• To provide preschool-12th grade students with access to exemplary artistic experiences
• To provide teachers with educational resources that enhance arts curriculum
• To help students and teachers develop arts literacy through studying artistic theory, skills and techniques
• To provide students opportunities to use written and verbal communication to reflect on artistic experiences

• Registered nonprofit organizations or government/public entities operating in Kentucky
• Kentucky Arts Partnership organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Arts Miles Directory connects preschool-12th grade schools with field trip destinations that provide high quality artistic experiences. Schools must choose destinations from the Arts Miles Directory when applying for Arts Miles Grant funding. Approved organizations will be in the Arts Miles Directory for three years before requiring reapproval.  

The Panel will review applications using criteria that correspond to the following performance expectations. 

All organizations must: 

• Provide exemplary artistic experiences suitable for preschool – 12th grade students. 

• Own, rent or otherwise have access to a permanent physical facility where field trips will be hosted that complies with current accessibility standards as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

• Operate year-round, holding at least one artistic experience (performance, class, exhibition, etc.) per annual quarter. 

• Communicate with teachers before, during and after their field trips to help them design an educational artistic experience. Provide teachers with educational resources such as staff, materials, space or specialized programming that enhance their arts curriculum.   

• Provide students and teachers with the opportunity to develop arts literacy through studying artistic theory, skills and techniques. 

• Provide opportunities for students to use written and verbal communication to reflect on artistic experiences. 

The review panel uses the Panelist Assessment Sheet to evaluate all applications according to the following performance expectations. 

Instructional and Artistic Excellence (60%) 

• Capacity of the organization to operate year-round, holding at least one artistic experience (performance, class, exhibition, etc.) per annual quarter. (10 points) 

• Capacity of the organization to provide exemplary artistic experiences suitable for pre-K-12 students. (10 points) 

• Capacity of the organization to communicate with teachers before, during and after their field trips to help them design an educational artistic experience. (10 points) 

• Capacity of the organization to provide teachers with educational resources such as staff, materials, space or specialized programming that enhance their arts curriculum. (10 points) 

• Capacity of the organization to provide students and teachers with the opportunity to develop arts literacy through studying artistic theory, skills and techniques. (10 points) 

• Capacity of the organization to provide opportunities for students to use written and verbal communication to reflect on artistic experiences. (10 points) 

Assessment (20%) 

• Strategies to measure the impact of the field trip on all participants (10 points) 

• Strategies to help teachers incorporate content from the field trip into future lesson plans for continued learning (10 points) 

Accessibility and Fostering a Culture of Belonging (20%)  

• Explanation of fostering a culture of belonging of Field Trip Programming (10 points)  

• The organization owns, rents or otherwise has access to a permanent physical facility where field trips will be hosted that complies with current accessibility standards as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act). (10 points) 

The online application form must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern on the deadline date. Late applications and supporting materials will not be considered under any circumstances.

Creating a GO Smart Profile

• Before beginning the application, you will need to create a profile, including a username and password at GO Smart. For this program you will need to create an “organization” profile. Store your username and password in a safe place to ensure that you can access your account later. You can use this profile to apply for programs year after year and update it as needed.
• Once the profile page has been submitted, you will be redirected to the arts council’s grant management system. To begin your application, select “Current Programs & Applications” and scroll down until you find the Arts Miles Directory FY2026.
• Complete the application form and upload all supplementary materials by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Applications which are incomplete or submitted late will not be considered.
• Following the deadline, each application will be reviewed by the program director and Kentucky Arts Council staff, who may contact the applicant if more information or clarification is needed.

Applicants may submit any combination of up to five of the following sample materials as a single PDF document.

• Sample promotional materials such as programs, organizational brochures, program calendars, videos and exhibition catalogs that reference the arts events or performances focused on students and teachers
• Sample educational materials, including lesson plans, brochures, handouts, videos, online resources, surveys and assessment tools, etc.

Please note: Sample materials may not exceed 10 pages. Video samples must be uploaded to a video streaming service (such as YouTube or Vimeo) and a hyperlink provided in the application. If you need technical assistance preparing your samples, contact the program director. 

A panel of arts organization professionals and other individuals with relevant experience will review all applications according to the performance expectations. Please be aware that panels may be comprised of individuals from both inside and outside Kentucky who may be unfamiliar with the state’s organizations, artists and communities. 

Successful applicants will receive a Program Agreement Form (PAF), which will detail benefits and responsibilities as an adjudicated participant of the Arts Miles Directory. Successful applicants must agree to the terms, sign the form and return it to the arts council within 14 days if they choose to participate in the program.