Blanket Justification for Arts Endowment Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations

Blanket Justification for National Endowment for the Arts Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) NOFO

Blanket Justification for Arts Endowment Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations

OMB: 3135-0112

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FY2024

GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS
GUIDELINES
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines

Table of Contents
Grants for Arts Projects................................................................................................................... 3
Program Description .......................................................................................................... 4
Artistic Disciplines ............................................................................................................. 7
Artist Communities ............................................................................................................... 10
Arts Education ....................................................................................................................... 13
Dance .................................................................................................................................... 21
Design.................................................................................................................................... 24
Folk & Traditional Arts .......................................................................................................... 27
Literary Arts........................................................................................................................... 30
Local Arts Agencies ............................................................................................................... 32
Media Arts............................................................................................................................. 38
Museums............................................................................................................................... 41
Music ..................................................................................................................................... 43
Musical Theater .................................................................................................................... 46
Opera .................................................................................................................................... 48
Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works .................................................................................. 51
Theater .................................................................................................................................. 54
Visual Arts ............................................................................................................................. 56
Application Calendar ....................................................................................................... 58
Award Information .......................................................................................................... 60
Grant Amounts, Cost Share, and Matching Funds................................................................ 60
Period of Performance .......................................................................................................... 60
Unallowable Activities/Costs ........................................................................................... 62
Eligibility.......................................................................................................................... 65
Application Limits.................................................................................................................. 66
How to Apply................................................................................................................... 71
All Applicants: Registration and Renewal ............................................................................. 71
Part 1: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package ...................................................................... 73
Application Questions and Instructions:............................................................................... 74
Application Review .......................................................................................................... 75
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines
Review Criteria ...................................................................................................................... 75
What Happens to Your Application ...................................................................................... 76
Award Administration ..................................................................................................... 77
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................ 85
Applicant Resources ........................................................................................................ 95
Contacts .......................................................................................................................... 96
Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research ............................................... 99

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines

Grants for Arts Projects
(Landing page text)
Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing
comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities.
Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
Designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant may request from $30,000 to $150,000 for
subgranting programs in the Local Arts Agencies discipline. A minimum cost share/match equal
to the grant amount is required.
Read the “Program Description” located in the left sidebar to get started.

Sidebars for Website
Grants for Arts Projects
Program Description
Artistic Disciplines
Application Calendar
Award Information
Unallowable Activities/Costs
Eligibility
How to Apply
Application Review
Award Administration
FAQs
Applicant Resources
Contacts

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Program Description

Program Description
“The Arts . . . belong to all the people of the United States.” *
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. The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from
different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for the future.
Grants for Arts Projects
Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing
comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities. Through project-based
funding, the program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts
education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of
people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within
the arts sector.
We welcome applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time
applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas;
and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets.
We fund arts projects in the following disciplines: Artist Communities, Arts Education, Dance,
Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Music,
Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Arts, Theater, and Visual Arts.
Go to Artistic Disciplines for detailed information about each discipline’s project types and
application deadlines.
Projects may be small, medium, or large; existing or new; and may take place in any part of the
nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. A project may consist of one
or more specific events or activities; it may be a new initiative or part of your organization’s
regular season or activities. Organizations that undertake a single short-term program in a year
could apply for that event, or they could identify certain components (such as the presentation
of a particular artist and the associated activities) as their project. Organizations may apply for
any or all phases of a project, from its planning through its implementation. A project should
not encompass all of an organization’s activities or costs in a given year.
Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. All grants require a nonfederal cost share or match of
at least 1 to 1. In the past few years, a majority of the agency's grants have been for amounts
less than $25,000. In addition, designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant may request
cost share/matching grants ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting programs in the
Local Arts Agencies discipline.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Program Description

Areas of Particular Interest
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. We encourage projects
that address any of the following:
•

Elevate artists as integral and essential to a healthy and vibrant society.

•

Celebrate the nation’s creativity and/or cultural heritage.

•

Facilitate cross-sector collaborations that center the arts at the intersection of other
disciplines, sectors, and industries.

•

Contribute to healthy and thriving local, regional, state-wide, and national arts
ecosystems and arts infrastructures.

•

Invest in organizational capacity-building and leadership development for arts
organizations, arts workers, and artists.

•

Build arts organizations’ capacity to serve a broad public through digital or emergent
technology and/or support tech-centered creative practices across all artistic disciplines
and forms.

Originate from or are in collaboration with the following constituencies encouraged by
White House Executive Orders:
o
Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
o
Tribal Colleges and Universities,
o
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes,
o
Predominantly Black Institutions,
o
Hispanic Serving Institutions,
o
Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and
o
Organizations that support the independence and lifelong inclusion of people with
disabilities.
In recognition of the United States of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, we also welcome
arts projects that educate and engage communities in dialogue about the past, present, and
future of our nation.
•

*1965 Enabling Legislation for the National Endowment for the Arts in the National Foundation
on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965
Nondiscrimination Policies
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,
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Program Description
refer to this archived webinar: Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your
Grants Application.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artistic Disciplines

Artistic Disciplines
We fund arts projects. Select the discipline that most closely aligns with your project.
Discipline descriptions and project types:
•

Artist Communities

•

Arts Education

•

Dance

•

Design

•

Folk & Traditional Arts

•

Literary Arts

•

Local Arts Agencies

•

Media Arts

•

Museums

•

Music

•

Musical Theater

•

Opera

•

Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works

•

Theater

•

Visual Arts

Contact us if you are not sure which discipline to select.
If your project is developed and managed by a local arts agency, review the Local Arts Agency
information. If you are proposing an education project for youth, see “Choosing the Right
Discipline for Youth Projects” for more information.
In limited cases, staff may transfer an application to a discipline other than the one that was
selected by the applicant to ensure appropriate panel review. However, we cannot guarantee
that an application will be transferred in all cases where this might be desirable. Contact us if
you have any questions about which discipline is most appropriate for your project. Each
discipline has different instructions. Be sure to download the instructions according to the
discipline that best suits your project.

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artistic Disciplines
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.
Some of the common project types that garner a review are:
•

A project involving or occurring near or at a historic place, such as a property that is 50
years old or older, or a place listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

•

The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor installations,
including sculptures, statuary, banners, mixed media, painting or murals, as well as small
structures such as benches, bus shelters, and produce stands.

•

An outdoor arts festival.

•

Permanent wayfinding signs and other similar artistic directional installations.

•

Maintenance or rehabilitation of landscapes and gardens.

•

In-kind replacement or repairs at a facility that is older than 50 years of age.

•

Design services and planning for projects that may affect historic properties.

See more information about NHPA/NEPA review under Award Administration.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artistic Disciplines
Text for ALL Discipline pages
Deadlines
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

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artist Communities

Artist Communities
The NEA supports artist communities for projects that encourage and nurture the development
of individual artists and foster and inspire their creative processes. An artist community is an
organization or program, whether focused on a single discipline or multidisciplinary, that
provides dedicated space, time, and resources to artists for incubation, thought, or creativity.
Artist residencies foster and support the creative process of art making by providing artists with
the conditions to advance their own artistic practice.
We encourage applications from a variety of eligible organizations of all budget sizes, and
located in rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities.
Competitive projects will:
•
•

•

Offer clearly defined support that centers the needs of participating artists, such as
space, time, and other resources, when applicable.
Utilize an open application process to regularly recruit a diverse range of artists,
encouraging a wide variety of aesthetic viewpoints, racial and ethnic backgrounds,
cultures, disability perspectives, and/or geographic areas
Clearly define juried and decision-making processes for selecting participating artists,
when applicable.

Project Types
Projects include, but are not limited to:
• Stipends and temporary living accommodations for professional artists where the
primary purpose of the residency is determined by the artist.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artist Communities
•

The expansion of the pool of artists that encourages the participation of artists from a
wide variety of aesthetic viewpoints, racial and ethnic backgrounds, cultures, disability
perspectives, and/or geographic areas.

•

Projects that advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people with disabilities
through employment, technical assistance, and organizational capacity-building.

•

Access to facilities or technology to meet the needs of interdisciplinary or new genre
artists.

•

Flexible-time or part-time residencies that increase access for artists whose ability to
participate is limited due to personal circumstances.

•

Collaborations between artists and those from sectors outside of the arts.

•

Residencies that provide educational and related activities on-site or in non-traditional
settings such as, but not limited to, businesses, hospitals, schools, prisons, military
branches, municipal offices, or first-responder organizations.

•

Innovative approaches to collaboration with outside organizations and disciplines where
the primary purpose is public engagement with art and/or the enhancement of public
spaces.

•

Artist residencies that advance civic and social practice, conflict transformation, and
collaborative work with community partners in ways that are mutually beneficial.

•

Residency exchange programs with artists and artist communities in other countries.

•

Digital capacity building efforts of organizations to create virtual programming, increase
audience accessibility, and/or collaborate with other organizations using digital
technology.

•

Services to the Artist Communities field. This may include, but is not limited to:
o Arts and arts-related conferences and convenings.
o Leadership training, mentorships, and other professional development opportunities
for artists and arts administrators.
o Projects that include planning, capacity building, and training that supports an
organization’s capacity to respond to current events.
o Archiving, preservation, and documentation projects.

Deadline
The application deadline for all projects is February 9, 2023. (Artist Communities does not
accept applications at the July deadline.)
For Artist Communities 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 CALENDAR]
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Artist Communities

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 (including living accommodations, studios, bathrooms, etc.) 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.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education

Arts Education
The NEA envisions a nation where every student is engaged and empowered through an
excellent arts education. Arts education is vital to developing America's next generation of
creative and innovative thinkers. Students who participate in the arts are better prepared to be
fulfilled, responsible citizens who can make a profound impact on this world. NEA-supported
research has shown that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who have arts-rich
experiences are more likely to achieve key positive outcomes—academically, socially, and
civically—compared with their peers who lack access to arts experiences. Research also shows
that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as students of color and students
with disabilities, are more likely to attend schools with inadequate arts education programs.
Our funding is focused on providing arts education for all students and closing the opportunity
gap for students for whom a high-quality arts education is so often out of reach. Projects are for
pre-K-12 students (Direct Learning), the educators and artists who support them (Professional
Development), and the schools and communities that serve them (Collective Impact). All
students are served when each level of the system is supported. Applicants should consider
what role their proposed project plays in reimagining systems with arts at the core, and the
impact their project has on students.
Competitive projects will:
•

Increase student participation in arts education through the use of innovative strategies
or scaled up proven methodologies.

•

Have national, regional, or field-wide significance. This includes local projects that can
have significant impact within communities or are likely to demonstrate best practices
for the field.

•

Demonstrate alignment with the NEA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility.

Arts Education projects may be in any artistic discipline. Projects for short-term arts exposure,
arts appreciation, or intergenerational activity should not be submitted under Arts Education;
rather, they should be submitted under the appropriate artistic discipline. If you have questions
about whether you should apply under Arts Education or some other discipline, read "Choosing
the Right Discipline for Youth Projects."
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.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types
Projects include, but are not limited to:
Direct Learning Grants
Projects support arts instruction for students, generally pre-K through 12th grade, that result in
increased knowledge and skills in the arts and may occur in-person or online. Activities may be
offered during or outside the regular school day schedule by school districts, arts organizations,
or non-arts organizations or agencies in partnership with artists and/or arts groups. Projects
could take place in locations such as schools (including charter schools), arts organizations,
community centers, faith-based organizations, makerspaces, public housing, tribal community
centers, and/or juvenile justice facilities. Projects should engage students over an extended
period of time; short-term projects will not be competitive.
Applicants applying in Direct Learning should convey how their projects are distinctive and
deepen the arts learning experience for students by offering fresh insights and adding new
value to the field. Applicants should also describe how the project is reflective of the cultural
experiences of the participants.
Applicants may provide examples of how they are using data to inform programmatic decision
making, incorporating effective community partnerships, or working within a larger system or
community effort to benefit students in that system. For ongoing programs, describe how the
project is evolving, scaling up, or expanding existing arts education services.
Direct Learning projects should address each of the following elements:
Experience: Participants experience exemplary works of art -- in live form where possible -- to
gain increased knowledge and skills in the art form.
Create: Informed by their experience in an art form, participants will create or perform art.
Assess: Student learning is measured and assessed in alignment with national or state arts
education standards. Explain how you plan to measure increased knowledge and skills in the
arts. Where appropriate, applicants also may describe project outcomes that use the arts to
address youth development, college, career, or citizen readiness or affect change in school or
community culture such as school attendance, graduation or recidivism rates. Explain how you
plan to measure those outcomes. Before applying, review the reporting requirements for Arts
Education.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
Professional Development Grants
Projects equip classroom teachers, arts specialists, teaching artists, school/district
administrators, other educators, and community leaders with the knowledge, skills and
confidence to effectively engage students in high quality, curriculum-based arts learning, and
improve instruction.
Applicants applying for a Professional Development project should convey how their project is
distinctive and offers fresh insights and new value to the field.
Applicants may provide examples of how they are using data to inform programmatic decision
making, utilizing technology, establishing communities of practice, incorporating effective
community partnerships, or working within a larger system or community effort to benefit
students in that system, as appropriate. For ongoing programs, describe how the project is
evolving, scaling up, or expanding existing arts education services.
Professional Development projects should include all of the following elements:
Experience: Participants have an experience in or through the arts.
Study: Participants are engaged in a sustained, in-depth course of study.
Evaluate: Participant learning is evaluated and the impact of the professional development on
practice is measured. Before applying, review the reporting requirements for Arts Education.
Collective Impact Grants
Projects transform schools and communities by providing access and engagement in the arts for
all students through collective, systemic approaches. Projects aim to ensure that all students
across entire neighborhoods, schools, school districts, and/or states – in communities of all
sizes – participate in the arts over time. Collective Impact grants are higher award amounts for
longer term, large-scale projects that create lasting systems change tailored to community
needs, fundamentally altering the ways in which the components and structures of a system
behave and interact over time. Projects should have significant potential to be shared and
customized in communities across the country.
See further details about this project type. Applicants considering submission of a Collective
Impact application are strongly encouraged to contact Arts Education Specialist Denise
Brandenburg at brandenburg@arts.gov.

Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects
Choose Arts Education as your project discipline if you are proposing a pre-K through 12th
grade Professional Development project or a Direct Learning project that aligns with either
national or state arts education standards. See more information on the National Core Arts
standards
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
If the target audience is intergenerational, submit your application directly to one of the artistic
disciplines rather than to Arts Education. Applications for projects for youth where the focus is
exposure to or appreciation of the arts -- whether activities take place in school, after school,
during the summer, or in community settings -- should be submitted directly to the appropriate
artistic discipline in the Grants for Arts Projects category. Such projects may include
performances by or exhibitions of professional artists. Arts events may be accompanied by
ancillary learning activities (e.g., study guides for teachers and students, artists' visits prior to or
following the event, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, or master classes).
If your project is developed and managed by a Local Arts Agency, apply through the Local Arts
Agencies discipline for these types of projects. However, Local Arts Agencies proposing
a Collective Impact project should choose Arts Education as the project discipline.

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.
For projects with a distinct technology-focused media arts production component: Your
organization may be eligible to submit a second application under the July deadline for Media
Arts.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 and GAP2 CALENDARS]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education

Arts Education Collective Impact Grants
The following information relates to the Grants for Arts Projects: Arts Education Collective
Impact project type. Read the full guidelines.
The NEA’s Collective Impact grants transform schools and communities by providing access and
engagement in the arts for all students through collective, systemic approaches. Projects aim to
ensure that all students across entire neighborhoods, schools, school districts, and/or states –
in communities of all sizes – participate in the arts over time.

View the Arts Endowment’s Logic Model for Collective Impact: JPG | PDF
Collective Impact grants are higher award amounts for longer-term, large-scale projects that
create lasting systems change tailored to community needs, fundamentally altering the ways in
which the components and structures of a system behave and interact over time. Projects
should have significant potential to be shared and customized in communities across the
country.
These projects should embrace the following principles, which may be ongoing and occur at any
point during the project:
• Data: Arts education data initiatives are critical to ensuring that all students have the
opportunity to participate in the arts. Data initiatives provide transparency about young
people’s participation in arts education, illustrate the inequities of arts offerings in
schools and communities, and inform decision-making. In alignment with the Arts
Education Data Toolkit, developed as part of the agency’s State Data Infrastructure
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
Project for Arts Education, steps for creating a robust arts education data initiative
include:
GETTING STARTED
Define your goals, identify the data you need, understand your policy environment, gauge your
capacity, identify your partners and make the case for your work.
MAKING EFFECTIVE DATA REQUESTS
Determine what data to request and define your questions as specifically as possible.
PROCESSING THE DATA
Working with key stakeholders and/or a research partner, analyze the data you receive and
identify trends.
REPORTING THE DATA
Identify the target audiences for your information and what you want to report, choose a
reporting mechanism, and create interactive data websites and visualizations.
USING THE DATA TO PROMOTE BETTER DECISION-MAKING
Use your data to set measurable goals for improvement, create communications tools specific
to your state’s conditions, recruit new champions and allies and troubleshoot along the way.
ARTS EDUCATION DATA TOOLKIT WEBINAR
• On March 24, 2021, NEA Arts Education staff, in partnership with the Education
Commission of the States, conducted a Zoom webinar on the Arts Education Data
Toolkit.
•

Partnership: Key partners from different sectors share a long-term commitment to
addressing inequities in arts education through systems change and bring their
knowledge and skills to unearth the best approaches to ensure a quality arts education
for all students. Priority will be given to projects that include a managing partner or
group of partners that acts as the coordinating entity, and involve at least three crosssector organizations, one of which is an arts/cultural organization. Partners may include
arts councils, units of state or local government, school systems, funders, businesses,
community service organizations, economic development organizations, trade
associations, parent/student networks, social service organizations, or institutions of
higher education. Partners should authentically represent the populations served and
their communities.

•

Planning: A logic model and strategic plan present a common vision, goals, coordinated
strategies, and benchmarks to evaluate goals for system-wide arts education
implementation. This should include a description of each partner's role in achieving the
common vision, as well as plans for communication among the partners and
sustainability. The planning process should authentically incorporate the voices of the
populations served and their communities.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
•

Shared Measurement: A shared measurement system is an evaluation system that
provides agreement on how success will be measured and reported and assesses the
progress of each project partner's work towards common outcomes—increasing
student participation in arts education and, as appropriate, societal well-being for
students.

•

Programming: Activities support the implementation of the strategic plan. Programming
may include convening partners, stakeholders, services to students, professional
development, and evaluation.

Collective Impact projects are multi-year, ongoing, initiatives. Specify in the application which
phase(s) of the project are included in the request for NEA funding. All phases of a project –
data, cross-sector partnerships, planning, shared measurement and programming -- are eligible
for support.
If the collective impact project is part of a larger, ongoing, system-wide effort to benefit
students and communities, indicate that in your application.
All project costs for the project phase included in the Project Budget must be incurred within
the period of performance.
Identify the project as either Emerging or Sustaining.
Emerging projects are in the initial phase of work to establish an arts education plan. Activities
may include cultivation of cross-sector partners, convenings, creation of an arts education data
initiative, collective impact consultation, and/or creation of a logic model and an arts education
strategic plan, or any other activities that support the development of a plan.
Sustaining projects have an arts education plan in place and may continue work from the
emerging phase, be in the programming or evaluation stage, or scale up proven efforts to
increase arts education access. These projects must demonstrate progress achieved thus far,
and how they are disseminating project information to the fields of arts education, public
education, and other sectors.
Activities may include adopting or aligning school district or community policies to support arts
education goals, providing artist-based residencies based on priority needs of the plan,
providing professional development for educators based on priority needs of the plan, trainings
to use data for decision making, data reporting to measure progress towards arts education
goals, evaluation of the quality of arts instruction, outcomes evaluation arts education goals,
external evaluation of collective impact progress and systems change, or any other activities
that support the implementation of the strategic plan.
Collective Impact Resources:

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Arts Education
See a list of NEA Arts Education Collective Impact
grants: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/collective-impact-grants-updatedMay2021.pdf
NEA podcast episode featuring Collective Impact grantee:
Dr. Lisa Donovan, Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network
NEA webinars about Collective Impact:
NEA Arts Education Webinar: Collective Impact, Part 1
NEA Arts Education Webinar: Collective Impact, Part 2
NEA Arts Education Webinar: Collective Impact, Part 3
NEA Arts Education Webinar: Collective Impact Trends
Leveraging Change: Increasing Access to Arts Education in Rural Areas
Arts Education Data Toolkit
Using State Data Systems to Report Information on Arts Education50-State Comparison of Arts
Education Data and Reporting
Case Studies on Arts Education Data Initiatives in California, New Jersey, and Texas Data
Lessons and Resources for the Arts Education Field
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.
Before applying, review the reporting requirements for Arts Education.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Dance

Dance
Dance is a vital expression of culture and possesses the ability to create community, cultivate
space for reflection and dialogue, and bring awareness to social issues through a spectrum of
genres and practices. Grants support organizations including companies, presenters, service
organizations, educators, festivals, and more. Dance companies may be artist-led, collaborative,
and include disabled and non-disabled artists. Projects may be of any size and at any stage of
the process including planning, creation, implementation, and may focus on providing services
that strengthen the dance field’s capacity through knowledge-sharing and resources.
In addition to the areas of interest outlined in the Grants for Arts Projects program description,
we encourage applications for projects that address one or more of the following:
•

Are led by and/or engage disabled artists, practitioners, and/or students in pursuit of
artistic and creative goals rather than therapeutic outcomes.

•

Provide opportunities for artists to research, create, or share artistic practices and
works, or access professional development programs essential for career advancement.

•

Document and preserve choreography, performances, and other aspects of dance
history in ways that increase the diversity of artists, forms, and cultures in existing
archives using archival practices that demonstrate cultural integrity.

•

Represent dance forms, techniques, and histories that stem from all over the world.

•

If applicable, offer direct payments to artists as part of the project.

Competitive dance projects will address one or more of the following:
• Demonstrate alignment with the NEA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility.
•

Involve reciprocal partnerships that advance the goals of the project.

•

Make a significant impact within local or regional communities and/or the dance field.

•

When applicable, clearly describe how artists/companies are selected and how those
artists/companies are diverse, including in relation to audiences and the communities
the project will engage.

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Dance
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types:
Dance supports a variety of projects that align with the review criteria of Artistic Excellence and
Artistic Merit. Examples of project types are offered below to show the range of possibilities.
Your project may include activities in multiple areas listed below, and activities may take place
virtually, in person, or in a hybrid format.
Creation, development, or restaging of works that are new, existing, or historically significant;
involve creative or technical residencies, restaging, or rehearsal periods; include dance films
and works that involve community in the creation of the work.
Presentation and Touring locally, regionally, and nationally, and may include activities that
meaningfully engage specific and identified communities.
Preservation, documentation, and archiving of diverse dance forms, traditions, techniques,
and histories that demonstrate cultural integrity, and are accessible to the dance field or the
general public.
Professional Development and Services that strengthen the field such as dance publications;
professional training; and programs that provide resources to artist and arts workers through
convenings, mentorship opportunities, and capacity-building.
Education and Community Engagement projects that use dance in civic and social practice;
involve collaborative work with community members; dance classes, workshops, and other
trainings; and projects that reach broader and more diverse groups through digital or emergent
technology, including hybrid (in-person and digital) programming activities.
In some cases, a project that involves dance may be better suited for review in another
discipline. For example, if your project is developed and managed by a local government, see
the Local Arts Agencies description. If your project is for youth, see “Choosing the Right
Discipline for Youth Projects” to help you in your discipline selection.
For more guidance about which discipline is most appropriate for your project, please contact
us.

Deadlines
Grants for Arts Projects has two application deadlines. Dance accepts all project types at both
deadlines. Generally, an organization is limited to one application per year in the Grants for Arts
Projects category.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Dance
For Dance 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 and GAP2 CALENDARS]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Design

Design
From the typeface on this page to the neighborhood in which you live, every object and place is
the result of design. Design surrounds us and has a direct impact on the quality of our lives. The
NEA supports design projects that have a public benefit and advance the field of design. In
addition, we invite projects that respond to current events. Funding can support various design
disciplines including architecture, communications and graphic design, fashion design, historic
preservation, industrial and product design, interior design, landscape architecture, inclusive
design, rural design, social impact design, and urban design.
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.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types
The Design program supports projects across a wide array of design types, in two main areas
of work.
Projects that have a public benefit, including:
• Commissions and production of new work, particularly projects that hire and/or provide
direct fees to artists and designers.
•

Exhibitions, tours, publications, or websites that provide new insights about specific
designed objects, places, designers, or design history or movements.

•

Historic and community preservation projects that promote awareness of cultural and
historic assets, or adaptive reuse of historic properties for cultural and arts uses.

•

Design and community planning for new arts/cultural buildings, districts,
neighborhoods, public spaces, landscapes, or housing for artists or designers.

•

Community planning, charrettes, and design-related activities that promote economic
and cultural vitality; involve community-based partnerships; foster community
interaction; enhance the unique characteristics of a place; and/or assist underserved
groups/communities that have rich and dynamic cultural identities.

•

Artistically excellent design projects that foster positive social impact, employ inclusive
design concepts, or foster collaboration between design and non-arts disciplines.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Design
•

Design competitions. (Note: Cash prizes are unallowable project costs; stipends/fees are
acceptable costs.)

•

Projects that reach broader and more diverse groups through digital or emergent
technology, including hybrid (in-person and digital) programming activities.

Projects that advance or support the design field, including:
• Conferences, symposia, and other gatherings that promote innovation in design practice
or design education, or facilitate collaborations between design and non-arts disciplines.
•

Workshops or residencies for designers.

•

Documentation and preservation of historic design work.

•

Design research or collaboration projects that examine current practice, propose design
solutions for pressing problems, or advance understanding of the design field.

•

Innovative technology projects or new media projects meant to advance the design field
or design theory.

•

Education, mentorship, apprenticeship, and outreach activities that teach design
practices to American communities.

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work and/or careers for aspiring
designers through employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organizational capacity-building.

•

Projects that advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people with disabilities
through employment, technical assistance, and organization capacity-building.

•

Projects that support emerging fields of design.

•

Innovative festivals, tours, or programming that raise awareness of design.

Note: Applicants should be aware that we do not fund capital campaigns, construction costs, or
the purchase or leasing of sites or structures, although we can support the design process all
the way through construction documentation.
We also do not fund design thinking projects that are not related to or in service of promoting
the arts or design as a field. Museums and visual arts venues presenting a design exhibition or
installation should contact staff to determine whether to apply under Design or under
Museums or Visual Arts.
Contact us if you have further questions.
If your project is developed and managed by local government, see the Local Arts Agencies
description to help you in your discipline selection.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Design

Deadline
The application deadline for all projects is February 10, 2022. (Design does not accept
applications at the July deadline.)
For Design 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 CALENDAR]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Folk & Traditional Arts

Folk & Traditional Arts
The folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community.
Community members may share a common ethnic heritage, cultural mores, language, religion,
occupation, or geographic region. These vital and constantly reinvigorated artistic traditions are
shaped by values and standards of excellence that are passed from generation to generation,
most often within family and community, through demonstration, conversation, and practice.
Genres of artistic activity include, but are not limited to, music, dance, crafts, and oral
expression.
Applications for Grants for Arts Projects in the Folk & Traditional Arts will be accepted at two
deadlines. All project types (described below) are accepted at both deadlines. Generally, an
organization is limited to one application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects category.
Applicants may request cost share/matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.
Applicants are encouraged to contact Folk & Traditional Arts Division Specialist, Bill Mansfield,
with questions: mansfieldw@arts.gov
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.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types
While we welcome applications for a variety of projects, we particularly encourage those that
focus on stewardship and awareness of living cultural traditions.
Project Types include, but are not limited to:
Cultural Sustainability & Education
• Projects with the primary purpose to support the transmission of tradition and the
strengthening of living traditions (apprenticeship programs, mentorship programs).
•

Workshops/classes offering instruction in various folk and traditional arts to the general
public.

