The Gateway to Music and Arts Funding: AthFest Educates Opens Grant Applications
As the new school year approaches, AthFest Educates has announced the opening of its grant application process for the 2026-2027 academic year. This initiative supports music and arts education by awarding grants up to $5,000 to qualifying individuals and organizations.
AthFest Educates, led by Executive Director Mary Joyce, targets educators and programs within the Clarke County School District serving K-12 students. Joyce states, “We provide funding to arts educators that are serving Clarke County School District K-12 students. So, that could be teachers in Clarke County, it could be nonprofits, it could be local government programs as well.”
Interested applicants can access the application details by visiting athfesteducates.org. The application process requires a detailed project description, a budget outline, and defined goals and outcomes. A grants committee will review submissions to select the recipients. There are three distinct categories under which grants can be applied for.
Mary Joyce elaborates on these categories: “First, equipment, so this could be musical instruments, digital cameras, supplies. The second category is programs and experiences, performances, field trips, having an artist in residence in your school. The third category is professional development. This is for arts educators to be able to continue their education by going to conferences, obtaining certificates, and that type of thing.”
Applications are being accepted until August 28. Over the years, AthFest Educates has granted more than $750,000 to support arts education initiatives.
