A California family foundation gave $12 million to help children visit museums; the gift supports free bus trips to the Getty Center and Getty Villa

Every year, thousands of teachers plan educational trips that never happen because transportation costs exceed what schools can afford. Although the museums are ready to welcome students, the journey itself becomes the biggest challenge. A new $12 million gift to the Getty aims to change that by funding free bus transportation for eligible K–12 school visits to the Getty Center and Getty Villa.

The J. Paul Getty Trust reported in September 2025 that it received a $12 million donation from the Camilla Chandler Family Foundation to create the Mia Chandler Fund for School Visits. The new endowment will support free bus transportation for eligible K–12 school visits to the Getty Center, helping schools overcome one of the major financial barriers to museum access. Getty stated that this donation represents the largest contribution the Trust has received since the bequest of J. Paul Getty. The fund is intended to provide long-term support for school transportation programs. It is noted that the main purpose of creating the endowment is to eliminate the most common barrier that prevents schools from making educational trips to museums.

The hidden cost behind a museum visit


Museum admission is often free, but transportation is another story. Hiring buses for an entire class can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, forcing many schools to reduce or cancel educational trips. For years, Getty has attempted to meet that challenge with its School Visit Program, which offers schools a discounted transportation service for their eligible programs. The new endowment will help to make that support sustainable so that transportation fees are not a barrier for students to visit the museum. The funding is intended for Title I and similarly eligible schools, where many students come from lower-income communities. The gift also honors the legacy of Camilla “Mia” Chandler, a philanthropist who had an interest in increasing children's access to the arts. Her family stated that she felt museums for school-age children should be available to all kids, no matter their economic status, and have guides leading the way.

A decades-long effort to bring students inside museums

The new gift is a continuation of a program that serves a number of students each year. The Getty's history of school visits goes back to 1977 at the Getty Villa, and has since grown, following the opening of the Getty Center in 1998. The program has since expanded to one of the largest museum school-visit programs in the United States, with potential to serve over 100,000 K-12 student visitors annually. In 2024-25, Getty served 47,128 students and chaperones from Title I schools, demonstrating both the scale of the program and the continuing demand for subsidized transportation. For many students, school visits provide an opportunity to experience a major art museum as part of their education.

The lessons hidden inside museum visits

A museum visit offers much more than a chance to look at artworks. Students learn about sculpture, photographs, architecture, and gardens through a series of experiences tailored to each grade level. They explore ancient civilizations, learning through the use of objects, architecture, and engaging storytelling that places museum objects in their own context and in the context of the classroom. Getty's field trips emphasize discussion and observation instead of students strolling quietly through galleries. During the school year, most K-12 groups participate in docent-led tours that encourage students to ask questions, examine artworks closely, and connect what they see with subjects they are already studying in school. Getty provides funding for bus transport to qualifying schools, allowing teachers to devote their energy to teaching rather than fundraising. Schools can apply for transportation when making school-visit arrangements, although availability will depend on eligibility and funding. Instead of raising admission fees, this program addresses one of the less visible reasons why some children miss out on cultural experiences.

The lasting impact of a single visit

Research suggests that art museum visits can support learning experiences beyond students’ knowledge of art. Researchers have reported improvements in critical thinking, school engagement, and students’ willingness to consider different viewpoints after participating in museum field trips. Some research has suggested that arts-focused field trips may be associated with improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes. The new endowment from Getty will not only pay for transportation by helping schools cover travel costs, but also increase the chances that students can learn in a museum.