DurationOne-year grant period (May 2027–May 2028); two-day Catalyze Retreat May 1–2, 2027
Program datesMay 2027–May 2028 (grant period); Catalyze Retreat May 1–2, 2027
LocationLittle Rock, AR
ParticipationHybrid
Disciplinesdance, film, literary, music, theatre, visual art, interdisciplinary
Age range21–
Application notesApplications opened October 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. CT and close December 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CT, on the online form (maaa.tfaforms.net/5112396; save often, resume via your email). Office hours run October 1–December 1, 2026 (Calendly), with Open Office Hours on Zoom December 1, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CT. Virtual information sessions are on October 14, 2026 at noon CT and November 10, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. CT. Request verbal application support by November 13, 2026. Applicants are notified in March 2027, and fellows must attend the May 1–2, 2027 retreat in Little Rock. Uploaded files must be under 1MB and named without spaces or special characters. AI-generated artwork is not allowed and AI-generated narrative answers are strongly discouraged. A final survey report is required at the end of the grant cycle.
Contactartistservices@maaa.org
Mid-America Arts Alliance
Organization based in Kansas City