Big Yellow School Bus
Big Yellow School Bus supports Rhode Island schools and school-affiliated nonprofits by funding student field trip admission and transportation to connect classroom learning with local arts and culture.
Funder: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Due Dates: Rolling (applications) | April 15, 2027 (final deadline, unless funds are awarded earlier)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500 per field trip, reimbursed
Summary: Supports in-person arts and culture field trips for Rhode Island schools at Rhode Island organizations.
Key Information: Grantees pay admission and transportation costs upfront; reimbursement goes to an approved school vendor.
Description
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts runs Big Yellow School Bus to support arts learning through in-person field trips. Rhode Island schools and school-affiliated nonprofit organizations can seek help with admission and transportation costs for student visits to arts or cultural organizations in the state. The program connects school-based learning with local arts and culture rather than funding trips to see touring productions by non-Rhode Island artists or arts groups.
Awards reimburse the school or school-affiliated nonprofit after it pays the trip costs. Payment is sent to an authorized school vendor, which may be a school department, city or town, or school-affiliated nonprofit organization.