•

For federally recognized tribes, programs whose primary focus is the reanimation,
fortification, and continuation of traditional lifeways for tribal communities.

•

Folk Arts in Education programs (folk arts are used to augment regular curriculum).

27 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Folk & Traditional Arts
•

Training for teachers and/or folk and traditional artists and the creation of educational
material to incorporate folk arts into the classroom.

• Publications (both hard copy and digital).
Research
• Ethnographic fieldwork to document folklife, lifeways, and cultural heritage and to
identify traditional artists.
•

Research in ethnographic fieldwork archives and collections related to folklife and
cultural heritage.
o Projects that seek to connect communities of practice (local or diasporic) to
ethnographic fieldwork collections. Such projects might include:
Opportunities for tradition bearers to visit with archival collections, exploring
materials, and sharing findings;
o Strategies to utilize fieldwork collections to repair ruptured traditions, reanimate
endangered languages and traditions, or reintroduce neglected repertoire or
practices;
o Collaborations between archives and cultural communities to identify collections,
through crowd-sourcing or regular convenings.

•

Marketing research to identify audiences for folk & traditional arts.

Services to the Field
• Local, regional, tribal, inter-tribal, and national convenings of cultural practitioners,
traditional arts organizations, and public folklorists focused on regional identity,
traditions, and resources, or focused on intersecting fields and critical issues such as:
o Strategies to address the impact of environmental changes, pandemic crises, and
issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility relating to cultural heritage
practices, communities, and landscapes;
o Dialogue with fields that intersect with folk and traditional arts, such as public
health, agriculture, and ageing;
o The role of folk and traditional arts in building social cohesion and benefiting the
public good;
o The efficacy of folklife programs within museums;
o Identification and articulation of best practices in the field of folk and traditional
arts, including the development of a universal language for the field;
•

Training and mentorships for folk and traditional artists, folklorists, cultural elders, and
folk and traditional arts organizations.

•

Projects that advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people with disabilities
through employment, technical assistance, and organization capacity-building.

Public Programs
• Festivals.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Folk & Traditional Arts
•

Concerts, performances, plays, powwows, and symposia.

•

Media projects:
o Film (production, editing, screening, distribution, curating);
o Radio and television broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts.

•

Websites (includes creating, maintaining, and upgrading the sites).

•

Projects that reach broader and more diverse groups through digital or emergent
technology, including hybrid (in-person and virtual) programming activities.

•

Exhibits (this includes fieldwork and archival research, construction, touring, catalogs,
and ancillary events, such as lectures, concerts, screenings, panel discussions,
workshops, and demonstrations).

•

Creation of programs and partnerships that identify, document, and celebrate folklife
and cultural heritage of the applicant’s metropolitan area.

•

Creation of programs and partnerships that identify, document, and celebrate lifeways
of the applicant’s tribal community.

•

Creation of programs and partnerships that identify, document, and celebrate folklife
and cultural heritage of the country’s rural regions of the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain
West, and Alaska.

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

Deadlines
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Literary Arts

Literary Arts
Through its support of literary arts organizations, the NEA: encourages people of all ages to
write and engage with literary content in meaningful ways; helps writers at all stages of their
careers create, publish, and connect directly with readers; and helps readers in communities
across the country have access to a diversity of voices. These organizations – such as literary
presses and journals, book festivals, literary centers, literary presenters, and literary service
organizations – complement the commercial publishing sector and play an important role in the
shaping of contemporary literature.
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. Literary
Arts welcomes applications for a variety of arts projects that address the review criteria of
Artistic Excellence and Artistic Merit. Apply to the deadline that corresponds with the
appropriate project type as outlined below.
This grant opportunity is intended for organizations, not individuals. Each year, the NEA offers a
separate fellowships program to published creative writers and translators of prose and poetry.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types
Literary Arts supports projects in two distinct categories: Literary Publishing (February
deadline) and Public Engagement/Professional Development (July deadline). Literary Arts
applicants must choose the deadline that best matches their proposed project.
In some cases, a project that involves the literary arts may be better suited for review in
another discipline. For example, if your project is developed and managed by a local
government, see the guidelines for Local Arts Agencies. If you are proposing an education
project for youth, see “Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects” for more information.
For more guidance about which category or discipline is most appropriate for your project,
please contact us.
Literary Publishing (February Deadline)

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Literary Arts
These projects from literary journals and independent and university presses seek to publish
and promote literary content by contemporary writers and translators in such genres as poetry,
fiction, drama, and creative nonfiction. We welcome project activities that focus on publishing,
promoting, and distributing books and/or journal issues online or in print or audio formats.
Projects may also include efforts to deepen and expand engagement with audiences (including
through the use of digital or emergent technology), and/or collaborate within and across fields
to advance literary publishing.
For projects with a book publishing component, proposed titles should already be selected and
must be described in the application and represented in the work samples. Exceptions are
made for titles that will be selected through a contest; in this case, work samples would include
excerpts from past titles chosen through the contest.
Competitive proposals typically include: compensation to writers; clearly stated marketing
and/or promotion efforts that are reflected in the budget; distributor information for print
publications; work samples that reflect the applicant’s mission or artistic vision; and
consideration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in relation to the project.
Public Engagement/Professional Development (July Deadline)
These projects from literary arts centers, festivals, presenters, and other organizations offer
literary arts programming and services that focus on local, regional, and/or national activities
designed to promote and develop practitioners of, and audiences for, the literary arts.
Proposals may include but are not limited to: reading series, festivals, writing workshops,
conferences, residencies, and podcasts and other media that feature contemporary writers and
writing. We welcome efforts to reach new audiences and deepen community connections,
including through the use of digital or emergent technology. We also welcome efforts to
collaborate within and across fields and/or build capacity within the literary arts field through
knowledge-sharing, tools, resources, and evidence-based practices. The NEA supports a variety
of projects across the country in urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities of all sizes.
Competitive proposals typically include: clear activities that are reflected in both the narrative
and budget and align with the applicant’s mission or artistic vision; a demonstrated
understanding of the intended audience; well-defined goals and plans for assessing those goals;
and consideration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in relation to the project.
We welcome projects that advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people with
disabilities.

Deadlines:
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 & GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies

Local Arts Agencies
Across the United States, Local Arts Agencies (LAAs) provide a wide range of programs and
services to help support and enable arts and culture at the local level. LAAs are intermediaries,
serving artists and arts organizations, local residents, visitors, and other community partners.
No two LAAs are alike ─ whether they serve a single village or town, a large city, county, or a
multi-county or multi-state region. Some LAAs are departments of local government, others are
nonprofit organizations, and still others are hybrids of the two.
Characteristics of Local Arts Agencies: LAAs may present and/or produce arts programming,
commission and manage public art, administer grant programs, provide technical assistance to
artists and arts organizations, and guide cultural planning efforts. Still others may own, manage,
and/or operate cultural facilities and be actively engaged in community development, and
partner with entities in tourism, social services, public education, housing, economic
development, and public safety. All strive to enhance the quality of life in their communities by
working to increase public access to the arts for the benefit of the community as a whole.
The Local Arts Agencies discipline also welcomes applications for arts projects developed and
managed by:
•

Non-arts departments of local government, including but not limited to economic
development, parks and recreation, or planning departments. For the purposes of these
guidelines, local governments are defined as counties, parishes, cities, towns, villages, or
federally recognized tribal governments.

•

Designated special districts, such as creative, arts and entertainment, or cultural
districts.

•

National or statewide service organizations that work primarily with a network of LAAs.

Note: Beginning with these FY 2024 guidelines, applications from organizations such as
volunteer legal organizations and business councils should be submitted to the Presenting &
Multidisciplinary Works discipline.
Local Arts Agencies can apply through Grants for Arts Projects for support through two project
types: Programming and Subgranting. The NEA’s legislation allows only State Arts Agencies,
Regional Arts Organizations, and Local Arts Agencies to subgrant NEA funds. See LAA eligibility
information below.
Subgranting awards are unique to Local Arts Agencies in the Grants for Arts Projects grant
category. The subgranting project type recognizes the central role of grantmaking in the work
of Local Arts Agencies, as well as the relationship between federal and local government. Local
arts agencies are critical partners of the NEA, greatly extending federal reach and impact and
translating national leadership into local benefit. Additional eligibility, documentation, and
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies
reporting requirements for subgranting applications are detailed in the Project Types section
below.
All Grants for Arts Projects applications submitted by LAAs will be reviewed within the Local
Arts Agencies discipline. See more information on education programs for youth in the Projects
section below.
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.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.

Project Types
The work of Local Arts Agencies can cover a wide range of activity, depending on the dynamics
of the community. Project types eligible for support include Programming (including Services to
the Field) and Subgranting, both of which are described in detail below. Applications for
programming may request from $10,000 to $100,000. Applications for subgranting may request
from $30,000 to $150,000 and include additional eligibility, documentation, and reporting
requirements.
We strongly encourage applicants to propose a programming project OR a subgranting
project.
Eligible project types include the full breadth of programming typically developed and managed
by local arts agencies*, such as Programming (including Services to the Field) and Subgranting.
Programming (including Services to the Field)
Cost share/matching grants range from $10,000 to $100,000, with a minimum cost
share/match equal to the grant amount.
Examples of Programming (including Services to the Field) include, but are not limited to:
• The presentation of artists, artworks, and arts programming.
•

The commissioning of artists for the creation of new work.

•

Projects related to public art, such as creation, installation, documentation, and
preservation. See “Public Art Resources” and “National Historic Preservation Act and/or
the National Environmental Policy Act Review” for additional information.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies
•

The development and/or management of cultural facilities or artist residency projects.

•

Services to advance the professional skills of artists and arts organizations, such as
convenings, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities.

•

Coordinated arts services, such as community-wide marketing campaigns, cross-sector
partnerships, or cultural planning efforts.

•

Projects and initiatives that build equity and extend the reach of the arts to
groups/communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities that have been historically
underserved.

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work of and/or careers for people
with disabilities through employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organization capacity-building.

•

Education and related activities for youth, adults, intergenerational groups, and
schools.

If you are proposing an education project for youth, see "Choosing the Right Discipline for
Youth Projects" to help you select between the Local Arts Agencies and Arts Education
disciplines. Arts Education Collective Impact projects from Local Arts Agencies will be reviewed
in the Arts Education discipline.
* See “Unallowable Activities/Costs” to make sure your project is eligible.
Subgranting
Designated local arts agencies (see Subgranting Documentation section below) eligible to
subgrant may request $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting programs, with a minimum cost
share/match equal to the grant amount. Unlike recent stimulus grant programs (such as the
NEA’s American Rescue Plan Local Arts Agencies subgranting program), subgrants through
Grants for Arts Projects cannot support general operating expenses.
Local Arts Agencies may apply to subgrant NEA funds in support of programming and services
to the field activities by arts organizations. Subgranting through Grants for Arts Projects may
provide support for arts projects by arts organizations. If you are a designated Local Arts
Agency that is allowed to subgrant and plan to subgrant to individuals, you should first review
the Subgranting Terms and Conditions to confirm allowable uses of funds.
For the purposes of NEA subgranting awards, a Local Arts Agency subgranting federal funds is
considered a “passthrough” entity. A subgrant relationship exists when NEA grant funds are
regranted to subgrantees for activities conducted independently of the Local Arts Agency
grantee. A Local Arts Agency grantee may not subgrant NEA funds to organizations through a
fiscal sponsor.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies
Please be sure to review the Subgranting Terms and Conditions resource for additional
information on the definition of subgranting, and requirements for subgrantee eligibility. This
document outlines specific requirements related to subgranting federal funds, including
guidance for review criteria and other compliance considerations.
The Subgranting project type includes additional eligibility, documentation,
and reporting requirements.
Subgranting Eligibility:
In addition to the Grants for Arts Projects Applicant Eligibility requirements, to be eligible to
subgrant NEA funds, a Local Arts Agency must be an arts agency that is a unit of city or county
government or officially designated to operate as an arts agency on behalf of its local
government. This designation will be demonstrated in the documentation outlined below.
In addition to the Applicant Eligibility section for all Grants for Arts Projects applicants,
applicants for subgranting projects must have completed a history of grantmaking that
occurred anytime within the ten-year period immediately preceding this program’s application
deadline (i.e., February 9, 2013 if you are applying to the February 2023 deadline, or July 6,
2013 if you are applying to the July 2023 deadline). Organizations that do not meet this
requirement are encouraged to contact NEA staff to discuss alternative project types.
Subgranting Documentation
A. Designation Documentation:
A copy of the local government ordinance, resolution, charter, or contract that assigns
your organization the authority to operate on your local government's behalf. Note: This
document should demonstrate your eligibility to subgrant as a designated local arts
agency.
We recognize that local governments may formalize this designation through a variety
of formats and with various timelines. We reserve the right to request additional
information to verify eligibility.
While we strongly encourage you to include this documentation with your application,
the designation documentation may be submitted after the application deadline via
email (send to: locals@arts.gov) up until the following dates:
•

Applicants to the February 9, 2023 Grants for Arts Projects deadline may submit
designation documentation via email to the NEA no later than July 31, 2023.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies
•

Applicants to the July 6, 2023 Grants for Arts Projects deadline may submit
designation documentation via email to the NEA no later than December 31,
2023.

