Passport to Culture
A YOUTH PROGRAM BY BRAVO
Passport to Culture provides funding so that students across Central Iowa can experience culturally enriching educational opportunities in and out of the classroom. Passport to Culture (PTC) supports arts and cultural programs that align with core curriculum objectives provided by approved Bravo Cultural Partners (listed below). Funding may be used to cover costs like admission fees and transportation, as well as costs associated with bringing experiences into the classroom or facility.
Passport to Culture funding is offered to:
- Public and private schools located in one of Bravo’s 17 communities
- Bravo’s government partners
- Community non-profit organizations providing arts and culture programming that do not receive funding through Bravo’s grant programs
A One-Time Campaign for Youth Arts Access
In 2024, Bravo embarked on its first capital campaign, a milestone in the organization’s 20-year history. This campaign raised vital funds to support Passport to Culture in perpetuity, ensuring that arts and culture education is accessible to all students in Greater Des Moines. More than 200 donors stepped up to support so that more students can experience the life-changing magic of the arts.
Impact Fact
Students who take four years of arts and music classes average almost 100 points better on their SAT scores than students with only a half-year or less.
Low-income students who participate in the arts, both in school and after school, have a dropout rate of just 4%, five times lower than their peers.
Low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are more than twice as likely to graduate college than their peers with no arts education.
After-school arts programs save cities money. For every $1 spent on after-school programs, $9 is saved by reducing welfare and crime costs, improving academic performance and increasing kids’ earning potential.
CURRENT PARTICIPANTS: Ready to submit your PTC Experience Report?
CULTURAL PARTNERS
Curriculum-Approved Programming and Experiences
Through Passport to Culture, Bravo cultural partners provide a wide variety of experiences that connect to core curriculum, enhancing and expanding what students are learning in the classroom.
Cultural partners that participate in PTC offer experiences appropriate for grades K-8. Search below for participating cultural partners and sort by grade and type of experience, or click here for a table view.
Ankeny Art Center
ASAP After School Arts Program
Ballet Des Moines
Blank Park Zoo
Civic Music Association
CultureALL
Des Moines Art Center
Des Moines Children's Museum
Des Moines Community Playhouse
Des Moines Film / Varsity Cinema
Des Moines Metro Opera
Des Moines Performing Arts
Des Moines Symphony and Academy
Girls Rock Des Moines
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation
Hoyt Sherman Place
Iowa Architectural Foundation
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum
Iowa Jewish Historical Society
Iowa Juneteenth
Johnston Historical Society
Living History Farms
Mainframe Studios
Salisbury House and Gardens
Science Center of Iowa
State Historical Museum of Iowa
Tallgrass Theatre Company
Urbandale Historical Society
West Des Moines Historical Society
CURRENT PARTICIPANTS: Don’t forget to submit a report following each experience.