Big Yellow School Bus

Please be aware that funding for the Big Yellow School Bus grant program has been depleted for this fiscal year. 

We were able to fund 150 school trips to ARTS related events in nearly every county in the state with the $30,000 allocated for this popular program.  Many schools received funding through this program for the first time this year.

Applications for the next school year will be accepted after July 1, 2008.

The Iowa Arts Council's Big Yellow School Bus grant provides $200 to Iowa schools and pre-schools. The grant helps underwrite the cost of field trips to attend arts events such as live music, dance or theatre performances, exhibits at art museums, etc. There must be an arts component to the trip.

Grant Requirements

1. The applicant is eligible to apply (below).
2. The field trip involves travel to an arts or cultural performance, exhibit, activity or program in Iowa.
3. The core group lacks access to arts or cultural programs due to geography, economic conditions, ethnic background, disability, or age.
4. The application is fully and correctly completed.
5. You are required to send an e-mail or letter to your local legislators stating that you are applying for a Big Yellow School Bus grant to take the trip. This allows policy makers to understand the importance of these funds in the Iowa Arts Council's budget. You must attach a copy of your email or letter to this application when you submit it. You can find the names and contact information of your legislators at www4.legis.state.ia.us/find-leg/.

Application Deadline and Notification

There is no application deadline. Here is the application process:

• Applications are reviewed daily during normal office hours on a "first-received, first-funded" basis (ONE GRANT PER YEAR, PER SCHOOL BUILDING) until available funds are awarded
• Within 2 weeks of receipt of the application, you will be notified by email or phone about the status of your application
• Formal award notification and the grant packet will arrive within 30 days of the date of the grant activity
• Availability of funds will be posted on this web site until all funds are awarded

Eligible Applicants

Iowa public or private schools, pre-K through grade 12

Not Eligible to Apply:

• Applicants who have already received a Big Yellow School Bus grant within the same fiscal year (Note: Big Yellow School Bus Grants do NOT count toward the number of grants an organization can receive from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Iowa Arts Council or the State Historical Society of Iowa each fiscal year.)

Application Instructions... No Blank Lines Left Behind!

You must download the application, fill it in, print it out, and send it in.  This is NOT an eGrant program! Big Yellow School Bus applicants use the Iowa Arts Council’s easiest application process. But it can go wrong if you don’t follow instructions. Here are the top ten reasons for potential delays in the application process.

1. No Federal Tax ID number (we can't issue the $200 check without it)
2. No signature of principal on the Application
3. No signature of the principal on the Service Contract.
4. Service Contract sent with no Application
5. Application sent with no Service Contract
6. No specific date given for the trip ("sometime in the Fall" will not do)
7. No indication of what the specific event is
8. No indication of where the event is (what city, town)
9. No phone or email for the contact person
10. No description of students attending (grade level, number of students)

So, please... NO BLANK LINES LEFT BEHIND!

Please be aware, incomplete applications may be returned thus affecting your first-come, first-served status.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Linda Lee at 515.242.6194 or Linda.Lee@iowa.gov.