TranspARTation Grants

To be eligible for a TranspARTation grant, applicants must be a Delaware nonprofit K-12 public, private, charter, or parochial school. Pre-K programs affiliated with public schools are also eligible to apply.

Please Note: Schools may receive only one TranspARTation grant per school year. Title I schools may be considered for more than one TranspARTation grant per school year if funding is available.

The Delaware Division of the Arts recognizes the importance of connecting schools with cultural institutions to promote creative learning experiences critical to a child’s academic development and a well-rounded curriculum.

Live arts performances and exhibitions provide opportunities for learning in the arts that foster creativity and innovation. In many cases, a school field trip may be the first time a student is provided with such an experience.

This grant program is designed to subsidize transportation costs that schools incur so that students can attend arts and cultural events throughout the state. Additionally, as venues engage new audiences to cultivate awareness and future participation from the next generation, there is a positive impact on Delaware’s creative economy

Schools may request up to $500 toward travel expenses, to include buses, fuel, parking, and tolls associated with these trips. TranspARTation applications are accepted on an ongoing basis but must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the field trip date. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received on a first-received, first-reviewed basis starting in mid-August until all available funds are awarded.

Download the full TranspARTation Grant Guidelines here.

Download the smARTDE Instructions to learn how to log in and navigate within the system.

The Delaware Division of the Arts strives to keep our TranspARTation grant applications concise, while gathering the essential information needed for a thorough and fair evaluation. We aim to balance simplicity with the comprehensive details necessary to ensure we can effectively assess each project’s potential impact and success.

The TranspARTation grant application requires:

• A school profile
• Narrative questions describing the project and how it meets the evaluation criteria
• Field trip information such as location, date, and the number of students
• Transportation estimate

www.DelawareScene.com is an online calendar of arts and cultural events and exhibits that might be helpful in identifying events to attend. However, keep in mind that arts organizations may offer additional school programs and shows not listed on www.DelawareScene.com, so be sure to contact them directly to check their offerings and make arrangements to visit.

The TranspARTation Grant supports travel costs to Delaware arts and cultural institutions and venues so that students may attend events, performances, and exhibits that have high quality arts components. Eligible programs include the exhibition or presentation of guest artists or ensembles (does not include school shows or student groups).

www.DelawareScene.com is an online calendar of arts and cultural events and exhibits that might be helpful in identifying events to attend. However, keep in mind that arts organizations may offer additional school programs and shows not listed on www.DelawareScene.com, so be sure to contact them directly to check their offerings and make arrangements to visit.

Division staff members, in conjunction with the Division Director, review TranspARTation Grant applications. The Director then makes final decisions on funding. For details on the grant review process and appeals procedure, read the Delaware Division of the Arts Grant Review Process.

Notification:

All applicants will receive notification via email within four weeks of the application deadline. Applicants approved for a grant will receive additional instructions from Division staff via email to receive their payments.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, individuals must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier? Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

After the Division staff receives confirmation of your eSupplier registration, payments will be sent to the accounting office to process.

The Division will reimburse the school or school district upon receipt of the Final Report and receipts/invoices. The actual grant amount will be calculated based on transportation receipts/invoices received with the Final Report and will not exceed the pre-approved grant amount. The Division will not pay bus vendors directly on the school’s behalf.

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that their organization’s authorizing official has read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Ensure that the appropriate school district officer signs and submits the grant application within the deadline stated.
• Notify the school/district business office of the grant award and payment procedures.
• Acknowledge the Delaware Division of the Arts in any public communications about the field trip using the Division’s crediting guidelines.
• Submit a final report with transportation receipts/invoices to the Division within 30 days after completion of the field trip, or by June 1, whichever comes first.

After completing the trip, we encourage you to thank your local legislators for providing funding for the trip through the Delaware Division of the Arts. Raising their awareness of this funding and its impact on your school is essential in order to sustain public support for the arts. To find out how to take action and see a sample letter, read: How to Acknowledge Public Support for the Arts

A completed Final Report is required of all fellowship recipients. The final report collects narrative, fiscal, and demographic information in keeping with DDOA and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) requirements. Successful completion of a final report is required for eligible grantees to be able to access future grants. Final reports are completed in SmartSimple, the same online grants management system used for applications. Final Reports must be submitted through smARTDE and are due within 30 days following the project end date, or by June 1, whichever comes first.

The Division will reimburse the school or school district upon receipt of the Final Report and receipts/invoices. The actual grant amount will be calculated based on transportation receipts/invoices received with the Final Report and will not exceed the pre-approved grant amount. The Division will not pay bus vendors directly on the school’s behalf.

Failure to submit your final report may jeopardize future grants.

You can use this interactive tool to search for Delaware Division of the Arts grants awarded to organizations and individuals from 1999 through today.