TopArts Grant Program
Funding to increase access to the arts for Topekans of all ages and abilities.
“This program continues to show how powerful the arts are in bringing our community together. Through the TopArts grants, we’re not only supporting artists - we’re expanding access, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience and participate in the arts.”
2026 TopArts Grant Recipients
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Lead muralist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins will work with student collaborators from Quincy Elementary School and the USD 347 Art Club to complete a mural to adorn the Kansas Avenue Bridge anchor. The student’s artistic contributions will be incorporated into a cohesive design complementing the larger Kansas Avenue Bridget mural. This project fosters community engagement and creative expression, and provides financial compensation for artists working in Topeka. The project also supports the completion of a mural that represents our community’s story.
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Ballet Stars On Demand is a STEAM-focused classical ballet program designed specifically for local elementary schools. The program has been successfully piloted at Lowman Hill Elementary, Jardine Elementary, SENT Prep Academy, and Boys & Girls Club of Topeka. The final pilot will take place at Scott Duel Language in the spring of 2026. In the fall of 2026, Kansas Ballet will partner with USD 501 to bring Ballet Stars On Demand to all 1st grade classrooms in the district. Classroom participation will start in October of 2026. The program will culminate in a grand finale with each classroom enjoying a field trip to watch the Nutcracker ballet live at Topeka Performing Arts Center in December.
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Grantees will host 2 zine-making workshops in Oakland and offer a historic tour of the Oakland community. Participants will be encouraged to create a zine of their memories of sites significant to the Mexican community or a significant site of their own history in Oakland. The goal of the zine workshops and historical tour is to create pride in the Mexican community, its history and heritage, and to educate Topekans about the Mexican history of Oakland. Along with the workshops, funds will be used to create zines of 7 sites.
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Kansas Book Festival supports literary life in Kansas by granting funds to libraries, providing literary events and activities for Kansas schools, and uniting readers and writers in an annual celebration of books. The annual festival includes the announcement of 15 Kansas Notable Books and awards for young writers from across Kansas. The festival hosts featured authors and a children’s activity tent featuring activities from the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and the Mulvane Art Lab.
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The Fabric of Healing program will provide incarcerated women and those formerly incarcerated who are reintegrating into the community with the opportunity to express their experiences of trauma, recovery, and hope through individually painted quilt blocks that will be combined into a public work of art. The shared artistic expression will highlight resilience, belonging, and community connection. This project serves justice-involved women who are currently incarcerated in the Shawnee County Jail, as well as women who have been released and are working to change the trajectory of their lives through successful community reintegration.
More info at: https://tarcinc.org/.
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The First Friday Concert Series at Redbud Park offers free, high-quality arts programming for Topeka residents during the NOTO First Friday Art Walk. The concert series integrates live music into this well-attended community event and bolsters Redbud Park as an inclusive gathering space, enhancing the cultural experience of First Fridays in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. Each concert is free and open to the public, welcoming youth, families, and seniors. The concerts also prioritize fair compensation for artists, recognizing the value of creative labor and supporting the sustainability of the local music ecosystem.
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This program will create an after-school art program at Scott Duel Language magnet school, which currently offers no art classes. The program will be open to all Scott students and provide free art instruction one day each week during the 2026 - 2027 school year. Funding will provide a stipend for teaching artists and art supplies for the program.
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TARC’s Art from the Heart is a therapeutic art program offered for people who attend our TARC Avenues Day Services program. The program’s activities enhance and enrich the lives of those we serve. Each activity teaches a life skill that allows for personal growth and independence. Art from the Heart is essential in the development of pride, self-esteem, success, and self-worth for the persons supported by TARC. TARC partners with a professional art instructor who leads on-site classes twice weekly, while TARC’s Education Coordinator facilitates themed art projects and skill-building activities throughout the remainder of each week.
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The Working Artist Initiative: Shades of Theatre 2026 Season will build a sustainable, professional theatre ecosystem in Topeka. The initiative provides stipends to four artist-directors for the 2026 season and will compensate stage managers, lighting and sound designers, technical designers, & costume designers. The initiative’s productions will be presented free of charge throughout Topeka.
