A. The Oklahoma Arts Council is authorized to assist and, if funds are available, to make incentive grants to school districts or organizations for the establishment of visual arts programs in schools. The award of grants shall be limited to:

1. School districts that do not have an existing visual arts program or full-time certified visual arts teachers in school sites; and

2. Organizations that provide visual arts programming to school districts that do not have an existing visual arts program or full-time certified visual arts teachers in school sites.

B. The incentive grant funding may be used for the support of visual arts programs in underserved schools or paying the salary costs of a certified art teacher.

C. The Council shall determine criteria for the program and establish a process for the consideration of proposals. The Council is authorized to promulgate rules for the operation of the program.

D. Any money appropriated by the Legislature for the incentive grant program shall be matched with other funding secured by the Council. The matching funding may be raised by the Council, school districts, for-profit or nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, private or public foundations, corporations, or individuals. Any matching funding raised by the Council for the program shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Arts Council Arts Education Revolving Fund created in Section 175 of this title. If matching funding is raised and designated for a grant to a specific school or organization, the Council may match the funding with monies from the Oklahoma Arts Council Arts Education Revolving Fund.

Added by Laws 2007, c. 187, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2007. Amended by Laws 2008, c. 298, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008; Laws 2015, c. 351, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015.