Enid Public Schools is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. This grant will support EPS providing development in art for early childhood and elementary teachers in the district known as Art Connection. The NEA will award 272 Challenge America awards nationwide totaling $2,720,000 as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.
EPS and the Enid Arts Council will match the amount to fund the project. North Garland Church of Christ has generously donated their space for educators to take classes.
“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including Enid’s Art Connection classes for educators.”
Art Connection is a program developed by Enid Public Schools in collaboration with the Enid Arts Council. In 2023 EPS began the Art Connection program. The goal of the program is to provide teachers with the professional development and supplies to integrate art into literacy instruction.
“EPS would like to thank the NEA, The Enid Arts Council and North Garland Church of Christ for funding this grant,” said Randy Rader, EPS Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. “I am very excited for the opportunity this grant will provide our teachers. Art integration is an important part of our literacy instruction and this will provide the training we need to do it well.”
Kay Kiner, Enid Arts Council member and Education Committee Chair, expressed her enthusiasm for continuing to partner with EPS.
“Enid Arts Council’s proud partnership with Enid Public Schools and Kennedy Center Partnership has been to yearly provide quality arts in education professional development since 2005,” said Kiner. “This matching grant with the National Endowment for the Arts will increase the number of Art Connection classes available to more teachers, as well as quality arts supplies for their classrooms. Enid Arts Council has dedicated its yearly support and appreciates donations at any time. Go online to the EAC website, www.Enid arts.org.”
EPS is one of six awards in Oklahoma and the only public school district to receive the award from NEA in the state.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.