August marks the unofficial ending of summer and the beginning of another school year for teachers and students across Tennessee. This month also marks the opening of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Student Ticket Subsidy grant program which provides funds for artist fees, tickets, and transportation for students from Tennessee public schools to experience a broad variety of cultural opportunities, artistic disciplines and artists. Teachers are encouraged to apply for grants to take their students on exposure-based field trips to art museums and performing arts performances or to bring teaching artists into their schools to implement in-depth artist residencies or school-wide arts assemblies.
Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, by demand, and per student capita in all 95 Tennessee counties. Each school is eligible to apply for up to $3,000, and schools may submit multiple applications for different arts education projects to reach the $3,000 maximum. Schools must partner with approved individual artists and organizations listed on the Commission’s Teaching Artist Roster. These artists and organizations offer a range of arts and cultural experiences aligned with curriculum standards in the arts and other content areas. Many of these artists are trained to collaborate with licensed arts specialists and classroom teachers within the school to carry out dynamic residencies resulting in increased skills and knowledge of a particular art form.
The Student Ticket Subsidy Grant Application opens in the Online Grants System Thursday, Aug. 9, at 8 a.m. Central Time. Ahead of that date, teachers should make sure to have their login information ready or to register in the system if they are first-time applicants. For more information on how to apply and what will be required in the user-friendly and accessible grant application, view the STS FY2019 STS Application Guidelines.