B. Grantmaking History:
You must submit the following information by the application deadline:
Paragraph 1: Briefly describe your organization’s grantmaking history, including dates
for the grantmaking activities. This information should demonstrate the eligibility
requirement that your organization has a history of grantmaking that took place
anytime within the ten years immediately preceding this program’s application deadline
(February 9, 2013 for the February 2023 deadline, or July 6, 2013 for the July 2023
deadline).
Paragraph 2: Briefly describe the selection process for your most recent grantmaking
activities, including review criteria definitions, review process and panelist selection,
and grant program priorities.
Paragraph 3: Briefly describe the applicant pool for your most recent grantmaking
activities, including number of applicants, the artistic disciplines and/or communities
represented, and the range of organizational budget sizes.
Paragraph 4: Briefly describe the grantees awarded during your most recent
grantmaking activities, including number of grantees, the artistic disciplines and/or
communities represented, and the range of organizational budget sizes.
Subgranting Reporting
Subgranting applicants that are recommended for funding will have additional reporting
requirements as grantees, including but not limited to the below. For a complete understanding
of grantee requirements, see the Subgranting Terms and Conditions resource.
•

Require their grantees to provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before a grant can be
made.

•

Report subgrants of $35,000 or more in federal funds to the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

•

Ensure that all subawards made with federal or cost share/matching funds are in
compliance with the General Terms and Conditions for an award from the NEA,
including requirements for pass-through entities as provided for under 2 CFR 200.331
and the NHPA/NEPA and accessibility requirements described below.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Local Arts Agencies

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Media Arts

Media Arts
The NEA supports projects that contribute to a healthy and thriving arts ecosystem that is
responsive to the dynamic, diverse, and evolving nature of the film and media arts field. This
includes support for artists and audiences to engage with a spectrum of media arts genres and
practices, such as traditional or expanded forms of storytelling, visual expression; and
performance using film, cinema, audio, broadcast, new media, creative code, and related
formats at the intersection of arts and technology.

Projects
In addition to the general areas of interest described in the Grants for Arts Projects program
description, film and media arts project proposals should further one or more of the following:
•

Provide opportunities for artists to create, research, or share artistic practices and
works; or provide opportunities for artists (at all stages of their career) to access
significant artistic or professional development programs essential for career
advancement.

•

Provide opportunities for public audiences to experience film and media art works
and/or engage directly with artists, art works, or artistic processes, across all forms and
genres.

•

Integrate media arts activities with strategies that promote the well-being and resilience
of communities.

•

Build capacity and strengthen the film and media arts field through knowledge-sharing
and resources.

Note: We do not prioritize funding for the creation and distribution of general broadcasts,
podcasts, video games, or journalistic content that are not in pursuit of artistic and creative
goals related to the film and media arts field, nor any non-arts content or educational modules
unrelated to advancing the film and media arts field.
Competitive media arts projects will address one or more of the following:
•

Increase paid, contract-based, or commission-based opportunities for independent film
and media artists, creative coders, arts collectives, and freelance arts workers, including
those with specialized expertise at the intersection of arts and technology.

•

Advance or sustain the creative work or careers of people whose opportunities to
engage within the field of media arts are limited by factors such as geography, race or
ethnicity, economics, or disability.

•

Respond to the opportunities, challenges, and needs of the media arts field, as well as
align with the focus of recent Media Arts Impact Initiatives. For example, see documents

38 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Media Arts
published by the NEA: State of the Field: A Report from the Documentary Sustainability
Summit and Tech As Art: Supporting Artists Who Use Technology as a Creative Medium.
•

Builds the capacity and expertise of arts organizations, arts workers, artists, and
audiences to engage with digital or emergent technology.

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.
If your organization typically submits to an artistic discipline other than Media Arts, but will be
submitting a project adapted for film, online streaming, or broadcast due to COVID-19, we
encourage you to apply to your primary artistic discipline. For example, if your organization
typically submits to the Dance discipline and wants to complete a dance-related film or project
for online streaming or broadcast due to COVID-19, you should continue to submit your
application to the Dance discipline. If you have questions about this, contact staff.
For information on how to apply, see “How to Apply” on the left.
Additional Applications in Media Arts
Generally, an organization is limited to one application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects
category. However, an organization of any artistic discipline may submit one
additional application in the Grants for Arts Projects category through the Media Arts
discipline for the July deadline.
If your organization is submitting an additional application to the Media Arts discipline’s July
deadline, the project must be an initiative that builds the capacity and expertise of arts
organizations and/or artists to serve a broad public through digital or emergent technology
and/or for support tech-centered creative practices. Examples of such projects include activities
that:
•

Develop opportunities for artists, audiences, and learners to create, access, or explore
art projects that incorporate new media, creative code, and/or cross-disciplinary
collaborations at the intersection of arts and technology.
39 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Media Arts
•

Implement field-building initiatives that develop networks across artistic disciplines and
relevant industries that invest in tech-centered creative practices and artist-driven
explorations of digital or emergent technology.

•

Deepen the capacity of arts organizations to deliver tech-centered, digital, and hybrid
arts and cultural programs to audiences and learners.

•

Support digital infrastructure for the cultural sector at the local, regional, or national
level through cross-sector collaboration and programmatic partnerships, training or
knowledge-sharing, evidence-based practices, and/or the development of resources.

•

Integrate the arts with technology to bridge digital divides, increase digital literacy,
and/or broaden engagement with computer science technology within local
communities or across different segments of the arts sector.

The NEA recognizes the use of digital and emergent technology in creative media as a dynamic
but consistently under-resourced field of artistic practice. Over the next few years, the NEA will
invest in greater capacity for arts organizations and artists to offer digital opportunities for arts
participation—inclusive of hybrid programming—to reach a broad public, as detailed in its
FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan.

Deadlines
Grants for Arts Projects applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types are
accepted at both deadlines. Apply at the deadline that most closely fits the schedule of
activities or timeline of your proposed project.
Organizations must apply directly on their own behalf; applications through a fiscal
sponsor/agent are not allowed.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

40 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Museums

Museums
The NEA is committed to supporting museum activity that demonstrates exceptional aesthetic
investigation and meaningful community engagement. Specifically, the NEA assists museums
through the support of exhibitions, care of collections, conservation, commissions, public art
works, community engagement, education activities, and other museum work. Museum
projects funded by the NEA demonstrate artistic excellence and artistic merit in and across a
variety of mediums, movements, eras, and cultures.
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
Project types include, but are not limited to:
• Exhibitions and related activities.
•

Conservation, preservation, and/or restoration.

•

Commissions or public art.

•

Residencies.

•

Provenance research.

•

Collections management.

•

Reinstallation of collections.

•

Public programming such as workshops, lectures and symposia, or other outreach
activities.

•

Periodicals, publications, or catalogues.

•

Education and related activities for youth, adults, intergenerational groups, and schools.
(If your project is for youth, see "Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects" to
help you in your discipline selection.)

•

Innovative uses of technology and/or projects that use technology to serve broader
audiences.
41 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Museums
•

Services to the museums field.

•

Projects that engage people with disabilities.

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 Museums 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

42 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Music

Music
The NEA is committed to advancing a wide range of music, from classical and contemporary to
jazz. We support projects by performing ensembles and music presenting organizations
including but not limited to chamber music ensembles, choruses, early music programs, jazz
ensembles, music festivals, and symphony orchestras. In addition, the NEA accepts applications
from professional artist development programs, artist residencies, community engagement
projects that involve diverse communities; education activities for people of all ages; and
service organizations.
Organizations of all types and sizes may apply for a variety of music production, presentation,
professional development, engagement, and service projects. The NEA is particularly interested
in collaborations, innovative presentation strategies, and initiatives that help organizations
engage audiences in new and meaningful ways. In addition to projects that focus on the
standard repertoire, the NEA encourages the commissioning and performance of new American
works.
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. A project should not cover an entire season of programming as we do not fund
seasonal or general operating support.
We welcome and encourage applicants to contact the discipline staff to discuss potential
proposed project types, many of which are listed below.
Performances, presentations, and commissions
• Public presentations of musical works.
•

Commissions and/or co-commissions.
43 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Music
•

Development and performances of new musical compositions and innovative works.

•

Performances and educational engagements by NEA Jazz Masters that honor their work,
history, style, and/or significance to jazz; and broaden public awareness of the art form.

•

Domestic touring.

•

Festivals and other events (may include performances, lecture-demonstrations,
audience talkbacks, master classes, and workshops).

Professional artistic development
• Professional artistic development and training programs for musicians such as
conducting skills, mentorship, and career development.
•

Residencies and workshops with artists.

Engagement, education, recordings, and technology
• Community engagement projects that involve diverse communities and/or reach new
audiences.
•

Innovative methods of engaging audiences (may include collaborations with other
organizations, new approaches that have the potential to increase the impact on
audiences, artists, communities, or the field).

•

Recordings of works by American composers.

•

Technology projects such as broadcasts or webcasts, online resources, and libraries that
provide public access to musical works.

•

Archival, documentation, and preservation projects.

•

Education and related activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational groups. If your
project is for youth, see "Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects."

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work of and/or careers for people
with disabilities though employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organizational capacity-building.

•

Projects that include planning, research, and training that supports an organization’s
capacity to respond to current events.

Services to the field
• Services that reach a broad constituency of musicians, music educators, administrators,
and music organizations (may include workshops, conferences, publications,
professional leadership development, technical assistance, or online resources).

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Music
For Music 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

45 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Musical Theater

Musical Theater
The NEA nurtures the nonprofit musical theater field, as one of America’s unique art forms, by
funding the work of established musical theater organizations as well as musical theater
projects by companies known primarily for non-musical work. The NEA awards grants for the
production or presentation of traditional repertoire, new musicals, development laboratories,
showcases, artist residencies, work for young audiences, experimental work, and communitybased work. Projects funded by the NEA should help to fully realize an organization's mission
and may provide support for organizations and artists in the creation and refinement of work,
the public presentation of musicals from all cultures and periods, and opportunities for
professional development. Supported projects will reflect the breadth of the musical theater
genre and its artistic, historical, and cultural significance.
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.
Project types include, but are not limited to:
• Musical theater projects that encourage the participation of artists, production staff,
and administrators from a wide variety of aesthetic viewpoints, racial and ethnic
backgrounds, cultures, disability perspectives, and/or geographic areas.
•

Commissioning, development, and production of new musicals.

•

Production of existing contemporary musicals or works from the musical theater canon
that are re-imagined or speak to today's audiences in new and original ways.

•

Development, production, or presentation of musical theater work for young audiences.

46 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Musical Theater
•

Development programs and labs for new musicals, which may include the hosting of
artist residencies, showcase productions of new work, development workshops, and
festivals of new works or works in progress. (The NEA does not fund festivals for which
no curatorial judgment has been applied, or development programs in which
participants must pay a fee to participate.)

•

Local, regional, and national touring of musicals.

•

Documentation, preservation, conservation, archiving, and dissemination of America's
musical theater heritage, including capturing live performance.

•

Community-based projects that involve the creation and/or production of musical
theater with community members.

•

Projects and initiatives that explore issues of inequality and extend the reach of the arts
to groups/communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities that have been
historically underserved.

•

Services to the musical theater field that assist organizations or artists in administrative,
developmental, technical, and related areas.

•

Professional training including classes, guest artist residencies, workshops, and
mentorship of musical theater artists.

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work of and/or careers for people
with disabilities through employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organization capacity-building.

•

Musical theater exposure and enrichment projects, including 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.)

•

Professional development activities such as adaptive capacity building, resilience
training, and workforce development.

•

Digital capacity building efforts of organizations to create virtual programming, increase
audience accessibility, and/or collaborate with other organizations using digital
technology.

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 Musical Theater 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

47 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Opera

Opera
The NEA is committed to nurturing and advancing operatic artistry to enrich communities large
and small across the nation. Opera is a multifaceted art form that may include singing, acting,
orchestral and chamber music, choreography, dance, scenic design, costume design, and
lighting design to convey a story or dramatic concept.
Organizations of all types and sizes are encouraged to apply, including professional opera
companies, opera festivals, music festivals, presenting organizations, professional artist
development programs, and other organizations that commission, develop, or produce fullystaged operatic works and/or concert opera.
The NEA supports the commissioning, development, presentation, and professional recordings
of new or existing operatic works; professional artist development programs and artist
residencies; community engagement projects that involve diverse communities; education
activities for people of all ages; and projects by service organizations. Applications for
collaborations and innovative projects that engage audiences in new and meaningful ways are
encouraged.
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. A project should not cover an entire season of programming as we do not fund
seasonal or general operating support.
We welcome and encourage applicants to contact the discipline staff to discuss potential
proposed project types, many of which are listed below.
Commissions, Premieres, Performances, and Presentations
48 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Opera
•

Creation of new operatic works, especially those that are innovative or that cross genres
(including commissions, co-commissions, residencies, and workshops with artists).

•

Premieres of operas.

•

Repeat productions of previously-premiered 21st century operatic works.

•

New productions of traditional and contemporary operas.

•

Remounting of existing opera productions.

•

Concert opera (performances that are not fully staged). Contact the Opera staff before
preparing a concert opera application.

•

Domestic touring.

•

Opera festivals and other events (may include performances, lecture-demonstrations,
audience talk-backs, master classes, and workshops).

