Part of Theatreworks USA’s mission is to provide a quality theatre experience to children across America who may otherwise have little or no access to the arts.  With the current state of today’s crippled economy, sadly even more schools have become victim to severe budget cuts forcing the removal of arts programs and field trips.  We believe that the nation’s financial cutbacks should not affect the ability for students to receive a well-rounded, quality education that includes the arts, culturally enriching programs, and field trips. 

The following is a gathering of national and state grant opportunities specifically for the arts and field trips like Theatreworks performances.  We encourage you to take a few minutes to visit the sites listed below and apply!

If you are familiar with additional school arts and/or field trip grant opportunities that are not listed, please email development@twusa.org.

Click HERE for National Grant Opportunities

Click HERE for State and Local Grant Opportunities

NATIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

(updated June 21, 2010)

1. The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation

“The Community Grant Program proceeds from the premise that those involved on the front lines of the educational system often have unique insight into small but significant needs or innovations that are often overlooked and which, with foresight and focus, could be addressed in the near future to make a positive difference to the community served.”   Deadline: rolling.

2. ING Unsung Heroes

“ING Unsung Heroes program has helped more than a thousand K-12 educators and their schools fund innovative classroom projects through awards totally more than $3 million.”   Deadline: 4/30/11.

3. The NEA Foundation

“Since 1999, The NEA Foundation has awarded more than 2,000 individual grants totaling over $6 million to help public school teachers and other educational professionals improve student achievement.”  Deadline: 10/15/10.

4.  Patron Foundation

“The Patron Foundation believes that field trips to arts and cultural institutions should be a part of every child's educational experience and provide lifelong learning opportunities that are essential to educating our children and creating vibrant communities.  The upcoming Culture for Kids program helps expand cultural opportunities for children by making funds directly available to schools and civic organizations to subsidize field trips to participating museums, zoos, aquariums and performing arts organizations.”  Register online for deadline updates.

5. Target Field Trip Grants

“As part of our commitment to education, Target created the one-of-a-kind Field Trip Grants program. So far we've awarded 7,400 grants, totaling over $6 million, to educators in all 50 states. More than 729,000 students have explored the world outside the classroom with a Target Field Trip Grant!”  Registration Opens 8/1/2010

6. The Wallace Foundation

“Arts for Young People seeks to build future audiences by helping selected cities develop effective approaches for expanding high-quality arts learning opportunities both inside and outside school.”   Deadline inquiry by email briefly describing the project, your organization, the estimated total for the project and the portion requiring funding to The Wallace Foundation.

STATE AND LOCAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

(Alphabetized by state -- updated June 24, 2010)

ARIZONA

The Arizona Commission on the Arts

“The Arizona Commission on the Arts is committed to making the arts fundamental to education, particularly in programs that serve Pre-K-12 students, classroom teachers, teaching artists, arts specialists and administrators in school, after-school and summer/inter-session programs.”  Deadline: TBD.

CALIFORNIA

1. Healdsburg Educational Legacy
“Mini-Grants are awarded from an application process and extend to teachers in grades K-12. Grants are given to cover expenses for special field trips, equipment, events and other creative programs designed by the teachers.”  Initial approach: Download application

2. Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation

“The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Contra Costa County, CA, through educational and cultural endeavors and to support children and strengthen families.”  Initial approach: Download application

3. Philantrophic Ventures Foundation

“Arts Resource Grants (grants of up to $500 available to public school teachers grades K-8 in southern San Mateo County for classroom and after-school arts resources, visiting artist stipends, and arts-related field trips).”  Deadline: None.

4. Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council

“The council is dedicated to encouraging and promoting an interest in and appreciation of all forms of art.   Arts in the Schools Grant Program: The program seeks to nurture understanding and appreciation of the visual, literary and performing arts among local young people in kindergarten through high school. This program provides matching grants to schools, enabling students to experience professional demonstrations, performances and field trips which ordinarily would not be possible.”   Deadline: 1/12/11.

5. True To Life Children Services

“Enrichment in Arts and Recreation Funding will be made available for child-specific cultural experiences, recreational equipment, recreational activities specific to personal growth, lessons in music, chorus and drama, hobbies and crafts, culinary courses, parks and museum trips, sport camps, and training.”   Deadline: 2nd Wed. of every month.

CONNECTICUT

The Barnes Foundation

“Giving to promote excellence in education with an emphasis on programs that benefit students in grades kindergarten through high school.”  Deadlines: 3/15 and 9/15. Final notification: 6/15 and 12/15.

IOWA

The Iowa Arts Council

“The mission of the Iowa Arts Council is to enrich the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. Big Yellow School Bus grants serve pre-K through grade 12 students in Iowa public and private schools, providing up to $200 to underwrite the cost of field trips to attend arts events such as live music, dance or theater performances, and exhibits at art museums.   EZ 1-2-3 grants provide up to $500 to help educators and organizations bring Iowa artists into schools, theaters, festivals and auditoriums for hands-on learning opportunities, performances and Character Counts! programs.”  Deadlines: TBD.

MISSOURI

Ed Fund West

 “We seek out high quality arts and music providers to come to the schools and provide performances for classrooms, teaching artists for schools, and professional development for teachers so that they can gain new skills in the arts for their own students. Giving students hands-on experience in arts and music leads to improved success in school. Through musical performances, visiting artists, and teacher professional development, The Ed. Fund provides opportunities for students to expand and enrich their education.   Grants awarded directly to teachers and schools support creative projects and programs that make learning come to life for students.”  Deadlines: please contact The Ed. Fund at 510.233.1464 to ensure you are receiving their program announcements.

MINNESOTA

The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council

“The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council offers several arts grant programs along with the State of Minnesota and the McKnight Foundation funding.”

TENNESSEE

Tennesee Arts Commission:

• “The AE Artists in Residency (AE-AR) grant provides students and teachers with direct, hands-on arts experiences through personal interaction with teaching artists in a traditional school setting.” 

• “The AE Community Learning (AE-CL) grant provides funding for projects that demonstrate creative and innovative arts education programming in community settings or non-traditional school environments for populations of all ages.”

• “The Arts Education Funds for At-Risk Youth (FAY) grant supports arts-based after-school or summer camp programs designed specifically for elementary and secondary school at-risk children by providing hands-on immersion based arts activities.“

VIRGINIA

The Rudi Johnson Foundation

 “Scholarships to individuals: Rudi's Kids Meal and Trip Program. The program provides funding for children who are unable to pay for their lunch or school trips due to emergencies or family hardship.”   Deadlines: TBD