The Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works program supports projects from a diversity of organizations that include presenters, festivals, the circus arts, artist collectives, community-based organizations, and service organizations, among others. The NEA supports projects that present multiple artistic disciplines and practices, combine and/or integrate art forms, explore boundaries between art disciplines, fuse or transcend disciplines, and look to new forms of expression.

Projects should be multi- or cross-disciplinary in nature and may include work from the performing, visual, media, design, and literary arts. These projects can be for any stage of the artistic process including creation, commissioning, presentations, touring, training, residencies, and engagement of audiences and communities. In addition, we also fund projects that provide services to artists and arts organizations.

The NEA encourages and values applications from a variety of eligible organizations of all budget sizes, and located in rural, urban, and tribal communities.

Projects that present or otherwise feature a single artistic discipline (including but not limited to dance, literary arts, media arts, music, musical theater, theater, visual arts) should apply through that discipline.

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. Projects may focus on reaching a particular group or demographic, however, they may not be exclusionary under Federal civil rights laws and policies prohibiting discrimination. This extends to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. For additional information, refer to this archived webinar: Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your Grants Application.

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

If your project is developed and managed by local government, see the Local Arts Agencies description to help you in your discipline selection.

For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types

Applications must be for projects only. A project may consist of one or more specific events or activities, and should not cover an entire season of programming. We do not fund seasonal or general operating support.

If you are unsure whether Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works is the right discipline for your project, or if you have never applied before, we encourage you to contact staff prior to submitting your application.

Projects include, but are not limited to:

• The presentation and/or touring of new or existing works. This may include, but is not limited to, performances, exhibitions, festivals, and guest artist residencies.
• The commissioning, development, and creation of new works, including creative artist residency programs.
• Projects, participatory art works, and community-based work that utilize art in civic and social practice, conflict transformation, and collaborative work with community partners in ways that are mutually beneficial.
• Festivals and other activities in public spaces that are intended to foster community interaction and/or enhance the unique characteristics of a community.
• Circus arts, site-specific work, and outdoor spectacles.
• Arts learning, exposure, and enrichment projects for youth, adults, and intergenerational groups. (If your project is for youth, see "Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects" to help you in your discipline selection.)
• Projects that advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people with disabilities through employment, technical assistance, and organizational capacity-building.
• Digital capacity building efforts of organizations to create virtual programming, increase audience accessibility, and/or collaborate with other organizations using digital technology.
• Services to artists and arts organizations, including projects by organizations such as volunteer legal organizations and business councils. (Service projects that focus on a single discipline should apply through that discipline.) This may include, but is not limited to:
  • Arts and arts-related conferences and convenings.
  • Leadership training, mentorships, and other professional development opportunities for artists and arts administrators.
  • Projects that include planning, capacity building, and training that supports an organization’s ability to develop emergency preparedness plans and response measures.
  • Archiving, preservation, and documentation projects.

Deadlines

Grants for Arts Projects applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types (described above) are accepted at both deadlines. Generally, an organization is limited to one application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects category.

For Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works projects with a distinct technology-focused media arts component: Your organization may be eligible to submit a second application under the July deadline for Media Arts.

First Grants for Arts Projects Deadline:

Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov	February 9, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time
Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal	February 14-21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time
Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection	November 2023
Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project	January 1, 2024

Second Grants for Arts Projects Deadline:

Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov	July 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time
Prepare application material so that it’s ready to upload when the Applicant Portal opens
Part 2 - Submit to Applicant Portal	July 11-18, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time
Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection	April 2024
Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project	June 1, 2024