Professional Artist Development
• Post-conservatory professional artist development and training programs for musicians,
including vocal coaching, diction, language, acting, stage movement, conducting,
mentorship, and career development.
•

Creative artist residency programs, including those for composers, librettists,
conductors, and directors.

•

Residencies and workshops with artists.

Recordings, Technology, Education, and Engagement
• Recordings of opera works (by international or American composers).
•

Technology projects such as broadcasts or webcasts (including simulcast performances
and online resources that provide public access to opera).

•

Archival, documentation, and preservation projects.

•

Education and related activities for youth, adults, and intergenerational groups.

•

Community engagement projects that involve diverse communities and/or reach new
audiences.

•

Projects that include planning, research, and training that supports an organization’s
capacity to respond to current events.

•

Innovative methods of engaging audiences including collaborations with other
organizations, and new approaches that have the potential to increase the impact on
audiences, artists, communities, and/or the opera field.

•

Opera performances and activities in public spaces intended to foster community
interaction and/or enhance the unique characteristics of a community.

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work of and/or careers for people
with disabilities through employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organization capacity-building.
49 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Opera
Services to the Opera Field
• Services to the opera field that reach a broad constituency of musicians (including
singers, composers, and librettists), music educators, arts administrators, and/or
volunteers. This may include, but is not limited to:
o Arts and arts-related workshops, conferences, and convenings.
o Leadership training and other professional development opportunities for artists
and arts administrators.
o Projects that include planning, capacity building, performance measurements, and
training that supports an organization’s ability to respond to current events.
o 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 Opera 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

50 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works

Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works
The Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works program supports projects from a diversity of
organizations that include presenters, festivals, the circus arts, artist collectives, communitybased 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.

51 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works
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:
o Arts and arts-related conferences and convenings.
o Leadership training, mentorships, and other professional development
opportunities for artists and arts administrators.
o Projects that include planning, capacity building, and training that supports an
organization’s ability to develop emergency preparedness plans and response
measures.
o 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.

52 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works
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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

53 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Theater

Theater
The NEA awards grants to the nonprofit theater field for the production or presentation of
traditional or classical repertoire, new plays, development laboratories, showcases, artist
residencies, work for young audiences, experimental work, community-based work, outdoor
historical dramas, and puppetry. Projects funded by the NEA should help to fully realize an
organization's mission and may provide support for organizations and artists in the creation and
refinement of work, the public presentation of plays from all cultures and periods, and
opportunities for professional development.
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.
Project Types include, but are not limited to
• Theater projects that encourage the participation of artists, production staff, and
administrators from a wide variety of aesthetic viewpoints, racial and ethnic
backgrounds, cultures, disability perspectives, and/or geographic areas.
•

Commissioning, development, and production of new work, translations, and
adaptations.

•

Production or presentation of existing contemporary or classical work.

•

Development, production, or presentation of theater work for young audiences.

•

Development programs and labs for new work, which may include the hosting of artist
residencies, showcase productions of new work, development workshops, and festivals
of new works or works in progress. (The NEA does not fund festivals for which no

54 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Theater
curatorial judgment has been applied, or development programs in which participants
must pay a fee to participate).
•

Local, regional, and national touring of theater productions.

•

Documentation, preservation, conservation, archiving, and dissemination of America's
theater heritage, including capturing live performance.

•

Community-based projects that involve the creation and/or production of theater with
community members.

•

Projects and initiatives that explore issues of inequality and extend the reach of the arts
to groups/communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities that have been
historically underserved.

•

Services to the field that assist organizations or artists in administrative, developmental,
technical, and related areas.

•

Professional training including classes, guest artist residencies, workshops, and
mentorship of theater artists.

•

Projects that advance and/or sustain the creative work of and/or careers for people
with disabilities through employment, industry training, technical assistance, and
organization capacity-building.

•

Exposure and enrichment projects, including arts/science/technology 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.)

•

Professional development activities such as adaptive capacity building, resilience
training, and workforce development.

•

Digital capacity building efforts of organizations to create virtual programming, increase
audience accessibility, and/or collaborate with other organizations using digital
technology.

Deadlines
Grants for Arts Projects applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types
(described below) are accepted at both deadlines. Generally, an organization is limited to one
application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects category.
For Theater 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

55 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Visual Arts

Visual Arts
Visual Arts activity in the nation is undertaken by a variety of organizations and institutions—
including large and small, rural and urban, emerging and established, public or private nonprofit—many of which have solely artistic missions. Others are community-based organizations
whose portfolios may, on occasion, include the visual arts.
The NEA is committed to supporting visual arts activity—painting, sculpture, photography,
printmaking, drawing, craft, and public art—that demonstrates exceptional aesthetic
investigation and meaningful community engagement.
Specifically, the NEA is interested in supporting contemporary artists and the projects they
undertake, such as exhibitions, residencies, publications, commissions, public art works,
conservation, documentation, services to the field, and public programs. The NEA is committed
to encouraging individual artistic development, experimentation, and dialogue between artists
and the public.
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
Project Types include, but are not limited to:
• Exhibitions and related activities.
•

Conservation, preservation, and/or restoration.

•

Commissions or public art.

•

Residencies.

•

Periodicals, publications, or catalogues.

•

Public programming such as workshops, lectures and symposia, or other outreach
activities.
56 | P a g e

Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Visual Arts
•

•

Innovative uses of technology and/or projects that use technology to serve broader
audiences.

•

Services to the field.

•

Projects that engage people with disabilities.

Deadlines:
Grants for Arts Projects applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types
(described below) are accepted at both deadlines. Generally, an organization is limited to one
application per year in the Grants for Arts Projects category.
For Visual Arts 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.
[NOTE: INSERT GAP1 AND GAP2 CALENDARS HERE]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Calendar

Application Calendar
There are two Grants for Arts Projects application deadlines. Some disciplines (e.g., Literary
Arts) only accept certain project types at each deadline; see the guidelines for your project’s
discipline for more information.
First Grants for Arts Projects Deadline:
Part 1 - Submit to Grants.gov

February 10, 2022 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

All Artist Communities and Design applicants must apply at the February 9, 2023, deadline.
An organization may submit only one application under these FY 2024 Grants for Arts Projects
guidelines (i.e., one application per calendar year). See "Application Limits" for the few
exceptions to this rule.
Before applying, your organization must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with both
the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Registering and
maintaining accounts with SAM and Grants.gov is always FREE. See How to Apply for more
information.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Calendar
Registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov can take many weeks. Give yourself plenty of time to
get registered. Similarly, submit your application to Grants.gov well in advance of the
deadline in case you encounter any difficulties.
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Exceptions to the deadline will be considered only for registration or renewal issues or technical
malfunctions that are the result of failures on the part of SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA systems, as
determined by the NEA. To be considered for this exception, you must provide documentation
of a SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA systems failure that prevented your submission by the deadline.
In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane or a SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA systems
technological failure), the NEA Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants. If
a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Please do not seek information on the status of your application before the announcement
date that is listed above.
Questions? Call or email: Agency Contacts

Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact the Office of Accessibility at 202-682-5532 / accessibility@arts.gov or the Office of
Civil Rights at civilrights@arts.gov to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines.
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD
December 2022

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Calendar

Award Information
Grant Amounts, Cost Share, and Matching Funds
Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000.
Designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant may request from $30,000 to $150,000 for
subgranting in the Local Arts Agencies discipline. Additional eligibility, documentation, and
reporting requirements for subgranting applications are detailed in the Local Arts Agencies
section of the guidelines.
Our grants cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of the project. All grants require a nonfederal
cost share/match of at least 1 to 1. For example, if an organization receives a $10,000 grant, the
total eligible project costs must be at least $20,000 and the organization must provide at least
$10,000 toward the project from nonfederal sources.
In developing an application, we urge all applicants to consider the level of recent awards and
to request a realistic grant amount. Applicants should review the lists of grants on our website
to see recent grant award levels and project types. In the past few years, a majority of the
agency's grants have been for amounts less than $25,000.
Applicants whose grants are recommended for less than the amount that is requested will have
the opportunity to revise the project budget to reflect any necessary changes to the project,
based on the recommended funding amount.
We reserve the right to limit support of a project to a particular portion(s) or cost(s).

Period of Performance
Our support of a project (i.e., “Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project”) can begin no sooner
than:
•

January 1, 2024 (for applicants at the February 9 deadline), or

•

June 1, 2024 (for applicants at the July 6 deadline).

Grants awarded under these guidelines generally may cover a period of performance of up to
two years. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant time to plan, execute, and
close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year.
Any planning costs that are included as part of the project must be incurred during the
established period of performance. No pre-award costs are allowable in the Project Budget.
Project costs that are incurred before the "Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project" will be
removed from the Project Budget.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Calendar

A grantee may not receive more than one NEA grant for the same activities during the same
period of performance.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Unallowable Activities/Costs

Unallowable Activities/Costs
The activities and costs listed below are not allowable, and should not be included as part of
your project or budget. This includes activities/costs covered by cost share/matching sources.
Unallowable Activities
• General operating or seasonal support.
•

Direct grants to individuals.

•

Direct grants to individual elementary or secondary schools -- charter, private, or public
-- directly. Schools may participate as partners in projects for which another eligible
organization applies. Local education agencies, school districts, and state and regional
education agencies are eligible. If a single school also is a local education agency, as is
the case with some charter schools, the school may apply with documentation that
supports its status as a local education agency.

•

Projects that replace arts instruction provided by an arts specialist.

•

Generally, courses/coursework in degree-granting institutions.

•

Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers.

•

Generally, publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant
organization's board members, faculty, or trustees.

•

Generally, exhibitions of, and other projects that primarily involve, single, individuallyowned, private collections.

•

Projects for which the selection of artists or art works is based upon criteria other than
artistic excellence and artistic merit. Examples include festivals, exhibitions, or
publications for which no jury/editorial/curatorial judgment has been applied.

•

Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and
potlucks.

•

Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement.

•

Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including concessions, food, T-shirts,
artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.

•

Lobbying, including activities intended to influence the outcome of elections or
influence government officials regarding pending legislation, either directly or through
specific lobbying appeals to the public.

•

Voter registration drives and related activities.

•

Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. (Design fees, preparing space for an
exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community planning are eligible.
However, no NEA or cost share/matching funds may be directed to the costs of physical
construction or renovation or toward the purchase costs of facilities or land.)

•

Subgranting or regranting. Only state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, or local
arts agencies that are designated to operate on behalf of their local governments or are
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operating units of city or county government may subgrant NEA funds. (See more
information on subgranting.)
Certain Unallowable Costs
• Cash reserves and endowments.
•

Costs for the creation of new organizations.

•

Costs to bring a project into compliance with federal grant requirements. This includes
environmental or historical assessments or reviews and the hiring of individuals to write
assessments or reviews or to otherwise comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act.

•

Expenditures related to compensation to foreign nationals and/or travel to or from
foreign countries when those expenditures are not in compliance with regulations
issued by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. For further
information, see https://www.treasury.gov/about/organizationalstructure/offices/pages/office-of-foreign-assets-control.aspx or contact our Office of
Grants Management at grants@arts.gov.

•

Project costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding
received either directly from a federal agency (e.g., National Endowment for the
Humanities, Housing and Urban Development, National Science Foundation, or an entity
that receives federal appropriations such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or
Amtrak); or indirectly from a pass-through organization such as a state arts agency,
regional arts organization, or a grant made to another entity.

•

Alcoholic beverages.

•

Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items (e.g., electronic devices, gift
certificates) with monetary value.

•

Stipends/fees to individuals who are incarcerated.

•

Contributions and donations to other entities.

•

General miscellaneous or contingency costs.

•

Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.

•

Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.

•

Audit costs that are not directly related to a single audit (formerly known as an A-133
audit).

•

Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with
the applicant organization.

•

The purchase of vehicles.

•

Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.

•

Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official period of
performance.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Unallowable Activities/Costs
All applicants should carefully review the Assurance of Compliance and Appendix A of our
General Terms and Conditions (GTC) which detail other requirements that govern awards.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Eligibility

Eligibility
The following are eligible to apply:
• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations;
•

Units of state or local government; or

•

Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.

Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local
education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the NEA’s
goals.
To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
• Meet the NEA’s "Legal Requirements" including nonprofit, tax-exempt status at the time
of application.
•

Have completed a three-year history of arts programming prior to the application
deadline.
o For the purpose of defining eligibility, "three-year history" refers to when an
organization began its programming and not when it incorporated or received
nonprofit, tax-exempt status.
o You will be asked to provide examples of previous programming in the application.
For applicants to the February 2023 deadline, programming must have started in or
before February 2020; for applicants to the July 2023 deadline, programming must
have started in or before July 2020.
o Programming is not required to have taken place during consecutive years.
o Organizations that previously operated as a program of another institution may
include arts programming it carried out while part of that institution for its threeyear history.

