To be eligible for a Graduate Student Research Grant, the applicant(s) must be:

• Current full-time graduate students on UMD’s College Park campus
• Plan to be enrolled full-time next semester (Fall 2026)

Students do not need to be enrolled in an arts-based degree to apply. All majors and disciplines are encouraged to propose projects or research that connects the arts to their disciplines.

For projects to be eligible for a Graduate Student Research Grant, the proposal should:

• Center the arts in a meaningful way, while also connecting the arts with other disciplines
• Help advance the student toward degree benchmarks, including thesis and dissertation projects
   

Graduate Student Research Grant proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Arts Integration & Arts for All Mission

• Does this project meaningfully incorporate the arts?
• How does this project support the Arts for All mission?
• Are there any interdisciplinary collaborations, connections, or resources involved in the project?

Goals & Rationale

• Does this project advance the student’s career benchmarks?
• Is there a coherent rationale for conducting this project?
• Are the goals and outcomes of this project clear?

Feasibility

• Is the proposed timeline realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Is the budget realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Does the budget clearly explain costs? Are all costs allowable under the terms of this grant?

• Grant applications due: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Review period: March 2026
• Applicants notified: April 1, 2026
• Funds disbursed: April 2026
• Grant period: May 2026 - May 2027

During the grant period, grantees will be required to check-in with Arts for All staff periodically to report their progress and share updates.

Graduate students may apply for up to $2,000 per project. If the project proposal includes expenses beyond this amount, the budget must clearly explain the source(s) of additional funding.

Funds will be dispersed in April 2026, and graduate students have two options for how to receive funds:

1. Funds can be transferred directly into a student account. Please note, funds received directly into a student account may be taxable and can affect financial aid. Please consult with financial aid for additional information on how it would affect your individual situation. However, this method gives the student direct access to the funds throughout the grant period.
2. Funds can be transferred to a research account, with written agreement from your department’s business office. This method would require the student to access funds through their department’s business manager. 

All funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Please complete the ArtsAMP Graduate Student Research Grants Application and combine and upload the following documents as a single PDF. All materials should be single-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point font. To assist you in your proposal planning, we've provided an ArtsAMP grants webinar with additional guidance and a grant project application template that you are welcome (though not required) to use.

Project Description: This project narrative (maximum 2 pages) should detail your project’s objectives, outcomes, and connections to Arts for All. Be specific about the need, problem, or challenge your project addresses, the specific activities you will carry out, and how you plan to share your results. Keep in mind that the strongest proposals will:

• Summarize the proposed project’s objectives, outcomes and connections to Arts for All.
• Explain how two or more disciplines will interact to create new creative experiences or knowledge.
• Articulate how you will enhance your disciplinary skills with the expertise of others outside of your discipline.
• Explain how this project will advance your degree progress or professional goals.

Project Timeline: The general timeline of your project activities should detail the milestones that connect logically to your goals and the scope of your project. Please note when developing your timeline, funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Project Budget and Justification: Provide an itemized budget and justify planned expenditures. Include any other sources of funding and whether those funds are committed or pending. If you are planning to use the Singh Family Sandbox Makerspace to accomplish your project goals, please include the supplies, equipment, or resources as an “in-kind” cost within your budget.

Allowable expenses include (but are not limited to): 

• programming and research expenses
• conference fees
• rentals or subscriptions
• software
• supplies and equipment directly related to the project

Unallowable expenses include (but are not limited to)

• Food
• Alcohol
• Travel
• Financial compensation directly to the applicant; i.e., the applicant cannot use the award to support their own stipend, a course release, or summer salary

Department Business Manager (if applicable): Provide the name of department business manager to which Arts for All will transfer the funds for disbursement if you elect not to have funds submitted to your student account.

To be eligible for a Collaborative Student MicroGrant, applicant(s) must be:

• Current full-time undergraduate or graduate students on UMD’s College Park campus.
• Plan to be enrolled full-time next semester (Fall 2026)

Applicants may be:

• An individual student
• A team of 2 or more students
• A student group or organization at UMD’s College Park campus

Students do not need to be enrolled in an arts-based degree or college to apply. All majors and disciplines are encouraged to propose projects that connect the arts to their disciplines. 

