This spring, the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids announced the results of round #2 of their 2009-2010 annual grant process, awarding $8,080 in Arts Education Grants. Eleven arts educators in the Kent Intermediate School District received funding, which comes directly from the Arts Council's annual fundraising efforts for the Arts Education Funding Pool. Funds are raised from individuals, corporations and foundations that value students' exposure to the arts. Donors see the value of a basic arts education for all students as a means of improving self-esteem and overall academic achievement.

In 2002 the Arts Council began the Arts Education Funding Pool with the mission to provide arts educators in the Kent Intermediate School District with resources above and beyond their standard school budgets that would help children of all ages and abilities gain greater exposure to the arts. Now in its eighth year, the Arts Education program has been exceptionally successful and has distributed over $100,000 for arts education. The resulting programs and projects have benefited thousands of KentISD students who otherwise would have more limited exposure to and involvement with the arts.

Grants of up to $1,000 are made available for special projects, equipment, resources, and teacher training - not provided for in regular school budgets.