The Commission on the Arts and Humanities (“CAH” or “the Agency”) seeks applications for the FY26 Field Trip Experiences (FTE) grant program. FTE furthers CAH’s mission by encouraging progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia by supporting non-profit arts, humanities, arts education, and arts service organizations who significantly contribute to the District of Columbia as a world-class cultural capital. The FTE grant program supports the cost of field trip tickets, professional development opportunities for classroom educators, and/or pre/post-field trip workshops for students. Funding may also be allocated to necessary personnel support for the planning and implementation of the program. The applicant organization shall be the producer of the arts or humanities field trip experience detailed in the application.
This grant opportunity has the following program goals:
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Provide access to comprehensive arts and humanities field trip experiences that work to advance student achievement in the District of Columbia.
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Create a strategic approach to the planning and delivery of field trip experiences and associated programming to students and teachers.
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Make authentic connections to curricular content / themes across targeted grade levels in collaboration with appropriate personnel at DCPS and DCPCS.
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Encourage collaboration between arts and humanities organizations and create the opportunity to build a “community of practice” between organizations within their discipline of specialty.
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Foster new relationships between arts and humanities organizations and public schools across the city.
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Demonstrate measurable impact of field trip experiences and associated programming on participating students and teachers.
Grants are competitive and applications are organized for review in cohorts based on the following qualifying grade groupings and artistic disciplines*:
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Grade Grouping |
Field Trip Discipline Focus* |
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Kindergarten – 2nd Grade |
Dance or Music or Visual Arts |
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3rd Grade – 5th Grade |
Music or Visual Arts |
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6th Grade – 8th Grade |
Dance or Film or Theatre |
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9th Grade – 12th Grade |
Film or Theatre |
*Applicants are encouraged to consider the inclusion of the humanities in their applications and/or to consider partnerships with humanities organizations in the realization of their projects.
Organizations shall target one grade grouping. The grade groupings above are aligned with DCPS’ curricular framework for the arts. All programming submitted as part of an application shall take place within the District of Columbia. Deviations from these guidelines will render applications disqualified and will not be accepted for review.
Applicants who have applied to the FY 2026 cycle of CAH’s General Operating Support (GOS) grant and plan to accept an award in that category, may only apply to the FY 2026 FTE grant if they (a) explicitly state their FY 2026 FTE application represents an increase in the number of field trip experiences offered or students served over those articulated in their FY 2026 GOS application, or (b) the scope of their FY 2026 GOS application is expanded to include complementary pre- and post-field trip experience workshops for students and teachers. Applicants who are unsure if their project may qualify for this grant program are encouraged to contact a CAH grants manager. Applicants who have applied to the FY 2026 cycle of CAH’s General Operating Support (GOS) grant and plan to accept an award in that category, may apply to only one additional project-based grant in the same fiscal year.
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Grant Activities
FTE grantees should expend funds in support of progress in arts and humanities education in the District of Columbia.
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Statutory Authority
Under D.C. Code §§ 39-201 – 206, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities evaluates and initiates action on matters relating to the arts and humanities and encourages the development of programs that promote progress in the arts and humanities in the District of Columbia. CAH is supported by District government funds and, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts. As such, all applicable federal and District regulations, such as OMB Circulars A-102, A-133, 2 CFR 180, 2 CFR 225, 2 CFR 220, and 2 CFR 215 govern this grant.