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The 50th Anniversary Cultural Showcase will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ballet Folklorico with dances representing Mexico and accompanied by live musicians. The public performance will be on September 26th, 2026, at Washburn’s White Concert Hall. The program will also feature an educational recital for students of Mexican Corridos by guest musicians and ballet dancers.
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The Sunflower Music Festival is an annual public event and is free to attend. The organizers and musicians provide an outstanding musical experience for Topeka and Northeast Kansas. The festival’s Jazz Nights draw approximately 850 people to White Concert Hall, coming from Topeka, Kansas City, and throughout Northeast Kansas. "Songs in the Key of KC" will be a musical trip through the legacy and landscape of jazz history, from Bennie Moten through Count Basie and Bobby Watson.
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The 8 Mujeres 8 combines history, audio/video, live music, and dance in a performance centered around women who helped shape the art of Flamenco. In advance of this performance, there will be free flamenco dance classes offered for girls and women. The program will increase access to live, bilingual performances and offer an empowering learning experience for girls and women in Topeka.
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Give Me Your Stars to Hold is a free, high-quality contemporary choral performance for the Topeka community. The performance will foster a shared connection through music inspired by the night sky. The performance will build on Sonus Chamber Choir’s collaborative relationships with Washburn University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, the International Dark-Sky Association, and local astrophotographers. Together, these partnerships use the arts as a vehicle for interdisciplinary engagement, education, and awareness of light pollution and the loss of access to the night sky.
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The Summertime Blues concert series takes place on the third Wednesday of every month, May through Augustat the Gage Park Amphitheatre. Hundreds of people attend the free family-friendly concerts. The programming fosters the next generation of young local musicians and supports local and nationally recognized bands, providing a tour stop in the Midwest. Since 2013, the Topeka Blues Society has created an environment that truly does keep the blues alive!
About the TopArts Grant Program
The TopArts Grant program has been in existence since 2016 and is made possible with funds allocated by the City of Topeka. ArtsConnect is proud to have been chosen by the city as the organization responsible for administering the allocation of these funds. All funding decisions will be based on the criteria found in these guidelines and are guided by the recommendations presented in the Topeka Arts & Culture Master Plan. The TopArts Grant Program is Topeka’s only grant program that supports art programs in all disciplines all across Topeka.
The 2026 TopArts Grant application is now closed. Programs and projects receiving funding in the 2026 grant cycle are listed below.
Goals of the Program
1.
Expand access to meaningful art experiences, connect artists to their audiences.
2.
Support the development of public art projects.
3.
Align with the recommendations and strategic goals outlined in the Topeka Arts & Culture Master Plan.
Grant Amounts
TopArts Grants are generally awarded in amounts that range from $500-$5,000. We do not award grants in any amount less than $500. While matching funds are not required, matching funds are viewed favorably and seen as a demonstration of project viability.
Eligible Applicants
Any organization or individual based in Topeka is eligible to apply. In the past, this program has funded programs that are based outside of Topeka, but these funds must be expended for the benefit of Topeka residents. Projects that represent ALL artistic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Additional Resources and Information
2026 TopArts Grant Application Guidelines
TopArts Grant Application (Fillable Version)
2026 Grant Workshop Presentation Slides
Grant Report Form (for past grantees)
TopArts Grantee Media Release
Documents and Information for Current TopArts Grantees
We hope that the materials found below will help you in preparing to write your application and/or applying for other funding opportunities!
FILLABLE/DRAFT VERSION OF 2026 APPLICATION
This Google Doc version of the application can be downloaded and filled out so that you can work on drafting your application. THIS VERSION CANNOT BE USED TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION!
BUDGET WORKSHEET
When submitting your application, we encourage you to use the budget worksheet that we have created.
PAST GRANTEES
As you prepare to write this grant, we hope that you will have a look at the programs funded by the TopArts Grant Program in the past.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: I haven’t ever written a grant before. Can you help me figure out how to get started?
A: We suggest that you attend one of the grant-writing workshops that are scheduled to take place on January 14 & January 21. These workshops will give you the basics for where to get started with your first grant!
Q: Can individuals apply for funding through this program?