For projects to be eligible for a Collaborative Student MicroGrant, the proposal should:

• Center the arts, creative expression, or arts-based research
• Connect the arts to another discipline in a significant way
• Involve collaborators (peers, professors, experts, etc.) in the work

Collaborative Student MicroGrant proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Arts Integration & Collaboration

• Does this project meaningfully incorporate the arts?
• How are the arts connected to at least one non-arts discipline in this proposal?
• How are the identified collaborators integrated into the project work plan? Are they equal partners in the project?

Goals & Rationale

• Is there a coherent rationale for conducting this project?
• Are the goals and outcomes of this project clear?
• How does this project connect to the Arts for All mission?

Feasibility

• Is the proposed timeline realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Is the budget realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Does the budget clearly explain costs? Are all costs allowable under the terms of this grant?
• If applying on behalf of a student organization, are there clearly identified members who will manage the project?

• Grant applications due: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Review period: March 2026
• Applicants notified: April 1, 2026
• Funds disbursed: April 2026
• Grant period: May 2026 - May 2027

During the grant period, grantees will be required to check-in with Arts for All staff periodically to report their progress and share updates.

Students may apply for up to $1,500 per project. If the project proposal includes expenses beyond this amount, the budget must clearly explain the source(s) of additional funding.

Funds will be dispersed in April 2026, and students have a few options for how to receive funds:

1. Funds can be transferred directly into a student account. Please note, funds received directly into a student account may be taxable and can affect financial aid.  Please consult with financial aid for additional information on how it would affect your individual situation. However, this method gives the student direct access to the funds throughout the grant period.
2. Funds can be transferred to a research account, with written agreement from your department’s business office. This method would require the student to access funds through their department’s business manager.
3. If applying on behalf of a student organization, funds can be transferred to the student organization account. 

All funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Please complete the ArtsAMP Collaborative Student MicroGrant Application and combine and upload the following documents as a single PDF. All materials should be single-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point font. To assist you in your proposal planning, we've provided an ArtsAMP grants webinar with additional guidance and a grant project application template that you are welcome (though not required) to use.

Project Description: This project narrative (maximum 2 pages) should detail your project’s objectives, outcomes, and connections to Arts for All. Be specific about the need, problem, or challenge your project addresses, the specific activities you will carry out, and how you plan to share your results. Keep in mind that the strongest proposals will:

• Summarize the proposed project’s objectives, outcomes and connections to Arts for All.
• Explain how two or more disciplines will collaborate to create new creative experiences or knowledge.
• Articulate how you will enhance your disciplinary skills with the expertise of others outside of your discipline. 

Individual or Team Profiles: Provide a summary of the credentials, skills, talents and approaches of each individual or team member (one page maximum).

Project Timeline: The general timeline of your project activities should detail the milestones that connect logically to your goals and the scope of your project. Please note when developing your timeline, funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Project Budget and Justification: Provide an itemized budget and justify planned expenditures. Include any other sources of funding and whether those funds are committed or pending. If you are planning to use the Singh Family Sandbox Makerspace to accomplish your project goals, please include the supplies, equipment, or resources as an “in-kind” cost within your budget.

Allowable expenses include (but are not limited to): 

• programming and research expenses
• conference fees
• rentals or subscriptions
• software
• supplies and equipment directly related to the project

Unallowable expenses include (but are not limited to)

• Food
• Alcohol
• Travel
• Financial compensation directly to the applicant; i.e., the applicant cannot use the award to support their own stipend, a course release, or summer salary

Department Business Manager (if applicable): Provide the name of department business manager to which Arts for All will transfer the funds for disbursement if you elect not to have funds submitted to your student account.

To be eligible for a Student Impact Grant, applicant(s) must be:

• Current full-time undergraduate or graduate students on UMD’s College Park campus
• Plan to be enrolled full-time next semester (Fall 2026)

Applicants may be:

• An individual student
• A team of 2 or more students
• A student group or organization at UMD’s College Park campus

Students do not need to be enrolled in an arts-based degree or college to apply. All majors and disciplines are encouraged to propose projects that connect the arts to their disciplines and center community impact.

For projects to be eligible for a Student Impact Grant, the proposal should:

• Center the arts, creative expression, or arts-based research
• Demonstrate significant community impact and involvement
• Include a plan to measure the impact of the project

Student Impact Grant proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Arts Integration & Community Impact

• Does this project meaningfully incorporate the arts?
• How are the arts connected to other disciplines in this proposal?
• Is there significant involvement of community partners or community voices throughout the project?
• How are the identified community partners and collaborators integrated into the project work plan? Are they equal partners in the project?
• Does this proposal include realistic methods of measuring the impact of this project?

