Actors stretched across the stage

Grants

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

 *1965 Enabling Legislation for the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965

Welcome!

The National Endowment for the Arts (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. Our work extends into communities of all sizes across America through a vast network that includes artists, arts workers, audiences, learners, and organizations at the local, state-wide, regional, and national levels.

As our nation moves into its 250th year, we will celebrate the very best of America’s arts and cultural heritage and give Americans from all backgrounds the opportunity to benefit from the arts and arts education.

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 grantmaking process. 

To get started, carefully read the funding guidelines located below to better understand the types of projects we are particularly interested in funding.

Find out more about funding opportunities available through your state arts agency and regional arts organization.

Actors in a wide array of colorful outfits dance onstage

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

NEA Grant Opportunities

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GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS
Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) is our principal grants category, providing project-based funding for organizations. Grants are available for arts projects of all sizes in a wide variety of artistic disciplines. Projects may take place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions.
Deadlines: February 12, 2026, and July 9, 2026.
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OUR TOWN
Our Town supports creative placemaking arts projects in communities across the nation. To simplify the application intake and review process, Our Town applicants will apply within the Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) program and choose the “Design & Our Town” discipline. Applications are accepted at the February or July 2026 deadlines.
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CHALLENGE AMERICA
Challenge America provides $10,000 grants for arts projects from small organizations (less than $250,000 in prior year operating expenses) that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. To simplify the application intake and review process, Challenge America applicants will apply within the Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) program and choose the “Challenge America” discipline. Applications are accepted at the February or July 2026 deadlines.
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PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT GRANTS
Grants are awarded to the nation’s state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs), and the regional arts organizations (RAOs) whose members comprise SAAs. Partnership support is also available to the national service organization for the state arts agencies.
* Deadline has passed.
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RESEARCH AWARDS
The National Endowment for the Arts offers two funding opportunities for research projects: Research Grants in the Arts, supporting research studies that investigate the value and/or impact of the arts in American life; and NEA Research Labs, funding long-term research agendas that include empirical studies and the dissemination of products or services for promoting public knowledge about the arts and their contributions to American life. Deadline: March 23, 2026.
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Program Solicitation: Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD)
The purpose of this Program Solicitation is to select an organization to administer the MICD, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, through a cooperative agreement.
Deadline: January 22, 2026

Recent Grants

Information about NEA grants awarded since 1998.
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