A: Yes, individuals can apply. We have frequently funded artists for educational opportunities and/or public art projects. If you are applying as an individual, please remember to think about whether you need to reserve space, identify partners or consider other logistics issues.
Q: How much money should we ask for?
A: It depends on your project, but these grants awards range from $500-$5,000. For more assistance, please read the full guidelines & budget worksheet for more information. If you still have questions, please reach out to ArtsConnect staff for additional information/assistance.
Q: How long will we have to spend the money?
A: For projects funded in 2025, these grant funds can be used to pay for expenses incurred between Jan 1, 2025-March 31, 2026.
Q: Where does the funding come from for these grants?
A: The TopArts Grant program is made possible with funding from the City of Topeka and is administered by ArtsConnect. ArtsConnect commissioned an economic impact survey of the arts which was published in 2014. This began a series of strategic efforts to inform and educate city stakeholders about the importance of the arts in our community. We have been the organization offering key advocacy on this issue, which has resulted in the establishment and maintenance of this funding. Since 2016, more than $300,000 has been granted into the community, reaching thousands of Topekans directly.
FULL LIST OF TOPARTS GRANTEES 2016-2025
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Ks Book Fest Author's Honorarium - Kansas Book Festival
Aaron Douglas Art Fair 2025 - Aaron Douglas Art Fair Turn Around Team
Children's Book - Isaiah Walker, Native Father of Topeka - Lisa LaRue-Baker
TARC Art from the Heart Program - TARC. Inc
Back for Seconds - Sunflower Music Festival
Entre Dos Mundos - 45 Grados de Flamenco
Poetry and Storytelling: Creating “I Can” in a World That Says “You Can’t" - Annette Billings
The Rossome Musical Garden: A One-of-a-Kind, Interactive, Metal Playground Sculpture. - Ross Elementary School PTO (Rossome PTO)
Bridging Generations Through Song - Shawnee Choral Society
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Art From the Heart by TARC, Inc
Ballet Stars by Kansas Ballet Company
Building on Success by CAPPER Foundation
Community Pottery by Monette Mark
Discovering Cool Topeka by Donna Rae Pearson
Fiesta Topeka Oral Histories by Valeria Mendoza
Ida y Vuelta by Melinda Hedgecorth
KS Book Fest Author Honorariums by The Kansas Book Festival
NOTO Murals - North End of Bridges by NOTO Arts & Entertainment District
Picture the Dream Local Artist Engagement by Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
Reclaiming Home: Remembering the Topeka Bottoms by Maria Velasco
Sunflower Music Festival: A Year of Firsts by Sunflower Music Festival, Inc.
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Do Pi Ka Project by artist Lisa LaRue-Baker
Robinson Middle School (USD 501) - Robinson Mural Project
Sunflower Music Festival, Inc. Focus on Black Female Composers
AileyCamp for Topeka Youth - Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA)
Honorariums for Authors @ Kansas Book Festival
Summertime Blues by Topeka Blues Society
Topeka Youth Orchestras by Topeka Symphony Orchestra
Latin Jazz Workshops in Topeka by Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra
ReStore Container Mural by Topeka Habitat for Humanity
Serenity Arts Panels in Redbud Park
Ballet Stars at Capper Foundation by Kansas Ballet Academy
Sunflower Bee Mural Repairs by Robert Tapley Bustamante
Advantage Clay Classes at Fire Me Up Ceramics
Topeka Cello Collective Membership Expansion
It Takes a Village 2023 Summer Camp
NOTO Arts and Entertainment District Crosswalk Pilot Project
Ultramotion Studios “Freedom Speaks!: A Trunk Full of Treasures” Tour Show
Pirates of Penzance Sing-A-Long by Joseph DeSota
Art from the Heart by TARC, Inc.
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24-Hour Play Festival by American Regional Theatre Society, Inc.
