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Destination Portland: Subsidized Transportation for
School Field Trips in the Arts, Culture, and Humanities

Portland Ovations subsidizes transportation for field trips in the arts, culture, and humanities for Maine schoolchildren and educators for schools with populations of 50% or more free/reduced lunch.
To be eligible for funding, school groups must to attend a Portland Ovations performance in combination with a tour or activity at another Portland cultural institution. Destination Portland partners include:

Portland Museum of Art
Museum of African Arts and Culture
The Telling Room
Maine Historical Society
The Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine
Portland Public Library

Grants up to $400 are available when a school purchases tickets to an Ovations performance and plans a program the same day with any of these Destination Portland partner organizations. Transportation subsidies through Destination Portland are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Ovations Offstage will work with schools and partners to tailor a field trip that meets the needs of teachers and students, and connects to curriculum and Common Core State Standards. Contact Ovations Offstage staff at (207) 773-3150 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Application can be sent be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the following address:
Portland Ovations
50 Monument Square, 2nd Floor
Portland, ME 04101
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(207) 774-1018 –fax

Destination Portland is funded in part by TD Bank.

Ticket to Ride

The Maine Arts Commission provides funding for schools seeking to transport students to arts venues and events in Maine in support of their education. Any K-12 school in Maine may apply for one grant of up to $300 each school year. Any K-12 school in Maine with a documented free and reduced lunch student population of 50 percent or greater will be eligible to apply for one grant of up to $500 each school year. Visit the Maine Arts Commission for more information. Ticket to Ride funds can supplement transportation funds from Destination Portland.

Target Arts Grants

Target offers grants to schools and nonprofits that bring arts and cultural experiences directly to K-12 students. These programs must have a curriculum component. Visit their website for more information.

Portland Ovations School Partnership Program

Portland Ovations School Partnership Program is designed to support arts integration in Portland Public Schools.

Arts integration is defined by the Kennedy Center Partners in Education as an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objective in both.

The School Partnership Program encourages rigorous and engaging teaching and learning through the performing arts. Principals of schools with a population of 50% or more free/reduced lunch are invited to apply to become School Partnership Program members:

• Administrators/staff members join the Portland Ovations/Portland Public Schools Integrated Arts Team (3 yearly meetings).

• Host in-school classroom workshops and/or lecture demonstrations with Ovations staff, visiting artists or local artist-educator.

• Plan and attend professional development workshops for teachers in using the arts to teach.

• Utilize subsidized tickets for school-time performances (250 complimentary tickets/year).

• Use on-line teacher materials connecting performances to classroom studies & Common Core Standards.

To participate in the School Partnership Program, school principals contact:
Gretchen Berg, Director of Ovations Offstage
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
207.773.3150