Eligible Entities
- Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
- Units of state or local government; or
- Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.
Applicant organizations must have completed at least 5 years of arts programming prior to the application deadline. Applicant organizations must have had an operating budget of at least $20,000 in the previous fiscal year.
Funding is not available in this category for individuals, applications submitted by a fiscal sponsor, commercial/for-profit enterprises, or State Arts Agencies and Regional Arts Organizations.
Note: Eligible applicants for Local Arts Agencies subgranting projects may request from $30,000 to $150,000. See the Local Arts Agencies Application Instructions below for more information on subgranting eligibility.
Eligible Activities
This program funds arts projects with specific, definable activities and strongly encourages applications for arts projects that focus on one or more agency funding priorities. Projects may be small, medium, or large, and must take place in the U.S. A project may consist of one or more specific events or activities; it may be a new initiative or part of your organization’s regular season or activities. Organizations that undertake a single short-term program in a year may apply for that event, or may choose to identify certain components of that program as their project.
Organizations may apply for any or all phases of a project, from planning through implementation. Projects should have regional, national, or artistic field-wide significance. This includes local projects that can have significant impact within communities or are likely to demonstrate best practices for the artistic field.
The NEA does not fund general operating support or a full season of programming; a project should not cover an organization’s entire annual activities or costs. Please see the full Program Guidelines for a breakdown of unallowable costs.
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