Arts Research Project Grants

• DEADLINE: 5 p.m. November 17, 2025.
• All undergraduate and graduate students majoring in the School of the Arts are eligible to apply.
• Students may receive up to $1,200.
• Students must have a faculty sponsor.
• As part of the project, students must include a public component such as a performance, exhibition, screening, or presentation - appropriate to the discipline of the project.
• Proposals will be reviewed by the SOTA co-directors, who will make the final funding decisions.
• Notification of awards will be made by December 12, 2025.

Questions? See our FAQ or contact Rhiannon Cusolito.

The Arts Research Project Grant Application is now an online form. You will be asked to provide:

1. Your name, student ID, and contact info.
2. Project title.
3. A proposal not to exceed four single-spaced pages. This should be prepared in advance and uploaded when you complete the online form. -- You are welcome to include works cited, pictures, video, etc. in additional pages to showcase your project or plans for your project.
4. A proposed budget explaining how the grant funds will be spent.
5. The name and email of your faculty sponsor from whom we can request a letter of reference.

In special cases, the application may also involve other items:

1. If you are submitting a proposal involving creative work, you may upload images or video of your previous work. This is not required, but it may help reviewers better understand the proposal.
2. If you have previously received a research grant from the School of Arts, please include a section of your proposal summarizing what was accomplished under the previous grant and explain how the current project differs from the earlier one.

Applications for 2025 Arts Research Project Grants are due by 5 p.m. on November 17, 2025.

1. Do I need to have a major in the School of the Arts, or can this be a minor with a major in another School? Also, can I be employed by the School of the Arts, but majoring in another area?
   
   You must be a major within the School of the Arts in order to be eligible. Unfortunately, grant funding will not include majors in other schools with a minor/employment in the School of the Arts.
    
2. Can I graduate in May and still apply for the grant?
   
   You must be enrolled during the time period of award including the completion of the project. You are eligible if you are graduating in May. However, you must complete the project prior to Stop Day in the Spring semester.
    
3. What semesters do I need to be enrolled for in order to be eligible for the grant?
   
   As above, you must be enrolled when you apply and during the time you carry out the project. However, we do not require that the student be enrolled full time during the summer semester. 
    
4. How many hours do I need to be enrolled in to be eligible for a grant?
   
   You must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credits for undergraduates; at least 6 credits for graduate students). If you think an exception should be made, or if you have questions about the number of credit hours or your eligibility, please contact Rhiannon Cusolito.
    
5. How many grants will be awarded?
   
   Funding is available for approximately 10 grants each year. The total number of grants awarded depends on the quality of proposals we receive.
    
6. Do I choose the Faculty Advisor? If so, does the faculty member have to be from my area, or emphasis? 
   
   You choose the faculty member who will act as your Faculty Advisor. The faculty member does not have to be in your area or emphasis, but they will need to be in the School of the Arts.
    
7. When does the project need to be completed?
   
   By June 15 of the following year. If you are graduating, you need to complete the project by Stop Day of the Spring semester.
    
8. Does the project have to RESEARCH the topic or FULFILL the topic?
   
   You can do a project that researches the topic, or your project can have an outcome that fulfills the topic. A project can even be one that seeks to do both.
    
9. Is this a group project?
   
   This is not a group project, because one person is applying for funding and is, ultimately, responsible for seeing that the project is completed and documented.  At the same time, multiple people can be involved in the execution of the project. The arts often involve a group effort and multiple contributions while having a leader. Students are also encouraged to seek the help/advice from their faculty advisor as well as their outside contact (after the grant has been awarded).
    
10. When will I receive notification of award?
    
    Notifications will be sent by the end of the fall semester.
     
11. Can a student combine grants to use for this project?
    
    Yes, but please be upfront about any funding you have received.  Indicate which part of the project you will apply the Arts Research Grant funding toward, and which will be covered by the alternate funding.
     
12. Will the grant be applied to any fines or tuition that I have not paid?
    
    You must pay any fines or tuition that you owe the University before the award of this grant. However, we are working with the KU Budget Office make sure that the award of this grant does not penalize students on federal assistance by raising the cost of attendance.
     
13. Do you have any tips for writing the proposal?
    
    Yes! Please see our Grant Writing Tips page for information relevant to these proposals.
     
14. What if I have a question that is not listed here?
    
    Please contact Rhiannon Cusolito in the Department of Film & Media Studies.

Explaining the purpose of an arts-based research project and submitting a clear written proposal are essential parts of being a professional in the arts today. The advice and pointers below are intended to help you write an application that clearly communicates your proposal and addresses the necessary material for a full and fair evaluation by the Review Committee.

These pointers assume you already have a general topic connected to a larger theme, such as "How X impacts a local neighborhood," "The story of X community," or "Engaging audiences in X." They also assume you have a specific creative or scholarly task that can be framed as a research proposal, such as creating a series of paintings, choreographing a dance piece responding to a local issue, composing original music, making a documentary or narrative film, writing a collection of poems, or developing a performance based on historical research.

Use the pointers below and on the next page to help you elaborate on your proposed project. Keep in mind that your goal is to demonstrate the value of your work to the Review Committee. Some committee members may not be familiar with your particular field, so it's important to clearly explain your approach and intentions. A strong research proposal outlines a set of actions that will lead to the creation of new knowledge or a fresh understanding of existing ideas.

Advice Pointers:

Write sincerely about why you are interested in this topic.

• Briefly describe your personal history with the topic. Be specific about what first drew you to it and what has sustained your interest.
• Alternatively, connect this interest to experiences in your KU education (such as coursework, seminar discussions, recommended texts, exhibitions, or field trips).
• Reflect on how your life experiences have shaped your perspective on the topic.

Write plainly about what you will do in your project.

• State clearly what you plan to do in your proposal.
• Provide a descriptive list of your proposed activities.
• Consider adding a timeline to make your plan more concrete and convincing.

Write about why this is a significant proposal.

• Tell the Committee why this is an important proposal for you at this time.
• Describe its importance for the University community, especially its scholarly or creative value.
• Use quotations or references to texts and other resources to show the scholarly or artistic significance of your topic.

Write clearly about how you intend to perform, exhibit, perform, present, publish, or screen the results of your project. 

• The public component is an important part of completing the work. It helps you gain valuable insights into the creative and scholarly process and allows you to engage an audience, which is central to the arts.
• You do not need to have the precise plans for the public component in your proposal. Your faculty sponsor should work with you to finalize these arrangements as part of the project. However, you should develop several concrete ideas for what you intend to do and how much it will cost. An additional $150 may be available for expenses related to implementing the public component.

In a concluding paragraph, write imaginatively about what results you expect and how you will reflect on the outcomes of your project.

• Tell the Committee what new knowledge you personally expect to have about the topic after the research proposal is completed.
• What reactions would you expect from interested observers of the results of your proposal? Explain why you expect those reactions.
• Reflection is an important part of the research process. Tell the Committee how you would evaluate or judge the success of your project.

Add a Bibliography and citations of relevant creative works from your discipline.