How can we get funds for arts field trips?
Experiencing and participating in the arts is an essential part of creating strong communities and developing healthy, engaged, and creative students.
The Every Child Art Experience grant awards $2,500 to schools to fund bringing students to an out-of-school arts event, program, or activity. It prioritizes schools in Alliance and Opportunity Districts to help close the gap in arts access.
Eligibility:
This program is currently only open to public schools in Connecticut.
Proposed activities must take place outside of school and include at least 25 students.
Trips must be accessible to students of all abilities.
Funds must be used in same school year the funds were awarded unless you have been granted an extension by the Connecticut Office of the Arts. (Extensions are only granted in special cases and on a case-by-case basis)
How to Apply:
Apply online using the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) e-granting portal. If you need a different method, please contact our accessibility coordinator, Tamara Dimitri, by email at tamara.dimitri@ct.gov.
- New applicants: Register for an account
- Returning applicants: Log in to the e-granting portal. Select "Programs" on the right side of the header and then select the "Every Child Art Experience from the list of available grant programs. From there you can select "Apply" to open a new application.
You can save and continue editing throughout the application process. When each task is complete select “Mark as Complete.” When you are ready to submit your application select the “SUBMIT.” You will receive an email confirming that your application was submitted.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at least 48 hours in advance of the deadline. Tech support and application assistance may not be available in the last few hours before the deadline.
Program Timeline: Dates are subject to change.
- Applications Available: August 1, 2024
- Extended Application Deadline: October 31, 2024
- Notification: November/ December
- Funding Period: January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
- Final Report Due: July 30, 2025
*please note that you may be ineligible to receive funds if you have any outstanding final reports due to the CT Office of the Arts
Use of Funds:
Funds may be used to cover any cost associated with your approved activity but may not be used for the following purposes:
1. Alcoholic beverages or events where alcohol is served.
2. Audit costs that are not directly allocable to a federally required Single Audit.
3. Cash reserves or endowments.
4. Concessions/for-profit activity including food, beverages, T-shirts, posters, art, and other items for
resale (retail activities). This includes costs for retail workers.
5. Contingencies, miscellaneous, or “other” unidentified costs.
6. Contributions or donations to other entities. 
7. Costs incurred before or after the approved period of performance. This includes subgranting activity.
8. Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, or deficit reduction. 
9. General fundraising for your organization.
10. Gifts and prizes. This includes cash prizes, gift certificates/gift cards, or any other items with monetary
value.
11. Hospitality costs and costs related to social functions such as receptions, parties, and galas, as well as
food/meals that conclude a program or event.
12. Land purchase costs, construction, or renovation of building structures.
13. Lobbying.
14. Marketing expenses not related to the project.
15. Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with your
organization.
16. Vehicle purchase costs.
17. Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.
*The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) grants funds received from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and must follow their funding requirements. The Every Child Art Experience program is funded, in part, by funds received from the NEA. Therefore, if your organization offers a program or activity and that program or activity is fully or partially supported by these grant funds, the program or activity must be ADA-compliant and follow the guidelines above. If not, then you may be ineligible for funding and both the National Endowment for the Arts and the CT Office of the Arts has authority to suspend and/or terminate funding.
Contact:
For questions about the program or application process, email the Arts Education Manager, Tekowa Omara-Otunnu by email at tekowa.omara-otunnu@ct.gov.
Accessibility
If you need an alternative application format, contact COA's Accessibility Coordinator Tamara Dimitri at tamara.dimitri@ct.gov.