Toyota Alumni Fund

Thanks to the generous support of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, The Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) is proud to offer GSA alumni the opportunity to apply for the Toyota Alumni Fund (TAF).

The goal of the fund is to support GSA alumni in their artistic development. This can include a professional development opportunity or creation and implementation of a project.

Many artists continue to experience relative uncertainty in their work and pathways as society navigates the COVID-19 pandemic. This can create challenges, as well as new opportunities and outlooks.

To be responsive as possible to the specific dynamics of our current moment, modifications have been made to the standard guidelines of the Toyota Alumni Fund for the Fall 2021 grant cycle. Additionally, the standard amount of available funding has increased from $5,000 to $10,000, as the previous two grant cycles were postponed.

If you are a relative of a Kentucky Performing Arts employee, please contact GSA via email prior to applying for the Toyota Alumni Fund.

Deadlines & Notification Dates

Fall Application Deadline: October 17, 2021, 11:59 p.m. EST

Fall Award Notification: Late November/Early December 2021

Spring Application Dates: TBD

All funds are distributed upon receipt of a signed contract from the grant recipient. All applicants will be notified of their award status.

Who Is Eligible?

Alumni of Kentucky’s Governor’s School for the Arts, regardless of whether you have previously received a TAF grant and regardless of how many TAF grants you have previously received. Individual and group applications are acceptable.
For the Fall 2021 cycle, GSA is waiving the previous requirement that current TAF recipients must wait one year after receipt of their grant to reapply.
For the Fall 2021 cycle, GSA is waiving the previous requirement that grantees may receive a TAF award a maximum of 3 times.

What Is Funded?

Costs associated with a training opportunity: tuition, printing, instructional fees, equipment, supplies, lodging, meals, travel, etc.
Projects providing training opportunities for artists, e.g., a music training program for elementary aged students in a community, acting classes for adult actors, etc.
Costs associated with the development of an arts-based project: equipment, space rental, marketing, artist fees, etc. Creation of materials to further promote the artist.
For the Fall 2021 round of the Toyota Alumni Fund, GSA is waiving the previous requirement that no more than 50% of your proposed budget can be devoted to artist fees. Please still present a comprehensive budget as possible in your application.

What Is Not Funded?

Post-secondary tuition (i.e., college tuition)
Re-imbursements for expenses that have already occurred or a project that has already been completed.

Awards

Minimum award per applicant: $100
Maximum award per applicant: $5,000 (unique to Fall 2021)
Partial funding of the request amount is at the discretion of the grant review panel.
Applicants may apply for one grant per grant cycle.
A final grant report is required within six months of the completion of the professional development/project.

Information For Grantees

A Final Grant Report is due six months after the completion of your professional development/project. Failure to complete and submit the final report will render the applicant(s) ineligible to apply in the future.

Download the Final Grant Report document, HERE.