Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride header image

TICKET TO RIDE

Deadline: Opening July 1, 2022 /Rolling deadlines
Maximum Award: $400
Required Match: None
Award Cycle: July 1 June 30

Ticket To Ride

Ticket to Ride provides funding to defray the cost of travel for Maine public schools wishing to visit Maine arts venues and events as part of a well-rounded curriculum. The goals of the travel should support student learning and be aligned with the visual and/or performing arts standards. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Funding will take approximately one month to be delivered after application is approved. Schools may apply (through their School District) more than once a year as long as they apply to attend a different event, bringing a different student population, AND have not expended their eligible amount.

Any PK-12 public school in Maine is eligible to receive up to $400 per school year. Schools are welcome to use Ticket to Ride funds in combination with transportation funds that may be available from individual Maine arts venues and events or other sources. Support from this program is available until the fund is exhausted.

A school must apply through its school district. Applications must be conducted through the Superintendent’s offices. Communications and funds will go directly to the district to then be delivered to the applying school. The Maine Arts Commission will not contract directly with individual schools.

Have general questions about the Grant/Application Process? Access the Grants FAQthe Grants Definitions Page, or Grants Help Page

 Print PDF of Guidelines


An applicant is eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria at the time of application:

  • Is a Maine PK-12 public school
  • Will use the funding within the award cycle

Eligible Expenses

Funding may be used to defray the cost of travel for Maine schools wishing to visit Maine arts venues. Schools and arts organizations may apply more than once a year as long as they are applying to attend a different event, bringing a different student population, AND have not expended their eligible amount of $400.

Ineligible Expenses: Funds may only be used to defray the cost of student transportation to and from an arts venue.Ticket to Ride funds may not be used for other purposes or to replace existing transportation funds in school budgets.  

Application Narrative (to be completed in the Application Portal)

(All character counts include spaces. 2,550 characters/page)

  • Date of proposed trip
  • Total cost of transportation for proposed trip
  • Amount requested for proposed trip
  • Total number of students traveling
  • Admission cost per student
  • State of Maine Vendor Code for the applying school district (a ten digits proceeded by VC (VC##########))
  • Arts venue(s) being visited (Max: 1,275 characters - about 175 words).
  • Event(s) being attended at the venue(s) (Max: 1,275 characters - about 175 words).
  • Grade level(s) of students traveling (Max: 1,275 characters - about 175 words).
  • Explain why you are taking this trip and how the learning experience addresses the Maine Visual and Performing Arts standards (and any other applicable standards) (Max: 1,275 characters - about 175 words). https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/content/arts/standards

Review Criteria

  1. 50% = Artistic excellence  and artistic meritof the event(s) being attended
  2. 50% = Evidence that the funds will be used in a strategic way to promote the arts as part of a curriculum

All applications must be submitted through the online Application Portal. Once an application is started, the applicant may make changes until it is submitted. Hitting the ‘Submit’ button on the final page locks the application and makes it ready for review. The application includes an online form and an option to upload attachments.

Online Form Requirements:

  • Completed Application narrative

Required Attachments to be uploaded:

  • None required - (Optional) Additional information that supports the application (images, letters of support, etc.)

Vendor Code – An applicant must have a current  Vendor Code to receive award funds.

  • For new applicants – Please read the Vendor Form help information, download a Vendor Form, fill it out, and return it to the Maine Arts Commission by mail, email, or fax.
  • For past applicants:If your contact information has changed in the past year, you will need to fill out a new Vendor Form with your updates. 

Application information specific to schools: 

  • ‘Email’ – Should be the person with whom we will contact throughout the grant process
  • ‘DUNS Number’ - Does not apply to school districts; just enter “1”.
  • ‘First Name’, ‘Last Name’ – Should be the contact person at the school.
  • ‘Contact Email’ – Should match ‘Email’ information.
  • ‘Address’, ‘City’, ‘State’, ‘Zip’, ‘Phone’ –Should be the district superintendent's office NOT the school.

