Funding Ideas

Traveling Exhibits is enjoying tremendous success. We are one of the most affordable options for school exhibits and work hard to keep it that way. Still, we recognize that school funding is limited. Many schools want to host several exhibits per year and many teachers have shared their creative funding ideas with us. We will share these ideas with you, and if you have more, let us know and we’ll pass them along.

Can there ever be enough school funding? (rhetorical, I know the answer...) But that doesn't mean that wonderful teaching opportunities are out of reach!

If your budget allow for the exhibits, excellent! If you need a little help, or you are like the increasing number of schools that are hanging a different exhibit every month, here are some ideas from teachers all over the country:
1. The principal's budget is an option since hanging an exhibit in a common area allows every student, staff member and visitor to view it. Our exhibits have excellent cross-curriculum appeal.
2. Sharing budgets between departments was a trend that started early on. We originally offered exhibits to foreign language teachers. It didn't take long to find out they were sharing with art teachers. Again, the cross-curriculum opportunities offer a way to share expenses and experiences!
3. PTO/PTA groups have shown great support in funding exhibits at elementary, middle and high school levels. Again, reaching every student mean shared experiences. Here is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate cost effectiveness:
simply divide the number of student in your school into your rental price. Example:

$175÷500 students=35¢ per student for a full week!

Actually, keep that example handy for all funding ideas.
Remember, most programs sponsored by schools are very expensive and a student may get an hour out of it.
4. Outside school funding has really increased. Local art foundations have found this to be a very cost effective way to support art in school. A local art foundation in Connecticut sponsored the Diego Rivera Exhibit for 4 weeks, then moved it to 4 different schools for a week each. Talk about low cost, they reached more that 2000 students for less than 20 cents per student.
5. Local businesses are also willing to spend relatively little for a large impact. John from Harbor Beach, Michigan (we really love John!) has gotten exhibits sponsored by a local veterinarian, the Rotary club and other local businesses. John invites the public and has created quite a following of students and residents that flock to his changing exhibits!

6. We have recently been designated an approved product by Better Basics in Alabama. They realize the value of Traveling Exhibits and fund them for schools in their area. This is the first of many such approvals.

7. Darlene from Oklahoma let us know that she submitted a grant proposal the the grant committee gave them an award for the best proposal based on originality and the cross-curriculum value of Traveling Exhibits!

more funding ideas to come...check back often!

Feedback

Great feedback is coming in! I'd like to share a few more.
Vivian from Downey, CA has ordered several exhibits throughout the year. She said that everyone at the school LOVES the exhibits and they get many comments. They invited their Congresswoman, Lucille Roybal-Allard, an avid supporter of the arts, to view an exhibit. She was really impressed! Congresswoman Roybal-Allard sponsors a yearly student art competition. I'd like to see more school support like that from our other elected officials!
If you know someone who supports the arts, let us know. I'd love to share the story!
John from Harbor Beach, Michigan (his picture is on the bottom of the page) has also reserved several exhibits for the school year. His focus is introducing art to the younger students and enhancing foreign language instruction with art. John has come up with some interesting funding ideas, check out the Funding posts!
Sally from MA said their exhibit was wonderful and asked us to "keep them coming!"