Limited funds are available for national services that are provided by membership organizations of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Funds are to be used for projects that provide leadership, training, planning, coordination, and information services that increase accountability and transparency. Support for national services will come out of funds designated by the Congress for the state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.

In line with its strategic plan, the NEA has determined that all national services projects will address our objective to promote public knowledge and understanding about the contributions of the arts.

Activities may include, but are not limited to: recognition and promotion of artistic achievement throughout the nation; research and dissemination of reports that demonstrate efforts by SAAs and RAOs to increase public knowledge and understanding about the arts’ contributions to social, civic, economic and/or other objectives; impact analyses of arts and cultural programming; recognition of  professional arts workers as a key sector of American industry; efforts by the SAAs and RAOs to nurture and promote innovation; collaborations with other state, regional, or national entities to explore or enhance the role the arts can play in their programming; activities promoting cultural diplomacy with other countries; and the hosting or sponsorship of related convenings, information exchanges, and reports.