Mid-America Arts Alliance

10/09/2026

Save these tips for working on your Catalyze fellowship application. 📝

◼️ Showcase your talent and commitment to your work.

◼️ Share your career plan. How do you want to deepen your practice? How will you get there?

◼️ Share your aspirations. Explain how this funding will benefit your career.

◼️ Join our upcoming Info Sessions on October 14 and November 10 to ask your burning questions! https://www.maaa.org/series/catalyze/

10/08/2026

✨ 2027 dates for Mid-America's Arts Advocacy Days just dropped ✨

Jan 21 📍 Kansas Arts Network
Feb 2 📍 Nebraskans For The Arts
Feb 3 📍 Missouri Citizens for the Arts
Feb 11 📍 Texans for the Arts
Mar 10 📍 Arkansans for the Arts
Apr 15 📍 Oklahomans for the Arts

Save the date and register with your state arts advocacy organization to attend!

10/05/2026

How could $10K and a year of mentorship change your studio practice? 💥

Applications for Catalyze fellowships are open through December 1 to Arkansas artists in 52 counties. Check https://www.maaa.org/programs-grants/for-artists/catalyze/ for eligibility.

10/01/2026

Trick or Treat 🎃 Hold out your bucket, bc here come the opportunities!

Artists
◼️ Artist INC professional development for artists in Lawrence, KS is coming in January! Applications close October 14. artistinc.art/apply

◼️ Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition - OVAC's Creative Projects Grants offers up to $1.5K for new work by visual artists in Oklahoma! Apply by October 15. ovac-ok.org/grantsforartists

◼️ Texas Commission on the Arts is looks for their State Artists. Self-nominations are encouraged! Nominate yourself or a friend by October 15. arts.texas.gov

◼️ National Sculpture Society's Alex J. Ettl grant offers $7.5K to a figurative or realist sculptor each year. Apply by October 19! nationalsculpture.org/programs-awards/ettl-grant

◼️ Kansas City muralists! The city's One Percent for Art Program is seeking proposals for murals under an overpass. Submit by October 26. opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/18174/CAFE

◼️ r2i Lab wants to gather gig workers, artists, and freelancers to reimagine what work protections look like. Apply to be a fellow by October 26! r2i-lab.org/work-shift-fellowship

◼️ Catalyze is open! Arkansas artists from 52 counties are eligible for this fellowship comprised of $10K and a year of mentorship. Apply by December 1! maaa.org/Catalyze

Artists and Orgs
◼️ The ArtsActivate program in Dallas, TX, is looking for public art proposals from performances, workshops, and exhibitions. Apply by October 13! dallasculture.org/cultural-funding-programs/artsactivate/

Orgs
◼️ For the first time, a national survey collecting info on what arts organizations need. Take the survey by October 9 to have your voice included in this research. ADC Consulting consultingadc.com/2026nationalasosurvey

◼️ Nebraska Arts Council's Mini Grant offers funding up to $2K for arts activities. artscouncil.nebraska.gov/mini-grant

◼️ Oklahoma Arts Council's Rural Arts Opportunity Grants offer $5K in funding for professional development support for arts organizations in rural Oklahoma. oklahoma.gov/arts/grants/grants-for-organizations

◼️ Institute of Museum and Library Services grants are back! Inspire Grants for Small Museums range from $5K to $75K for project-based efforts. Apply by November 13. imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs

◼️ IMLS's National Leadership Grants for Libraries range from $75K to $750K to support the enhancement of library practices and archival services. Apply by November 13. imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs

◼️ Kansas Art Education Association Ofers professional development funding for members. Apply by November 15! kaea.com/p/grants.html

In case you haven't had you fill, visit https://www.maaa.org/news/artist-and-arts-organization-opportunities-and-deadlines/ for more opportunities!

10/01/2026

Howdy, Arkansas folks! Catalyze is now taking applications!

Creatives of any medium, living in central or eastern Arkansas are eligible to apply for $15K in practice-based funding and a year of mentorship.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4dd3rir

09/30/2026

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of arts advocacy can be overwhelming.

This next batch of Future Pathways workshops will be chock-full of advocacy tips for artists and arts administrators alike!

Register at https://www.maaa.org/series/future-pathways/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FuturePathways

09/29/2026

Join us at our headquarters on Friday, October 2 to view selections from "Portrait of Dementia."

Portraits of Dementia challenges the stigma surrounding dementia through moving portraits and stories of lives well lived. See a selection from the exhibition during the September and October First Fridays in Kansas City.

09/28/2026

It's election season. Have you made a plan to vote? 🗳️

Interested in advocating for the arts year round? Follow your state's arts advocacy group! In the Heartland, these are our groups:
Nebraskans For The Arts
Kansas Arts Network
Missouri Citizens for the Arts
Oklahomans for the Arts
Arkansans for the Arts
Texans for the Arts

They can coach you on how to tell your story to legislators!

09/25/2026

Know a Missouri town with a story worth telling? Nominations for the 2027 Small Town Showcase are open through next Thursday, October 1. https://bit.ly/4yPkoYy

Every year, Missouri Humanities highlights the heritage and culture of five communities of 10K people or fewer with a film and podcast. So far 25 towns have been featured, including Perryville and Chillicothe.

09/24/2026

No one should worry about the safety of their drinking water. 🚰 Arkansas poet, Faye Duncan-Daniel partnered with her community and leveraged Catalyze funding to turn art into collective action. ⬆️

Read the full story at https://www.maaa.org/news/river-revival-arkansas-poet-channels-water-stories-greater-good/