Actors stretched across the stage

Grants

“The Arts . . . belong to all the people of the United States.”

Welcome!

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is proud to support the nation’s arts sector with grant opportunities so that together we can help everyone live more artful lives. The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies. As we emerge from the pandemic and plan for the future, the arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives.

The NEA is the only arts funder in the United States—public or private—that provides access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. Each year, we award thousands of grants nationwide, including grants to first-time applicants.
Whether you are a first-time or returning applicant, we welcome the opportunity to connect with you. Our staff strives to ensure that all applicants receive the support they need to understand every step of the process.

Actors in a wide array of colorful outfits dance onstage

Performance of Twelfth Night at Yale Repertory Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus

Grants for Organizations

GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS

Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing expansive funding opportunities for communities across the nation in a wide variety of artistic disciplines.
* Deadlines have passed.

CHALLENGE AMERICA

Challenge America grants are awarded at $10,000 each to reach historically underserved communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities. This program may be a good entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding. Grants are awarded in all artistic disciplines for a wide variety of arts projects.
* Deadlines have passed.

OUR TOWN

Our Town is our creative placemaking grants program, using arts, culture, and design to strengthen communities and advance local priorities such as health, community development, environment/climate, and public safety, among other community issues and aspirations.
* Deadlines have passed.

PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT GRANTS

Grants are awarded to the nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs), and the six regional arts organizations (RAOs) whose members comprise SAAs. Partnership support is also available to the national service organization for the state arts agencies.
* Deadline: October 12, 2023

RESEARCH AWARDS

Deadlines have passed. Guidelines for FY25 will be posted in early 2024.

Grants for Individuals

CREATIVE WRITING FELLOWSHIPS

The Literature Fellowships program awards grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Grants to individuals are only available in Literature.
* Deadline has passed.

TRANSLATION PROJECTS

Through fellowships to published translators, the NEA supports projects for the translation of specific works of prose, poetry, or drama from other languages into English.
* Deadline: January 18, 2024.

Manage Your Award

Manage Your Award

Rules, regulations, policies and procedures to manage and administer a grant or cooperative agreement (award), including forms, guidance, and reporting requirements that govern your award.

Recent Grants

Information about NEA grants awarded since 1998.
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