COLUMBUS, Ohio — The application for the Ohio Arts Council’s newest arts learning program, TeachArtsOhio, is now open. The deadline to apply for the new grant program is Feb. 1.

TAO brings schools and community organizations together with teaching artists to share engaging, personal, and high-quality arts learning experiences.

Eligible organizations are Ohio’s public, private, charter, or parochial schools (pre-kindergarten through grade 12). Grants are awarded to schools to cover the artist fees, and 100 percent of the artist fees are paid for using OAC funds. This alleviates financial burdens from school and district budgets. While no cash match is required, schools must provide all program-related materials and supplies.

Applicants may apply for TeachArtsOhio in one of five categories according to residency length:

∫ Express: A brief mini-residency within a single week;

∫ Basic: A residency of between two and four weeks;

∫ Grading Period: A residency of six to nine weeks;

∫ Full Semester: A residency of 18 weeks; and

∫ Academic Year: A residency of 36 weeks.

A panel of arts and cultural professionals, educators, artists, and other community members evaluate and score TeachArtsOhio grant applications. Applications will be judged on criteria divided into four categories: Program Quality, Community Engagement, Defining and Measuring Success, and Resource Management.

For more information about the TeachArtsOhio program and how to apply, visit oac.ohio.gov/ grants#4435-arts-learning or contact Jarred Small at jarred.small@oac.ohio.gov.

“The TeachArtsOhio program offers Ohio students an educational opportunity to more deeply interact with the arts throughout their general school curriculum and classes. All of us at the Ohio Arts Council look forward to supporting our students, teachers, artists, and communities in creating more innovative educational opportunities,” said Donna S. Collins, Ohio Arts Council executive director.