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come-first served basis by Maine Arts Commission staff. Applicants will be notified if they are funded within two weeks of their application.

Maine Arts Field Trips – oh, the possibilities!  Here’s a few museums, performance venues, community art centers around the state …. 

York/Cumberland Counties

A Company of Girls, Portland

Arts & Cultural Alliance of Freeport, Freeport

Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk

Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland

City Theater, Biddeford

Deertrees Theatre, Harrison

Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland

Lyric Music Theatre, South Portland

Maine Jewish Museum, Portland

Mayo Street Arts, Portland

Merrill Auditorium, Portland 

Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit

Palaver Strings, Portland

Portland Ballet Company, Portland

Portland Conservatory of Music, Portland

Portland Museum of Art, Portland

Portland Ovations, Portland

Portland Stage Company, Portland

Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland

Saco River Theatre, Buxton

St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland

Sanford Performing Arts Center, Sanford

Theater Project, Brunswick

Westbrook Performing Arts Center, Westbrook

Androscoggin/Oxford/ Franklin Counties

Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston

Bates Dance Festival, Lewiston

Denmark Arts Center, Denmark

Franco Center, Lewiston

Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, Fryeburg

L/A Community Little Theatre, Auburn

Celebration Barn, South Paris

Pace Galleries, Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg

Public Theatre, Lewiston

Rangeley Friends of the Arts, Rangeley

Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, Bridgton

Stanley Museum, Kingfield

Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield

Kennebec/Sagadahoc/SomersetCounties

Arts Farmington, Farmington

Children’s Discovery Museum of Central Maine, Waterville

Chocolate Church, Bath

Colby Museum of Art, Waterville

Harlow Gallery, Hallowell

Johnson Hall, Gardiner

L.C. Bates Museum, Hinckley

Maine State Museum, Augusta

Theatre at Monmouth, Monmouth

Ticonic Gallery + Studios, Waterville

Waterville Opera House, Waterville

Lincoln/Knox/Waldo Counties

Belfast Maskers, Belfast

Camden Opera House, Camden

Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland

Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland

Heartwood Theater, Damariscotta

Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor

Strand Theatre, Rockland

Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro

Waterfall Arts, Belfast

Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle

 Hancock/Washington Counties

Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor

Eastport Arts Center, Eastport

Grand Theatre, Ellsworth

Millbridge Theatre, Millbridge

Opera House Arts, Stonington 

Schoodic Arts For All, WInter Harbor

Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport

Waponahki Museum Resource Center, Sipayik (Pleasant Point)

 

Penobscot/Piscataquis/Aroostook Counties

Aroostook County Historical & Art Museum, Houlton

Bangor Symphony, Bangor

Boreal Theater, Millinocket

Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft

Collins Center for the Arts, Orono

Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor

Monson Arts, Monson

Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel, Grand Isle

Penobscot Nation Museum

Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor

Zillman Art Museum, Bangor

And don't forget...

Public and private schools and universities also offer many concerts and theatre productions throughout the year.  

 



APPLY NOW

Ask for Help

The staff at the Maine Arts Commission are ready to help as you prepare your application and navigate the Application Portal. We especially encourage first-time applicants and those new to grant writing to contact us for assistance. For more information, visit our staff directory

Accessibility 

Grant information can be made available in large print format or other languages by request. All Maine Arts Commission programs are accessible to people with disabilities.   All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.  To learn more, the NEA offers an accessibility self-assessment checklist

Ticket To Ride Staff Contact: 
Martha Piscuskas  207-287-2750
Program Officer

Need More Help?

For General Questions:
207- 287-2724

More Specific Help:

Grants and Website Manager
Eli Cabañas: 287-6746

Assistant Director
Julie Horn: 287-2790

Regional Development Director
Sheila Jans: 287-2750

Program Director
Khristina Kurasz: 287-2724

Program Director
Danielle Moriarty: 287-6746

Program Director

Martha Piscuskas: 287-2750

Traditional Arts Specialist
Kathleen Mundell: 236-6741