Introduction

By supporting the state arts agencies (SAAs) and regional arts organizations (RAOs) through Partnership Agreements, the National Endowment for the Arts makes the arts available in more communities than it could through direct grants. The Arts Endowment, SAAs, and RAOs work toward the following common goals:

• Access to Artistic Excellence: To encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide access to the arts for all Americans.
• Learning in the Arts: To advance arts education for children and youth.
• Partnerships for the Arts:To develop and maintain partnerships that support excellence in the arts, both new and established; bring the arts to all Americans; and provide leadership in arts education.

Partnership Agreement support is available in the following areas:

State Arts Agencies

• State Arts Plan
• Arts Education
• Arts in Underserved Communities
• Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership (optional)

Regional Arts Organizations

• Regional Arts Plan
• NEA Regional Touring Program
• Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership (optional)

In addition to Partnership Agreements, these guidelines outline support that is available for national services that are provided by membership organizations of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.

National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506