Eligible organizations that received American Rescue Plan (ARP) or CARES Act funding may
apply to this program as long as there are no overlapping costs during the same grant period.
An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or other) to
an affiliated organization may only apply if the affiliated organization does not submit its own
application. This prohibition applies even if each organization has its own 501(c)(3) status. For
example, the "Friends of ABC Museum" may not apply if the ABC Museum applies.
All applicants must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM,
www.sam.gov), have a Unique Entity Identifier, and maintain an active SAM registration until
the application process is complete--and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the
award.
The following are not eligible to apply:
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•

Individuals;

•

Applications through a fiscal sponsor/agent (organizations must apply directly on their
own behalf, see more information on fiscal sponsors/agents); or

Designated state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts
organizations (RAOs).
SAAs and RAOs may serve as partners in projects. However, they may not receive NEA funds
(except as provided through their designated grant programs), and SAA/RAO costs may not be
included as part of the required cost share/match. SAAs and RAOs are eligible to apply through
the Partnership Agreements guidelines.
•

Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Application Limits
An organization may submit only one application to the FY 2023 Grants for Arts Projects
program (i.e., one application per calendar year), with limited exceptions.
Exceptions to the one-application rule are made only for:
• Parent (and Related) Organizations
o A parent organization that comprises separately identifiable and independent
components (e.g., a university campus that has a presenting organization and a
radio station) may submit an application for each such component. In addition, a
parent organization also may submit one application on its own behalf for a project
that is different from any project submitted in an application by its independent
component(s).
See detailed information about Parent (and Related) Organizations, including
definitions and other requirements.
•

Applicants to the Media Arts discipline at the July 6, 2023, deadline
o An organization of any artistic discipline may submit one additional application in
the Grants for Arts Projects category through the Media Arts discipline at the July 6,
2023, deadline. The additional application must be for a distinctly different project
and must align with certain programmatic requirements described here: Additional
Applications in Media Arts (LINK TO MEDIA ARTS DISCIPLINE PAGE WITH SECTION
DETAILING REQUIREMENTS).

Applications to other NEA funding categories:
•

An organization may not apply to both the Challenge America category and the Grants
for Arts Projects category in the same calendar year.
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•

An organization may apply to other NEA funding opportunities, including Our Town, in
addition to Grants for Arts Projects. If you submit applications to other opportunities,
each request must be for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of
the same project, with a different period of performance and costs.

If you have other NEA awards with activities and/or periods of performance that will overlap
with your proposed Grants for Arts project, please contact staff for guidance to ensure that the
projects are different or for a distinctly different phase of a project.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Eligibility

Fiscal Sponsorship
We do not fund unincorporated or for-profit entities or individuals that engage nonprofit, taxexempt 501(c)3 U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized
tribal communities or tribes to apply for grants on their behalf. An ineligible organization (i.e.,
one without its own nonprofit status) may not use a fiscal sponsor/agent for the purpose of
submitting an application.
What is a fiscal sponsor/agent?
A fiscal sponsor/agent is an entity that oversees the fiscal activities of another organization,
company, or group of independent artists or projects. These activities may include
bookkeeping, filing of W2s or 1099s, daily banking, or grant preparation.
The key to avoiding the appearance of fiscal sponsorship is the involvement of your
organization. This might include:
• Producing or co-producing.
•

Partnering on creative direction or development.

•

Organizing workshops, public showings, or distribution of work.

•

Providing social networking strategies or web implementation.

You can provide evidence of your organization's involvement in your application, on your
website, through announcements and evaluations of public events, and with archival
documentation.
We may review your website and other materials in addition to your application to determine
the appropriate nature of the project.
If your organization does not have its own nonprofit status, you may still participate in a project
submitted by another organization that meets our eligibility criteria, but you may not apply on
your own.
While an organization that serves as a fiscal sponsor/agent may not apply for projects on behalf
of the entities or individuals that it may sponsor as part of its mission and programs, it may
apply for its own programs and productions. In this case, the organization must clearly
demonstrate that it is applying only for its own programmatic activities.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Eligibility

More Information about Parent (and Related) Organizations
A parent organization that comprises separately identifiable and independent components
(e.g., a university campus that has a presenting organization and a radio station) may submit an
application for each such component. In addition, a parent organization also may submit one
application on its own behalf for a project that is different from any project submitted in an
application by its independent component(s).
An eligible independent component must be a unit that is both programmatically and
administratively distinct from the parent organization. The independent status is demonstrated
by the component’s:
• Unique mission, separate and distinct from the parent entity;
•

Separate, dedicated staff, with duties specific to the mission of the component;

•

Independent board, mostly consisting of members not associated with the parent entity
and generally functioning with substantial oversight and management of the
component;

•

Separate budget, maintained by the component; and

•

Three-year history of arts programming undertaken by the component.

To qualify as an eligible independent component, it should be equivalent to a stand-alone
institution.
A parent organization should consult with our staff to verify the eligibility of its component
before preparing an application. If an application is submitted by a parent organization on
behalf of a component that is determined by the NEA not to be independent and separate from
the parent organization, then that application may be allowed as the parent’s single
application.
The following do not qualify as eligible independent components:
• Academic departments of colleges and universities.
•

Programs, initiatives, and projects of organizations.

•

Collaboratives or consortiums of multiple organizations.

For example:
• An art museum on a university campus serves the general public and does not grant
degrees. The museum board, not the university trustees, manages the museum's
budget, staff, and programming. In this example, the art museum essentially is a standalone organization and qualifies as an independent component.
•

A symphony association sponsors a youth orchestra in addition to its professional
orchestra. Some symphony musicians serve as faculty for the youth orchestra; there is
some overlap of membership between the symphony trustees and the youth orchestra's
advisory board; and the executive director for the symphony association serves as CEO
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for both the professional and youth orchestras. In this case, while the youth orchestra
may be an important program of the symphony association, it is not equivalent to a
separate institution and therefore does not qualify as an independent component.
The application for the independent component must be for a project of the component. For
example, if a university campus submits an application for its art museum as an independent
component, the project must be for the art museum. The art museum cannot be used as a
passthrough entity for projects from other areas of the university.
The parent organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants. A related
organization that performs grant administration duties for a parent organization (e.g., a college
foundation that administers grants awarded to a college and its components) may submit
applications for components and the parent organization in lieu of such applications being
submitted by the parent. The related organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all
applicants.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: How to Apply

How to Apply
Submitting an application is a multi-step process:
• Register with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations.
•

Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov the “Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organization Form.” This is a brief form that will collect very basic information about
your organization. A direct link to the Grants.gov Opportunity Package is included
further down this on this page.

•

Part 2: Complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” and upload items through the
NEA’s Applicant Portal. This web form is where you will enter the majority of your
application material (e.g., project description, timelines, budget information).

Login.gov, SAM, Grants.gov (Part 1), and the NEA’s Applicant Portal (Part 2) are all separate
online systems.
Instructions for Part 1 and Part 2, including a list of all the application questions, can be found
by selecting the arts discipline that corresponds with your project (e.g., Arts Education, Music,
Visual Arts, etc.) from the list at the bottom of the page.
[How to Apply Graphic]

All Applicants: Registration and Renewal
Applying for a federal grant for the first time? See here.

Register with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations
Before applying, your organization must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with
Login.gov, the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Registering
and maintaining these accounts is always FREE.
These registrations can take several weeks to finalize, so begin this process early! Registrations
with Login.gov, SAM and Grants.gov must be active for you to submit your application. Finalize
your registrations well before the application deadline. This should allow you time to resolve
any issues that may arise.
We recommend that you register in the following order:
1. Login.gov
2. SAM
3. Grants.gov
Both SAM and Grants.gov will require you to use your Login.gov username and password to log
in to their sites.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: How to Apply
Login.gov Registration
Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. This account will allow you to access
many government websites, including both SAM and Grants.gov.
SAM Registration
Go to SAM Entity Registration to get started on a new registration, or to renew/check the status
of an existing registration.
Your SAM registration must be current at the time a grant is made, and throughout the life of
the award. SAM registrations, once activated, can take a day or more to be visible in
Grants.gov. Verify your SAM registration well ahead of the application deadline.
When registering/renewing your SAM account, you must select “Yes” when completing the
“Representations & Certifications” section. All awardees are required to have these
representations & certifications in order to receive an award.
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
To apply for federal funds, organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier, also known as a
“UEI.” The UEI is a 12-character alpha numeric value that will be assigned by SAM for free
during the registration process. Organizations can find their UEI in their SAM record.
If you have difficulty locating the UEI, contact SAM at 1-866-606-8220 or see the help section of
SAM’s website.
Grants.gov Registration
New Applicants:
•
•
•
•

If your organization is not yet registered with Grants.gov, go to Organization
Registration, after setting up your Login.gov account, and registering with SAM.
During the Grants.gov registration process, you will be asked to set up a separate
username and password for Grants.gov.
After creating your Grants.gov account, you may link your Grants.gov and Login.gov
accounts.
After linking accounts, you will use your Login.gov credentials each time you sign in to
Grants.gov.

Returning Applicants:
•
•

If your organization already has registered with Grants.gov, renew your registration with
SAM and verify that your registration with Grants.gov is current.
If you have not already linked your Grants.gov and Login.gov accounts, you will be
prompted to link your accounts when you click the “login” button on Grants.gov.

You must complete the Grants.gov registration process to access the Part 1 application package
(see below). You will need the Login.gov Username and Password that you obtain during the
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registration process to submit your application, and you won’t be able to submit your
application unless your SAM registration is active and up-to-date.
Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM, or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites, including questions regarding electronic
accessibility, contact them directly:
•

•

SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM Help.

•

Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult
the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact
Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Part 1: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package
Access the Grant Opportunity Package for Part 1 with the Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organization Form on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below:
For the February 9, 2023 deadline:
CLICK HERE
Funding Opportunity Number: 2023NEA01GAP1
The Grant Opportunity Package for the July 2023 deadline will be available
by June 2023.
1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in
Grants.gov.
2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3. You will be prompted to log in. In order to create the Workspace application, you must
be logged into Grants.gov with a participant role of either Workspace
Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). See more information on
participant roles.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field with your organization name, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. Afterwards, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where you can begin
working on the application.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: How to Apply
Learn more about using Grants.gov’s Workspace.

Application Questions and Instructions:
For instructions on completing Part 1 and Part 2, including the application questions, and a link
to the NEA Applicant Portal for Part 2, select the artistic discipline that most closely
corresponds with your proposed project activities. Instructions and requirements vary between
disciplines.
If you are unsure which discipline is the right choice, review the Artistic Disciplines descriptions,
or contact our staff.
[LINKS TO INSTRUCTIONS DOCS]

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Review

Application Review
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed on the basis of the criteria below, with equal weight assigned to
artistic excellence and artistic merit. The review criteria reflect the NEA’s priorities and are
aligned with our strategic plan. While proposals need not address each criterion marked “as
applicable,” applicants may consider all of the criteria when developing their proposals.
Proposals must be for arts projects with specific, definable activities. The application may be
rejected if it does not sufficiently describe the project activities.
For more information about how these criteria relate to a specific discipline, review the
discipline-specific guidelines and/or contact a discipline staff member. We are here to help.
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
The artistic excellence of the project includes:
•

The quality of the artists and other key individuals, creative process, works of art,
organizations, arts education providers, artistic partners, and/or services involved in the
project and their relevance to the audience or communities the project aims to serve.

ARTISTIC MERIT
The artistic merit of the project includes:
•

The value and appropriateness of the project to the organization’s mission, artistic field,
artists, audience, community, and/or constituency.

•

The ability to carry out the project based on such factors as the appropriateness of the
budget, clarity of the project activities, resources involved, and the qualifications of the
project's personnel and/or partnerships.

•

Clearly defined goals and/or proposed outcomes and an appropriate plan to determine
if those goals and/or outcomes are met. This includes, where relevant, measures to
assess student and/or teacher learning in arts education.

•

Evidence of direct compensation to artists, art collectives, and/or art workers.

As applicable:
•

Engagement with individuals whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by
geography, race or ethnicity, economics, or disability.

•

Ability to strengthen the arts sector through knowledge-sharing and resources.
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Application Review

What Happens to Your Application
Applications are evaluated according to the "Review Criteria" above.
After processing by our staff, applications are reviewed, in closed session, by advisory panelists.
Each panel comprises a diverse group of arts experts and other individuals, including at least
one knowledgeable layperson, with broad knowledge in the areas under review. Panels are
convened virtually by discipline. Panel membership changes regularly. The panel recommends
the projects to be supported, and the staff reconciles panel recommendations with the funds
that are available. These recommendations are forwarded to the National Council on the Arts,
where they are reviewed in an open public session.
The Council makes recommendations to the NEA Chair.
The NEA Chair reviews the recommendations for grants in all funding categories and makes the
final decision on all grant awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.
After notification of funding decisions, applicants with questions may contact the staff.
Any applicant whose request for funding has not been recommended may ask for an
explanation of the basis for denial. In such instances, the NEA must be contacted no later
than 30 calendar days after the official notification.
See the "Application Calendar" for information on when we expect to announce grant awards
and rejections, and the earliest dates by which projects may begin.
Risk Assessment: All recommended applications undergo a review to evaluate risk posed by the
applicant prior to making a federal award. This may include past performance on grants,
meeting reporting deadlines, compliance with terms and conditions, audit findings, etc.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Frequently Asked Questions

Award Administration
Award Notices
The "Earliest Announcement of Grant Award or Rejection" date for your category on the
Application Calendar tells you when we expect to announce grant decisions.
Note that the "announcement" is likely to take the form of a preliminary congratulatory
message, a request for project/budget revisions, or a rejection notification. The official grant
award notification (i.e., a notice of action authorized by the NEA Office of Grants Management)
is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. Receipt of your official award notification can
take several months depending on a number of factors such as reviewing changes to the
project budget, the number of awards to be processed, whether the agency has its
appropriation from Congress, etc.

Final Reporting
Before a grant is awarded, organizations must have submitted acceptable Final Report packages
by the due date(s) for all NEA grant(s) previously received.

National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental
Policy Act Review
If you are recommended for a grant, your project may be subject to the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the NEA will
conduct a review of your project to ensure that it is in compliance with NHPA/NEPA.
Some of the common project types that garner a NHPA review are:
• A project involving or occurring at or near a place that is 50 years old and therefore
potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. This includes
a property, such as a historic house museum or a historic plaza; or a historic district with
multiple historic properties. Historic places may also be structures, such as bridges, or
objects, such as sculptures, or a landscape that is historically significant.
•

The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor installations,
including sculptures, statuary, banners, mixed media, painting or murals.

