Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant Program Awards Nearly $500,000 to Support Access to Arts Education across Colorado with Collaborative Funding Partners

May 12, 2025

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DENVER, CO (May 12, 2025) – The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth (EAL) grant program is thrilled to announce its 2025-26 funding cycle recipients, in the second year of this statewide grant. A groundbreaking collaboration–led by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) and Denver Arts and Venues, in collaboration with grant administrator Think 360 Arts for Learning and supported by the Gates Family Foundationfor a second year–is investing in the creative potential of youth, recognizing that access to the arts is fundamental to a vibrant, inclusive and thriving Colorado.

Empowering Colorado’s Youth Through the Arts | “We’re proud to support 27 outstanding schools and organizations working to ensure students who need it most have access to the transformative power of arts learning,” said Gina Ferrari, Director of Grant Programs at the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. “These grants support programs that help empower young people across Colorado to develop their creativity and express their unique identities through arts and culture, while building confidence and empathy.”

2025-26 Grantees | 2025–26 Grantees
Through a competitive selection process, the program awarded grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000. This year’s cohort includes 27 organizations across 11 Colorado counties, with projects ranging from tuition-free private lessons and masterclasses for young urban musicians to offering high-quality arts education on Fridays, when many rural schools are closed. Funded projects span a rich array of artistic disciplines, including Storytelling and Spoken Word, Digital Arts, Film, and New Media, 2D and 3D Visual Arts, Dance/Movement, Drama/Theatre, Music, Heritage/Folk/Traditional Arts, and Literature, Writing, and Poetry.

These initiatives will expand access to sustained, high-quality arts learning for marginalized youth, engage professional artists in dynamic classroom partnerships, and contribute to a growing statewide movement to elevate the role of arts education. Together, these projects aim to dismantle systemic barriers, support youth identity, mental health, and academic success, and amplify the essential role of the arts in education across Colorado.

Read the complete list of 2025-26 grantees HERE.

Impressive Quality and Statewide Reach | “The caliber of proposals in this second year was truly exceptional,” said Daisy Fodness-McGowan, Executive Director of Think 360 Arts for Learning. “These grants will bring dynamic, artist-led learning experiences to thousands of underserved youth across Colorado—both urban and rural—connecting students and educators with the transformative power of the arts.”

A Decade of Impact | The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant (EAL) is built on a decade-long commitment to arts education, evolving from the Colorado Arts Partnership Grant co-developed in 2014 and annually granted by CCI and Think 360 Arts for Learning. With the leadership and support of new partners, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, DAV, and the Gates Family Foundation, EAL expanded both its funding and impact, growing the grant to nearly $500,000 and extending eligibility beyond schools to include nonprofits. This collaborative investment has been crucial in advancing access, equity, and innovation in arts education across Colorado.

“The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth grant ensures that more students across Colorado communities will access the diverse benefits the arts provide. Arts education is not a privilege, but a right. This collaborative initiative is a testament to what’s possible when we focus on elevating arts for all,” stated Josh Blanchard, Director of Colorado Creative Industries.

Investing in the Arts to Grow Colorado | As the national landscape shifts, Colorado remains steadfast in its belief that creativity, culture and opportunity should be accessible to every young person. The EAL grant program reflects this commitment with clarity of purpose and deep dedication to building a more equitable future. Together, these philanthropic leaders are not only funding programs, but lighting the path forward for generations of young Coloradans.

“Denver Arts & Venues is proud to be a funding partner to increase access to arts education for all youth in music, theater, visual arts, film, crafts, and more. These experiences can be life altering and help build confidence, community and lay the groundwork for future success,” said Sonia Rae, Program Manager, Grants & Cultural Programs division at DAV.

About Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth

The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth grant is a statewide initiative committed to expanding access to high-quality arts education for all Colorado students. This unique public-private partnership—led by Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, and Denver Arts & Venues, and supported in its second year by the Gates Family Foundation—is administered by Think 360 Arts. The EAL grant has awarded nearly $1 million to schools and nonprofit organizations across Colorado since 2024, and the next round of funding will open in fall 2025.

Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant Program Awards Nearly $500,000 to Support Access to Arts Education across Colorado with Collaborative Funding Partners

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