Goals & Rationale

• Is there a coherent rationale for conducting this project?
• Are the goals and outcomes of this project clear?
• How does this project connect to the Arts for All mission?

Feasibility

• Is the proposed timeline realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Is the budget realistic to accomplish the stated goals of the project?
• Does the budget clearly explain costs? Are all costs allowable under the terms of this grant?
• If applying on behalf of a student organization, are there clearly identified members who will manage the project?

• Grant applications due: Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
• Review period: March 2026
• Applicants notified: April 1, 2026
• Funds disbursed: April 2026
• Grant period: May 2026 - May 2027

During the grant period, grantees will be required to check-in with Arts for All staff periodically to report their progress and share updates.

Students may apply for up to $1,500 per project. If the project proposal includes expenses beyond this amount, the budget must clearly explain the source(s) of additional funding.

Funds will be dispersed in April 2026, and students have a few options for how to receive funds:

1. Funds can be transferred directly into a student account. Please note, funds received directly into a student account may be taxable and can affect financial aid.  Please consult with financial aid for additional information on how it would affect your individual situation. However, this method gives the student direct access to the funds throughout the grant period.
2. Funds can be transferred to a research account, with written agreement from your department’s business office. This method would require the student to access funds through their department’s business manager.
3. If applying on behalf of a student organization, funds can be transferred to the student organization account. 

All funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Please complete the ArtsAMP Student Impact Grant Application and upload the following as a single PDF. All materials should be single-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point font. To assist you in your proposal planning, we've provided an ArtsAMP grants webinar with additional guidance and a grant project application template that you are welcome (though not required) to use.

Project Description: This project narrative (maximum 2 pages) should detail your project’s objectives, outcomes, and connections to Arts for All. Be specific about the need, problem, or challenge your project addresses, the specific activities you will carry out, the community partners you plan to involve, how communities will be consulted and assisted through the arts, how you plan to measure the impact of the project, and how you plan to share your results. Keep in mind that the strongest proposals will:

• Summarize the proposed project’s objectives, outcomes and connections to Arts for All.
• Explain how community partners will collaborate to shape the project.
• Articulate how you will enhance your disciplinary skills with the expertise of community partners and collaborators.

Project Timeline: The general timeline of your project activities should detail the milestones that connect logically to your goals and the scope of your project. Please note when developing your timeline, funds must be used within one year of disbursement.

Project Budget and Justification: Provide an itemized budget and justify planned expenditures. Include any other sources of funding and whether those funds are committed or pending. If you are planning to use the Singh Family Sandbox Makerspace to accomplish your project goals, please include the supplies, equipment, or resources as an “in-kind” cost within your budget.

Allowable expenses include (but are not limited to): 

• programming and research expenses
• conference fees
• rentals or subscriptions
• software
• supplies and equipment directly related to the project

Unallowable expenses include (but are not limited to)

• Food
• Alcohol
• Travel
• Financial compensation directly to the applicant; i.e., the applicant cannot use the award to support their own stipend, a course release, or summer salary

Department Business Manager (if applicable): Provide the name of department business manager to which Arts for All will transfer the funds for disbursement if you elect not to have funds submitted to your student account.

To assist you in your proposal planning, we've created a Grant Proposal Template, which includes an additional Budget Framework, that you are highly encouraged (though not required) to use.

The Undergraduate Writing Center and the Graduate School Writing Center are fantastic resources to assist you in writing your grant proposal. For tips on crafting a grant proposal, check out our webinar on applying to ArtsAMP grants.

If your proposal includes human subject research, you must include plans to coordinate with the Institutional Research Board within your application. New projects that might require an IRB review are NOT required to complete the review before submitting their application. However, they must allocate time for this process (approx. 2-3 weeks) within their project timeline. On-going projects/research that have already completed an IRB review should make note of their completed review within their proposal.

We strongly encourage you to research venue costs and availability before submitting a proposal, even if you do not have confirmed bookings by the time of submission. This will help our reviewers see that you have developed a realistic budget and timeline. If your proposal includes a performance or rehearsal space using UMD venues, even if you are a TDPS student, be sure to contact TDPS or The Clarice directly to discuss budgeting for rental fees, booking a space, and finding availability for your project.

Please email the Arts for All team at arts@umd.edu.