The nation’s museums are generally non-profit institutions that research, collect, conserve, interpret, and exhibit art, artifacts, and cultural heritage. In addition to opening their collections, exhibits, and activities to the public, U.S. museums impact society in a variety of ways, such as contributing to the national economy, employing people, and investing in education.

The museum ecosystem is nurtured through partnerships and collaboration among artists, arts workers, audiences, communities, colleges and universities, corporations, the health-care sector, social service organizations, and units of government. This varied and inclusive network strengthens the ability of museums to contribute to social cohesion, and community resilience, giving all people the chance to thrive and live artful lives. Museums build, engage, and sustain audiences in storytelling—past, present and future—reflecting artistic contributions of all peoples.

The NEA is committed to supporting museum activity that demonstrates rigorous aesthetic investigation and meaningful community engagement. Specifically, the NEA aims to strengthen and support the museums ecosystem through funding for exhibitions, care of collections, conservation, commissions, public art works, community engagement, education activities, and other museum work. Museums are supported by the NEA through the presentation of work by artists creating in all mediums, featuring contemporary and historic genres, styles, eras, and cultures. We encourage projects that prioritize the presentation of untold stories and overlooked histories, and programming designed to reach populations who may not have easy access to the arts.

Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

For information on how to submit an application, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types 

Projects include, but are not limited to: 

• Artist residencies that enable artists to directly engage with the public or that complement an exhibition;
• Projects that encourage collaboration between artists and museum professionals with partners in education, healthcare, technology, social services, and the private sector;
• Provenance research;
• Collections management;
• Reinstallation and reconsideration of collections and the presentation of new acquisitions;
• Exhibitions;
• Periodicals, publications, and catalogues;
• Education and related activities for youth, adults, intergenerational groups, and schools;
• Innovative uses of technology and digital initiatives;
• Conservation, preservation, and restoration of art work and objects;
• Commissions and public art;
• Projects that engage individuals with disabilities;
• Public programming that is thought-provoking, and prioritizes robust and equitable engagement;
• Opportunities that strengthen the museum field, such as professional development, mentorships, and conferences;
• Projects incorporating the arts to advance the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Competitive proposals will address elements as stated in the application review criteria, and align with one or more of these intentions: 

• Support creativity and freedom of thought;
• Support imagination and inquiry, reflecting all cultures;
• Support the presentation of untold stories, allowing for reconsideration of collections and the presentation of new acquisitions;
• Provide direct compensation to artists, makers, art collectives, and/or art workers;
• Explore new ways to introduce technology and audience engagement;
• Engage individuals with disabilities including staff training, programming, and outreach;
• Enhance accessibility, including tactile exhibitions, multisensory tours, and off-site or mobile experiences.

In some cases, a project that involves Museums may be better suited for review in another discipline. Review the Artistic Disciplines page for more information, including guidance on educational projects.

For questions, including help choosing the right discipline, contact NEA staff:
Organizations A - N: Toniqua Grigsby, grigsbyt@arts.gov or 202-682-5529
Organizations O - Z: Tamika Shingler, shinglert@arts.gov or 202-682-5577

Compliance Reminders:

The NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and fostering mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. Please note the following:

• Civil Rights Laws and Policies: As a reminder, in the federal-funding context, a focus on a particular group or demographic may be permissible, but exclusion is not. This extends to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. Your application should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary. Please review the Assurance of Compliance, as well as NEA Civil Rights guidance on our website, including this archived webinar: Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your Grants Application.
• Accessibility: Federal regulations require that all NEA-funded projects be accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities may be audiences, visitors, artists, performers, teaching artists, students, staff, and volunteers. Funded activities should be held in a physically accessible venue, and program access and effective communication should be provided for participants and audience members with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to provide detailed information describing how you will make your project physically and programmatically accessible to people with disabilities.
• National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Review: Recommended projects may be subject to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance review. See more information about NHPA/NEPA review under Award Administration.

Deadlines

Grants for Arts Projects applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types (described above) are accepted at both deadlines. Apply at the deadline that most closely fits the schedule of activities or timeline of your proposed project. Generally, an organization is limited to one application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects category.

First Grants for Arts Projects Deadline:

Second Grants for Arts Projects Deadline: