NEA

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.

National Initiatives

The NEA works with other federal agencies, state and local governments, state and regional arts agencies, and private nonprofits on national initiatives. Below are some featured initiatives.

CREATIVE FORCES »
BLUE STAR MUSEUMS »
CITIZENS’ INSITUTE
ON RURAL DESIGN »
MUSICAL THEATER SONGWRITING CHALLENGE »

NEA Arts Magazine

Cover of NEA Arts magazine with a mask on it with the word strong and other embellishment

Working on the Spirit and the Mind: The Healing Power of the Arts

At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe the arts have a unique ability to heal. Our investments reflect this belief: Over the past decade, the Arts Endowment has...

Podcasts

Headshot of a woman.

Dr. Nina Kraus

Neurobiologist and director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University

Music on the brain:

Dr Nina Kraus explores the science of sound

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50th HIGHLIGHTS

United States of Arts
People from across the country share their stories about how the arts are important to them.

Milestones
Videos highlighting some of the important artists and organizations that the NEA has supported over the years, and the impact they have made on U.S. culture.

NEA Timeline
Highlights from the history of the NEA.