Volunteer to be a National Endowment for the Arts Panelist

Arts Endowment panelists play a central role in reviewing applications for funding. We rely on panels composed of individuals who represent a broad range of artistic and cultural viewpoints, as well as wide geographic and ethnic diversity, to provide advice about the artistic excellence and artistic merit of proposals in a variety of funding categories. Our panels are composed of both arts professionals and knowledgeable laypersons. Most panelists are arts professionals who are qualified by their activities, training, skills, and/or experience in one or more art forms. Every panel also includes a layperson – someone knowledgeable about the arts but not engaged in the arts as a profession either full- or part-time.

We maintain a database to help us identify and select panelists. The Arts Endowment does not share this information with any third parties. Responding to some of the questions is voluntary and the information is used only for statistical and diversity inclusion purposes. However, inclusion in this database does not guarantee that someone will be asked to serve on a panel. 

Individuals are engaged as Special Government Employees while they serve on a panel. As such, panelists must be United States Citizens or Permanent Residents, also known as “green card” holders. All panelists must have an account with a U.S. bank or financial institution in order to be paid.

BASIC INFORMATION

Are you a layperson?

Every panel also includes a layperson – someone knowledgeable about the arts but not engaged in the arts as a profession either full- or part-time.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS

The NEA’s enabling legislation requires panels that are racially and ethnically diverse, so we ask for information to comply with the statute. The classifications are prescribed by the federal government’s Office of Management and Budget for federal reporting and statistical activities. They do not determine eligibility for participation on NEA panels.

Answering any of the following four questions is optional.

If you fill out this section, please complete both the ethnicity and race questions. If you are of mixed racial and/or national origin, you may check more than one box. Choose the category(ies) with which you most closely identify yourself, as described:

Ethnicity:
  • Hispanic or Latina/o: A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
Race:
  • American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and maintaining tribal affiliation or community.
  • Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
  • White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
Which of the following describes your ethnicity? Select only one:
Which of the following describes your race? Select one or more:
Select one:
Select the appropriate disability category(ies):

ARTS EXPERIENCE

Primary Arts Experience

Field
Role

WORK EXPERIENCE

Select up to six types of organizations with which you have had working arts experience.
Arts/Cultural Organization
Educational Organization/School Association?
Funding Organization?

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Note: You are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

PRIVACY ACT

The following notice is furnished in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a:

This information is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq. and is used to select persons to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts’ application review process. Disclosure of this information may be made to members of Congress and to the general public, upon request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S. C. 552). Personal biographical data including home address, home telephone number, and social security number will not be released and is exempt from disclosure under FOIA exemption (b)(6).

OMB No. 3135-0098 Exp. 11/30/2027

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