Youth Orchestras are Important to the Music World
There are grants available for youth orchestras that have specific and general uses. Youth orchestra programs needing grants for travel should check guidelines to make sure that the grant can be used for the specific need before applying.
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) offers a variety of grants for music programs. The NEA supports music from the contemporary to the classics and jazz. The organization works with performing ensembles, orchestras, music festivals and many more music organizations. There are grants available for programs which include an interest in Chamber Music. The Access to Artistic Excellence grant, is designed to encourage artistic excellence and will also help to preserve programs and provide access to programs for all Americans. The Challenge America Fast-Track grant is intended to support projects that reach the under-served population. The Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth grant is set up to help in the advancement of education for children in schools or community music programs.
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506
nea.gov
The National Association of Music Educators
The National Association of Music Educators (MENC) website provides grant information on a variety of grants available. Although, there are none specific to travel for youth orchestras there is great information on many possible grants that could fits the needs of such a program. The grants from the U.S. Government, Private grants and funding through Philanthropic, private associations, foundations, companies and more are listed as well as grants non-specific resources for opportunities.The website offers a section with information on resources to find more grant opportunities that could possibly be used for youth orchestra.
The National Association for Music Education
1806 Robert Fulton Drive
Reston, VA 20191
menc.org
Regional grants
It is important to check for grants at the state, city and regional level for orchestra programs. There are grants available for specific areas. This might be the best place to find a specific grant to fit the travel needs of a youth orchestra as local and state level grants offer better opportunities for specific needs of area organizations. The website for MENC does offer some regional sites. Also, check state teachers associations.and state music teachers associations for grant information. The League of American Orchestras has some additional grants that could possibly fit the needs of certain programs.