•

An outdoor arts festival.

•

Permanent wayfinding signs and other similar artistic directional installations.

•

Maintenance or rehabilitation of landscapes and gardens.

•

In-kind replacement or repairs at a facility that is older than 50 years of age.

•

Design services and planning for projects that may affect historic properties.

This review and approval process may take up time to complete and may delay your project's
start date and our ability to make a grant award/our ability to release grant funds. If you are
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recommended for an award which may have historic preservation or environmental concerns
(NHPA/NEPA), you will be notified and asked to provide additional information.
To expedite the review, ensure that you include thorough and complete information for all
project activities and locations. The NEA cannot release an award and/or grant funds until the
NHPA/NEPA review is complete. If asked for additional information for a review, please
indicate the timeline for determining grant activities and locations, if they are not yet finalized.
In some cases, such as for permanent art installations at historic properties or advanced design
(more advanced than early design development) affecting historic properties, you may be
instructed to continue the review with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO).
See here to learn more about the questions you will need to answer for the review of a project
impacted by the National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy
Act.

Accessibility
Federal regulations require that all NEA-funded projects be accessible to people with
disabilities, including audiences, visitors, artists, performers, teaching artists, students, staff,
and volunteers. Funded activities must be held in a physically accessible venue and program
access and effective communication must be provided for participants and audience members
with disabilities, including people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, people who are blind, and
people with physical, cognitive, sensory, and/or psychological 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:
•

Buildings and facilities (including projects held in historic facilities) should be physically
accessible. This includes, but is not limited to:
o Ground-level/no-step entry, ramped access, and/or elevators to project facilities and
outdoor spaces;
o Integrated and dispersed wheelchair seating in assembly areas;
o Wheelchair-accessible box office, stage/backstage, meeting, and dressing rooms;
o Wheelchair-accessible display cases, exhibit areas, and counters;
o Accessible studio, classroom, and work spaces;
o Accessible artist residency studios and living spaces, to include dining facilities and
restrooms;
o Wheelchair-accessible restrooms and water fountains; and
o Directional signage for accessible entrances, restrooms, and other facilities; and
o Accessible workspaces for employees.

•

The programmatic offering should be accessible either as part of the funded activity or
upon request, where relevant. This can include, but is not limited to providing:
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o Designation of an accessibility coordinator and publicly-available contact information
(on website and promotional materials) for requesting accommodations;
o Accessible and screen reader-compatible electronic materials, documents, websites,
virtual platforms, and inclusion of alternative text for images;
o Accessible on-line application and grant systems (where relevant);
o Print materials in alternative formats, such as large-print brochures/labels/programs,
braille, and electronic/digital formats;
o Accommodations for performances, tours, virtual streamed events, conferences,
and lectures, such as sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, and audio
description;
o Tactile art, signage, sculpture, and representations of two-dimensional artwork;
o Closed/open captioning and audio/visual description for video, film, television
broadcasts;
o Transcripts of radio programs and podcasts;
o Auxiliary aids and devices such as assistive listening devices;
o Sensory-friendly programming, spaces, and approaches for people with sensoryprocessing issues and other neurological conditions;
o Accommodations for live and archived virtual events, including captioning, sign
language interpreting, and audio/visual description; and
o Accommodations to integrate students with disabilities in arts learning programs.
See the Nondiscrimination Statutes in our "Assurance of Compliance" for additional
information.
For technical assistance on how to make your project accessible, contact the Accessibility Office
at accessibility@arts.gov, 202-682-5532 Voice; or the Civil Rights Office at civilrights@arts.gov,
202-682-5454 Voice; or see our online Accessibility Resources.

Civil Rights
The Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov investigates complaints about
compliance with accessibility standards as well as other federal civil rights statutes. For
inquiries about limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room,
or contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov.

Project Reporting and Evaluation
We ask all applicants to define what they would like to achieve, how they will evaluate the
degree to which it is achieved, and, upon completion of the project, what they have learned
from their experiences. Such feedback need not entail large-scale or expensive evaluation
efforts. You should do what is feasible and appropriate for your organization and project. When
a grant is completed, you must submit a final report and answer questions detailing your
accomplishments, who benefited, and the resulting impact of your project as well as list the
involvement of key partners, funders, and artists. Arts Education grantees who apply for a
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Direct Learning Grant will be required to describe the assessment methods used to assess
learning.
NEA staff will assign one of the agency’s objectives to your project: Creation, Engagement,
Learning (all Arts Education grantees will be assigned the Learning objective), or Our Town.
Before applying, review the reporting requirements for the agency’s objectives: Standard -- for
Creation, Engagement, Learning; Arts Education, for all Arts Education grantees; or Our Town.
Reporting requirements for Our Town are different from -- and more extensive than -- the
reporting requirements for the other objectives. If you have any questions about the agency’s
objectives or the associated reporting requirements that may be required if you receive a grant,
contact the staff before applying.
Beyond the reporting requirements for all grantees, selected grantees will be asked to assist in
the collection of additional information that can help the NEA determine the degree to which
agency objectives were achieved. You may be required to provide evidence of project
accomplishments including, but not limited to, work samples, community action plans, cultural
asset studies, programs, reviews, relevant news clippings, and playbills. Remember that you are
required to maintain project documentation for three years following submission of your final
reports.

Crediting Requirement
Grantees must clearly acknowledge support from the NEA in their programs and related
promotional material including publications and websites. Additional acknowledgment
requirements may be provided later.

Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards
This guidance from the federal government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
establishes clarity and consistency of the pre- and post-award requirements applicable to
federal grantees. Under the authority listed above, the NEA adopts the OMB Guidance in 2 CFR
part 200 under §3255.1 Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200. This part gives regulatory effect to the
OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the NEA.

General Terms & Conditions
Federal and agency requirements that relate to grants awarded by the NEA are highlighted in
our General Terms & Conditions (GTC). The GTC incorporates the adoption of 2 CFR Part 200 by
reference. The document also explicitly identifies where the NEA has selected options offered
in the regulation, such as budget waivers and requirements for use of program income. It also
includes agency requirements for cost share/matching funds, reporting requirements,
amendment processes, and termination actions. Grantees must review, understand, and
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comply with these requirements. Failure to do so may result in having a grant terminated
and/or returning funds to the National Endowment for the Arts, among other things.

Changes in Projects
Applicants must notify the NEA immediately of any significant changes in their project that
occur after they have submitted their application. If the project or the organization's capacity
changes significantly before an award is made, the NEA may revise or withdraw the funding
recommendation.
Grantees are expected to carry out a project that is consistent with the proposal that was
approved for funding by the NEA. If changes in the project are required, the grantee must
submit a request with justification for the change(s) through a proper REACH account for the
award for review by the Office of Grants Management. Approval is not guaranteed. Detailed
information is included the NEA’s General Terms & Conditions for Grants to Organizations.

Legal Requirements
NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may apply to an
applicant or grantee, however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding these and
other legal requirements may be found at Appendix A of our General Terms & Conditions
which sets forth the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes, and Regulations
that Govern Your Award. There may be other applicable legal requirements that are not
listed here.
1. By law, the National Endowment for the Arts may support only those organizations that:
•

Are tax-exempt. Organizations qualifying for this status must meet the following
criteria:
1. No part of net earnings may benefit a private stockholder or individual.
2. Donations to the organization must be allowable as a charitable contribution under
Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
For further information, go to the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) website.

•

Organizations who have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for National
Endowment for the Arts support. It is your responsibility to ensure that your status is
current at the time of the application and throughout the life of your award.

•

Compensate all professional performers and related or supporting professional
personnel on National Endowment for the Arts-supported projects at no less than the
prevailing minimum compensation. (This requirement is in accordance with regulations
that have been issued by the Secretary of Labor in 29 CFR Part 505. This part does not
provide information on specific compensation levels.)

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•

Ensure that no part of any National Endowment for the Arts-supported project will be
performed or engaged in under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous
or dangerous to the health and safety of the employees involved.

2. Some legal requirements apply to every applicant, for example:
•

Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in the Assurance of
Compliance below.

•

Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with requirements
set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts
in 2 CFR Part 3254. Failure to comply may result in the debarment or suspension of the
grantee and the National Endowment for the Arts suspending, terminating and/or
recovering funds.

•

Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be suspended
when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts, including judgment
liens against property for a debt to the federal government. An organization's debt
status is displayed in the System for Award Management (SAM). New awards will not be
made if an applicant is still in debt status as of September 1.

•

Labor Standards (29 CFR Part 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must comply with
the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions Assisted by Grants
from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.

•

The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. and 2 CFR Part 3256). The
grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drug-free workplace program as
well as comply with other requirements.

3. Some legal requirements apply depending upon what the grant is funding, for example:
• If your project activities have the potential to impact any structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, adjacent to a structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, or located in an historic district, you will be
asked to provide additional information about your project or take additional action so
that the agency can review and comply with the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA). NHPA also applies to any planning activities that may affect historic properties
or districts. The additional agency review must be completed prior to any agency funds
being released.
•

If your project activities have the potential to impact the environment or
environmentally sensitive resources, you will be required to provide information in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The additional agency
review must be completed prior to any agency funds being released.

•

If your contract is over $2,000 and involves the construction, alteration, or repair of
public buildings or public works, it must contain a clause setting forth the minimum

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wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics employed under the contract in accordance
with The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA).
4. Some legal requirements apply depending upon who the Applicant is, for example:
• The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 3001 et
seq.) applies to any organization that controls or possesses Native American cultural
items, such as human remains or associated funerary objects and receives Federal
funding, even for a purpose unrelated to the Act (25 USC 3001 et seq.).

Assurance of Compliance
By signing and submitting its application form on Grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it is
in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the
Arts regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to
determine compliance.
We may conduct a review of your organization to ensure that it is in compliance with these
statutes. If the NEA determines that a grantee has failed to comply with these statutes, it may
suspend or terminate the award, and/or recover funds. This assurance is subject to judicial
enforcement.
The Applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:
•

On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by the
National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1110.

•

Solely on the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1151, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 ("ADA"), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

•

On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42
U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR
1156.

•

On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

Applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been discriminated against
on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age may file a complaint with the
Director of Civil Rights at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a Federal or
state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:

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Director, Office of Civil Rights
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506
Applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3) years. The
Applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as required by applicable
regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The Applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts funds to
comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of this assurance.
For further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified above,
contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov. For inquiries about
limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the
Office of Civil Rights at civilrights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.

Regulations Relating to Lobbying
For organizations applying for more than $100,000 (31 U.S.C. 1352).
The Applicant certifies that:
a) It has not and will not use federal appropriated funds to pay any person for influencing
or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of a
National Endowment for the Arts advisory panel or the National Council on the Arts, a
Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member
of Congress in connection with the awarding of or modification to any federal grant or
contract.
b) If it has used or will use any funds other than federal appropriated funds to pay any
person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the individuals specified above,
the Applicant:
c) Is not required to disclose that activity if that person is regularly employed by the
Applicant. (Regularly employed means working for at least 130 days within the year
immediately preceding the submission of this application.)
d) Will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities," if that
person is not regularly employed by the Applicant.
e) It will require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents
for all subawards of more than $100,000 and that all subrecipients shall certify and
disclose accordingly.
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Standards for Service
The National Endowment for the Arts has set the following standards for serving applicants. We
pledge to:
• Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
•

Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.

•

Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.

•

Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines available
promptly.

•

Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.

• Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.
We welcome your comments on how we are meeting these standards. Email:
webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Standards for Service.
For questions about these guidelines or your application, see "Agency Contacts." In addition,
applicants may receive an invitation to participate in a voluntary survey to provide feedback on
the grant application guidelines on our website and any experiences consulting with our staff.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 26
hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the
guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are
not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for Applicants & Awardees in Response to COVID-19 »
My organization received American Rescue Plan (ARP) or CARES funding. Can we also apply to
Grants for Arts Projects?
Yes. However, you need to be sure that there are no overlapping costs. If your ARP or CARES
and Grants for Arts Projects applications include items such as salaries, fees, or facilities costs,
make sure those costs don’t overlap, i.e., occur at the same time.
Can our organization use funds we received from the Small Business Administration (SBA) or
other federal agencies as cost share/match for an NEA grant?
No. Federal funds are not allowed to be used as cost share/match for federal grants (2 CFR
§200.306). In addition, the NEA’s enabling legislation does not allow any federal funds to be
used as cost share/match for its grants. This includes the Paycheck Protection Program and
Shuttered Venues Operators Grants (SVOG) from the SBA, as well as other federal funding,
including funding from:
• AmeriCorps
•

National Endowment for the Humanities

•

National Park Service

•

National Science Foundation

•

U.S. Department of Agriculture

•

U.S. Department of Education (e.g., 21st Century Community Learning Centers)

•

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Or an entity that receives federal appropriations such as the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting or Amtrak
Note that organizations are eligible to apply for NEA funding even if they have applied for and
received funding from the SBA, provided the organization isn't double-claiming any individual's
salary. Recipients will be required to keep documentation to show which employees are being
paid from each funding source so that the government isn't paying more than 100 percent of a
salary. Applicants with additional questions about SBA programs should contact the SBA
directly as we are unable to provide guidance on programs other than our own.
•