Sun-Hero Magazine by Dané Shobe
FSCG Art Day at Home by Family Service & Guidance Center
Ballet Stars program by Kansas Ballet Company
Kansas Book Festival
AileyCamp Topeka by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
Kansas Drum Days by the Kansas Percussive Arts Society
Family Wellness Event by Lighthouse TCO Foundation
Advantage Clay Class by Fire Me Up Ceramics
Student outreach by On Stage Live
Carol Long Ceramics Workshop
KODA Project by Riley Voth
The Sunflower Music Festival
2022 Season by Sunrise Theatre Company
Painting lessons by Topeka Art Guild
Summertime Concert Series by Topeka Blues Society
Senior Art Classes by LULAC Senior Center
Strings for Success by Topeka Symphony Society
Healing Through the Arts by Valeo Behavioral Healthcare
WU Total Percussion Camp by Washburn University
Alley Mural at 823 N Kansas Ave
College Hill Alley Murals
NOTO Arts & Entertainment District Rotating Sculpture Program
Shawnee County Health Department Mural
Jay Shideler Mural Project
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Artistic Expressions Healing Arts Initiative by artist John Sebelius
Backstage TPAC @ Topeka Performing Arts Center
Ballet Folklorico De Topeka: Mother's Day Presentation
Keeper of the Plains Mural @ Gil Carter Initiative by artist Alexander Lancaster
Black Lives Matter Mural-Building Community @ Topeka Habitat for Humanity by artists Jordan E. Brooks & C. Dylan Barker
Train Bridge Mural @ 45th & Topeka Blvd by Bring Back the Boulevard
Expanding Topeka Area Art Education Opportunities by Topeka Art Guild, Inc.
Expressive Therapies for the Uninsured and Underinsured by Valeo Behavioral Healthcare
FSGC Art Day at Home by Family Service & Guidance Center with artists Lila Bartel, Tina Brackman, Anne Kufahl, Gwen McClain, Jancy Pettit and Janet Zoble
Handel's "Messiah" performed by the Spire Chamber Ensemble by Great Spaces Art & Music Series @ Grace Cathedral
Ballet Stars by Kansas Ballet Company
KCFAA Topeka by Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
Mindfulness Through Native American Art by artist Lisa LaRue-Baker
Multicultural Community Art Project by Greater Topeka Partnership featuring artists Jamie Colon, Mona Cliff and George Mayfield @ Topeka Habitat for Humanity
Youth Outreach by On Stage Live with pianist Thomas Pandolfi & Thalea String Quartet
Profiles of Courage II by Heavenly Visions Foundation with photographer Yolanda Taylor
Sculpture Art in NOTO @ NOTO Arts & Entertainment District
Summertime Blues In the Park by Topeka Blues Society @ Gage Park
Artistic Support for Sunflower Music Festival
Sunrise Theatre Company 2021 Season
Online Symphony Performances - Topeka Symphony Orchestra
Ukulele Extension for COVID Protocols - Scott Dual Language Magnet School
Welcome To Fabulous North Topeka mural by artist Robert Tapley Bustamante
Survivor Art Group - YWCA Center for Safety & Empowerment
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Art Barrier (Sculptural Gates and 'Caged Bone Pile' Pillars)
Gil Carter Initiative Mural Project
Evergy Downtown Rainbow Towers
Involvement I & II
LULAC Senior Center Moonflower Mural
"An evening with US..." Performance and Tour
Aaron Douglas Art Fair
Arc of Hope Veterans Art Program
Backstage TPAC
Carnival of the Animals: A Partnership Between Kansas Ballet, Topeka Zoo, and Boys & Girls Clubs
Dime Store Mysticism by Luke Rocha
FSGC Art Day Artists in Residence
High School Advantage Clay Classes
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
Topeka Latin Artists Showcase
Poetry For Personal Power (P3)
On Stage Live Student Outreach--Concert Year 2020-2021
Summertime Blues
TopCity Swing 2020
Topeka Symphony Youth Programs
Two Block Chalk Walk
Tyson Williams' Stage Play "Extortion: The Misfits"
YWCA Survivor Art Group
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¡Más adelante! - 1st Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Poetry Spotlight and Outreach
2019 Aaron Douglas Art Fair
TARC: Art From the Heart
Boys & Girls Club: Art program for at-risk youth
John Sebelius: Artistic Expressions
Topeka Performing Arts Center: Backstage TPAC
Bee Mural @ Zimmerman & Zimmerman near 9th & Quincy
Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority: Brown v. Board of Education Mural bus wrap
On Stage Live: Classical and Contemporary Music Outreach for Children
Clover Gear NOTO Beautification and Extension Project
CX1DJS "Building in Music" Work Shop
Valeo: Expressive Therapies for the Uninsured
Family Service & Guidance Center: Art Day Artists in Residence
MURAL: Kansas Ballet's #IAmABalletStar Mural
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey Topeka
NOTO Utility Box Murals
Poetry for Personal Power: Resilience Message Events
Tyson Williams: Smoke Behind Closed Doors
Sun Moon Mountains by Robert Tapley Bustamante @ 17th & Adams
Sunflower Music Festival
Topeka Symphony Youth Ensembles
YWCA: Survivor Art Group
Last Minute Folk: Folk Music for Seniors
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Artistic Expressions Healing Arts Initiative @ Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center
Great Spaces Music & Arts Series @ Grace Cathedral
KC Friends of Alvin Ailey – AileyCamp 2018
Summer Ballet with Kansas Ballet @ Boys & Girls Club
Aaron Douglas Art Fair @ Aaron Douglas Art Park
The Art of Healing @ YWCA Center for Safety & Empowerment
Opossum Where Art Thou @ The Topeka Zoo
Works of Heart Artists in Residence @ Family Service & Guidance Center
Topeka Faces Murals by Patrick Rocha
ArtReach @ Topeka Rescue Mission
Cruzline Contenders @ Scott Dual Language School, Williams Arts & Science Magnet School, and Topeka High School
Topeka Habitat for Humanity Mural
Postcard from NOTO Mural
Sheffel Theatre Clinic and Schooltime Theatre Series @ Topeka Performing Arts Center
Haunted Hotel: Theater of the Mind @ KTWU
Senior Outreach Concert Series with Last Minute Folk
Brown v. Board Mural Project
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Brooksfest - Gwendolyn Brooks Centennial Celebration
YWCA Survivor Art Group
Topeka Community Concert Association Youth Outreach
Artistic Expressions Healing Arts Initiative with artist John Sebelius @ Veterans Administration
Kansas Ballet Summer Program
NOTO ArtReach with artist Patty Kahn
Lutheran Fine Arts Council
Ballet Folklorico
Family Service & Guidance Center
Boys & Girls Club of Topeka
Capital City High School Mural
Lighting the Historic Topeka Water Tower
Valeo’s Creations of Hope Gallery
Performing Arts for Children
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Mulvane Art Museum – Art After School
The Craftivists – Weekly Art Groups for Women & Girls
Patty Kahn & Quincy Elementary School – NOTO ArtReach Art Education Program
Tonantzin Society – Artist Residency
Grace Cathedral – Great Spaces Music & Art Series
Kansas Ballet – Early Start Performing Arts @ State Street Elementary
Aaron Douglas Art Fair – Interactive Art Activities
Last Minute Folk Concert Series – Expanded Outreach & Community Engagement
Topeka Symphony Society – Youth Ensembles Scholarship & Tuition Support
TARC, Inc. – Art from the Heart
Topeka Community Concert Association – Outreach & Community Engagement
Lutheran Fine Arts Council of Topeka – Theater Workshop at Topeka Civic Theatre
Chesney Park Neighborhood Improvement Association – Great Mural Wall of Topeka
The Lighting of Topeka’s Historic Water
Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority – Art in Transit Redux @ Quincy Street Station
"As we watch the fallout from the proposed elimination of arts funding at the federal level, having a local program like this is the only way to continue our progress as a city. These projects will help keep lighting the path forward for us as a community.
“The continued existence of this program shows that our city leaders understand the critical importance of the arts in Topeka. This funding is focused on artist-led programs that expand access to the arts and encourage excellence in a variety of ways. By working together, we are able to continue building the capacity and expertise of the creative sector in Topeka.”
- Sarah Fizell, Exec. Director ArtsConnect
GRANT REPORTS NEEDED FROM 2024 & 2025 GRANTEES!
If you received a Top Arts Grant in the past, please complete the grant reporting form.
In order to be eligible for funding in 2027, we must have a report on file for your project.