The Cultural Field Trip Fund

The Cultural Field Trip Fund, administered by the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture, supports educational field trips for students at Title 1 schools within the Boulder Valley School District. Designed to provide meaningful arts experiences, the fund aims to introduce children to Boulder’s diverse cultural destinations, including its arts institutions and heritage sites. The initiative underscores the value of early exposure to the arts, which research has linked to sustained participation in cultural activities throughout life. The fund prioritizes schools with the greatest demonstrated need, aiming to enhance both classroom learning and long-term engagement in the arts. The fund is available annually and offers up to $2,000 per teacher to cover transportation and/or entry fees for cultural field trips conducted within Boulder city limits, as defined by the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. A shorthand method to determine eligibility is by verifying that the destination has a ZIP code starting with 803. A total of $10,000 is available for distribution for the 2025–2026 school year, and applications are evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis, with attention to equitable distribution across eligible schools. Only public school teachers from Title 1-designated schools in the Boulder Valley School District are eligible to apply, and they must obtain approval from their school administrators. Cultural field trips must occur after the funding decision and within the academic year the grant is awarded, ending before the conclusion of the spring 2026 semester. Each school is encouraged to apply, and awards are not guaranteed from year to year, even for past recipients. To apply, teachers must submit details about the planned field trip, a breakdown of expected costs, and confirmation of administrative approval. Applications can be completed through the online form, and a confirmation email will be sent immediately upon submission. Questions about confirmation emails or submissions can be directed to culturegrants@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3907. The Office of Arts and Culture staff conducts an administrative review of each application, with decisions announced during the subsequent monthly meeting of the Boulder Arts Commission. Applications are judged on compliance with all submission requirements and equitable fund allocation, with priority given to new participants where possible. Repeat funding is not assured and will depend on current-year conditions. After the field trip, teachers are required to complete a brief report via a questionnaire provided by the Office. Any issues related to the post-event report can be addressed to Sarah Harrison at harrisons@bouldercolorado.gov or by phone at 303-441-3907.

Apply early due to first-come, first-served policy and emphasize unique educational value.