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Creative Spirit Fund

Empowering public school art educators to fund the next generation of diverse creators

Americans for the Arts is partnering with Free People on a Creative Spirit Fund program that advocates for the importance of arts in early public education. 

Submissions are now closed. Winners will be announced in February 2023!

Free People x Americans for the Arts Creative Spirit Fund

Students, parents, and teachers were invited to nominate a teacher at their school to receive one of ten $4,000 awards, which will be distributed to public school educators across the United States in great need of support in teaching art, music, dance, theater, and creative writing and other artistic disciplines. Nominated teachers will be champions of diversity and creativity within their local communities, and can use their award to purchase supplies and equipment that nurture the creativity of their students.

To nominate a teacher for the Creative Spirit Fund, entrants submitted a short essay (300 words or less) that answered the question: How has an arts teacher championed your new creative spirit at school?

Submissions are now closed. Review panels including members of Americans For The Arts, Free People, and Free People ambassador Brittany O’Grady will select the ten winning educators, who will be announced in February 2023.