Can my organization apply for the same types of costs that were available for funding in ARP
or CARES?
Yes. You can apply for salaries, fees, facilities costs, and marketing costs as long as they are
allocable/directly related to carrying out the proposed project.
There is a key difference between ARP or CARES and Grants for Arts Projects. Grants for Arts
Projects applications must be for projects only. A project may consist of one or more specific
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events or activities, and it may be a part of an applicant's regular season or activities. We do not
fund seasonal or general operating support in Grants for Arts Projects.
Should the application address how my organization will respond if our project activities end
up being affected by COVID-19?
This is not a requirement, but you can provide a very brief description of any contingency plans
in the Project Description narrative. The Project Description is where you should address all of
the Review Criteria, and it may be useful for the panel’s assessment of your organization’s
ability to carry out the project (see the criteria under artistic merit).
What if my organization ends up not being able to carry out the project activities in our
application due to COVID-19?
If you are recommended for a grant, you will have an opportunity to request changes (e.g., a
time extension, a modification to project activities) at that stage of the process. If you receive a
grant, you will have the opportunity to request project changes later in the process, as outlined
in the How to Manage Your Award Handbook.
We will work with you to try to accommodate changes to your project, but approval is not
guaranteed. If you need to request a change, please contact your NEA specialist to discuss what
is possible. Cancellation costs are not allowable.
How should my organization formulate its project if we’re not sure if an in-person gathering
will be possible due to COVID-19? Will it be possible to make project changes if needed later
in the process?
You should do your best to complete information within the application to the best of your
knowledge.
If you are recommended for a grant, you will have an opportunity to request changes (e.g., a
time extension, a modification to project activities) at that stage of the process. If you receive a
grant, you will have the opportunity to request project changes later in the process, as outlined
in the How to Manage Your Award Handbook.
We will work with you to try to accommodate changes to your project, but approval is not
guaranteed. If you need to request a change while your application is still under consideration,
contact your NEA specialist to discuss what is possible.
My organization usually applies for in person performances. Can we apply for virtual
performances, or the costs associated with planning for virtual performances?
Yes.
Our project will involve virtual and online programming. Are we allowed to charge a cost for
admission to access these online events?
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Yes.
If my organization will be submitting a project for online streaming or broadcast due to
COVID-19, do we submit our application to the Media Arts discipline? My organization
typically submits to an artistic discipline other than Media Arts.
No. If the work of your project is primarily rooted in an artistic discipline other than Media Arts,
you should submit your application to that discipline. For example, if your organization typically
submits to the Dance discipline and wants to complete a dance-related project for online
streaming or broadcast, you should submit your application to the Dance discipline. If you have
questions about this, contact staff.
Our project may need updated technology to support quality virtual programming. To what
extent can these costs be included in the project budget, and do we need to differentiate
between supplies or equipment costs?
You can apply for costs related to updated technology as long as they fit into the proposed
project. Costs could include:
• Equipment, purchase or rental
•

Hardware

•

Software, e.g., timed ticketing software

•

Increased bandwidth

•

Streaming subscriptions

• Specialized audio-visual equipment for performers
The distinction between supplies and equipment is determined by cost and useful life. A
justification for the cost is required in some cases.
If you intend to purchase equipment that costs $5,000 or more per item with an estimated
useful life of more than one year, clearly identify the equipment and you will need to provide a
justification for this expenditure either in the Project Budget form or in your narrative.
Digital devices or other technologies are considered supplies if they are less than $5,000 per
item, regardless of the length of useful life, and no additional justification is required.
Can my project budget include the cost of open or closed captions or sign language
interpretation for virtual events?
Yes.
Our exhibition space and/or performance venue will need to make physical changes to meet
social distancing requirements, such as the removal of seats or installation of plexiglass to
protect staff. To what extent can these costs be included in the project budget?

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You can apply for costs related to physical changes as long as they are allocable/directly related
to the proposed project. However, we do not fund the costs of physical construction or
renovation, or the purchase costs of facilities or land.
Can project budgets include expenses related to increased sanitation measures due to COVID19, such as additional personnel, cleaning services, PPE, and other supplies?
Yes. You can apply for costs related to increased sanitation as long as they fit into the proposed
project.
How can I make sure that my project that addresses gender or racial equity is in compliance
with Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination (such as on the grounds of race,
color, or national origin)?
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. Please review the
Assurance of Compliance, as well as NEA Civil Rights guidance on our website including the NEA
Civil Rights webinar, Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your Grants
Application.
How can I find out when new guidelines are released?
NEA Grants for Arts Projects guidelines are updated every year, generally in mid-December.
Sign up for the notification service provided by Grants.gov, the federal government’s online
application system. To receive our discipline-specific newsletters, sign up on our website.
Does my project have to be new? Does it have to be big?
No. Projects do not have to be new. Existing projects can be just as competitive as new
activities. Projects do not need to be big either; we welcome small and medium-sized projects
that can make a difference in their community or field.
Does my project have to be outside the scope of my regular programming?
No. A project can be a part of an applicant's regular season or activity. For example, a theater
company's educational activities that occur year-round could constitute an acceptable project.
Other projects might be a workshop production of a work in progress or a charrette sponsored
by a community design center. What is important is the specificity of the activities involved.
Also, there can be no overlap with projects for which you already are receiving other NEA or
federal funds.
Can I apply for more NEA funding for a project supported by an earlier grant?
Yes. If you have previously received a grant to support an earlier phase of a project (for
example, for research for a documentary, or early development work on a new play or
choreographed work) you may re-apply to the NEA for additional funding to support a later
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phase (for example, the post-production/editing/distribution phase of the documentary, or the
final development/premiere of the new play or dance). However, each application must clearly
describe the specific phase of work to be supported, and there can be NO overlapping project
costs between the awards.
Can my partner organizations also apply for NEA funds to support our collaborative work?
A partnering organization may apply for funds to support a joint effort but there can be no
overlapping project costs between the applications. For example, if you are a dance company,
and you are applying for the development of a new work and a presenting organization/theater
is also applying for a residency/performance project that includes your company and the
presentation of the new work, you must ensure that the costs are kept separate. You cannot
include travel costs in your budget if these same costs are also reflected in the presenter’s
budget. You cannot include as cost share/match any income that is derived from a federal grant
made to another entity (e.g., if a presenter includes your artist fees as an expense in their
budget, you cannot use that as income in your own budget). In short, you should communicate
closely with your partners to be sure that you are each clear on the division of costs and activity
between the applications.
We missed the application deadline. Can I submit a late application?
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Exceptions to the deadline
will be considered only for registration or renewal issues or technical malfunctions that are the
result of failures on the part of SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA systems, as determined by the NEA. To
be considered for this exception, you must provide documentation of a SAM, Grants.gov, or
NEA systems failure that prevented your submission by the deadline.
Examples of Reasons Why Late Applications Will Not Be Accepted:
• Heavy administrative responsibilities on the part of the applicant’s staff, relocation of an
office/other workspace, personal events, or a very busy schedule.
•

Problems with computer systems or Internet access at the applicant organization, or
failure to complete or renew required registrations in advance of the application due
date.

•

Failure to follow instructions in the guidelines or funding opportunity announcement.

We will not make exceptions for applications that are the result of user error, including failure
to register in SAM.gov or to verify that your application was successfully submitted to the
Grants.gov system. The NEA is under no obligation to accept applications that are late for these
reasons.
Reminders:
• The NEA expects that applications will be submitted on time.
•

On time submission means an application is submitted error free no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on the application due date.
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•

Permission for late application submission cannot be granted in advance.

•

Applications submitted late or outside the Grants.gov system (e.g., an emailed SF-424)
will not be processed, reviewed, or considered for funding.

Will you contact me if my application is missing anything?
No. Because of the volume of applications, we have a strict approach to incomplete
applications. For your application to be considered complete, every item that is required MUST
be included in your application package, which must be submitted no later than the application
deadline date under which you are applying. Staff will not contact applicants to request
missing material. Don't let that happen. Use the "How to Apply" instructions for your category
to make sure that you have included every item. Have the completeness and accuracy of your
application package double-checked by a responsible staff member who understands the
importance of this task. Allow at least six weeks to prepare your application, the work samples,
and other supplementary information. We can’t stress this enough: Do not wait until the day of
the deadline to submit! We suggest setting an internal application deadline for your
organization that is 24-48 hours before the actual application deadline.
If my application is determined to be incomplete, may I add the missing item(s) and resubmit
the application?
No. The staff has to check thousands of applications. By the time that an application is
identified as incomplete, it will likely be several weeks after the application deadline. An
organization cannot add missing items and resubmit the application after the application
deadline. We encourage you to double-check your application package against the "How to
Apply" instructions to make sure that nothing is missing.
If new or updated information that significantly affects your application (including changes in
artists) becomes available after the deadline, you must notify the specialist handling your
application.
Can I get a sample application?
Yes. See the FOIA Reading Room, Frequently Requested Records for information on what is
available as sample application material and how to request it.
How soon after the "Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project" for my deadline does my
project have to begin?
The NEA’s support can start any time on or after that date.
Can my project start before this date?
No. Proposed project activities for which you're requesting support cannot take place before
this date. Ask the NEA to fund only the portion of your project that will take place after the

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"Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project." If you include project costs that are incurred before
the "Earliest Start Date for Proposed Project" in your Project Budget, they will be removed.
How long can my project last? May I apply for another project during this period?
We generally allow a period of performance of up to two years. Many applicants request a
grant period somewhere between 12 and 24 months. Ask for the amount of time that you think
is necessary. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant sufficient time to plan,
execute, and close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year.
If you get close to the end of your grant period and think you need more time, you may request
an extension from our Office of Grants Management, but approval is not guaranteed.
As long as it meets all other eligibility requirements, an organization may apply for another
project (with totally different project costs) the following year even if a NEA-supported project
is still underway. Note that if you receive an extension on a previous year's project, it may
affect your grant period for your new proposed project.
If my application is rejected, can I find out why?
After notification, applicants who have questions may contact the staff responsible for handling
their application. Any applicant whose request has not been recommended for funding may ask
for an explanation of the basis for rejection. In such instances, the NEA must be contacted no
later than 30 days after the official notification.
Can federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes. In keeping with federal policies of Tribal Self Governance and Self-Determination, we may
provide support for a project with a primary audience restricted to enrolled members of a
federally recognized tribe. Applicants (federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits
situated on federally recognized tribal lands, or other nonprofits whose mission primarily serves
federally recognized tribal enrollees) should consult with our staff to verify their eligibility
before preparing an application.
Can non-federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes, as long as the applicant is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for
non-federally recognized tribes and indigenous groups may be supported, but project
participation can’t be restricted to only tribal members.
Can Native Hawaiian groups apply?
Yes, as long as the applicant is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for
Native Hawaiians may be supported, but project participation can’t be restricted to only Native
Hawaiians.
The "Unallowable Activities/Costs" section says that subgranting is not allowed. What is
subgranting?
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Subgranting is defined as regranting funds to an individual or organization for activities that are
conducted independently of your organization and for the benefit of the subgrantee’s own
program objectives. A subgrantee is not directly employed by or affiliated with your
organization.
Examples of subgranting include:
• Awards and prizes.
•

Payment to an individual or organization to obtain training or technical assistance for
their own benefit with little or no involvement from your organization. (Allowable
activities would include services that are offered or coordinated by your organization
such as making your facilities available, conducting workshops or conferences, or
providing hands-on assistance. These activities also should be monitored and evaluated
by your organization.)

•

Production funds awarded to an individual or organization through a competitive review
process with little or no subsequent involvement from your organization.

•

Emergency relief funding for housing or food.

Most organizations that apply to the NEA can’t subgrant federal funds to individuals or
organizations. Congress prohibits the NEA from making grants for subgranting activity, with
exceptions only for state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, and local arts agencies
designated to operate on behalf of local governments.
Designated local arts agencies are eligible to apply for subgranting through the Local Arts
Agencies discipline of the Grants for Arts Projects category. Designated local arts agencies must
meet additional eligibility requirements, provide additional documentation in the application,
and follow additional reporting and compliance requirements. Designated local arts agencies
are encouraged to contact Local Arts Agencies staff to discuss eligibility and application
requirements when preparing a subgranting application.
My organization wants to apply for support of its apprenticeship program. How can I clarify in
my application that my project does not include awarding subgrants even though my budget
may include fees to individual artists?
The key to avoiding the appearance of subgranting is the involvement of your organization. In
the example of an apprenticeship program might include fees paid to artists. These fees are not
considered subgranting if your organization provides substantive supervision of and
involvement in the mentor-apprentice relationship. This might include:
• Planning a detailed description of the individual master-apprentice course of study.
•

Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the activity including conducting site visits.

•

Documenting apprenticeship activities including reports from masters and apprentices.

•

Arranging public exhibition or performance opportunities for masters and apprentices.

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Archiving material related to the apprenticeships and publicly distributing information
about the apprenticeship program and its activities.
Note that simply "checking in" on the activity, including obtaining progress and final reports,
does not qualify as substantive involvement in the project.
•

You can provide evidence of your organization's involvement with this activity through projectrelated information on your website, announcements and evaluations of public events, and
archival documentation.

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Applicant Resources

Applicant Resources
Webinars
All webinars are free to attend; however, registration is required. Recordings of the webinars
will be posted shortly after the presentations.
PLACEHOLDER FOR GAP WEBINAR DATE AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Archived Webinars
Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your Grants Application Webinar
Office Hours
Register for informal virtual sessions with office staff to answer questions about submitting a
competitive application. All times are Eastern Time.
Additional Resources
Applying for a Federal Grant for the First Time?
Common Application Mistakes
Grants.gov Support
SAM Help
Online Tutorial: Using the Grant Application Form (GAF)
Sample Application Narratives
Application Checklist
Accessibility Requirements for Applicants and Grantees
Accessibility Checklist
Accessibility Questions for Recommended Applicants
Recent Grants
Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research
NEA’s Historic Preservation Review Process

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Contacts

Contacts
If you have questions about your application, use the list below to determine your appropriate
staff contact. We also encourage you to check the "Frequently Asked Questions" for a particular
category for information.
Our staff experiences a high volume of inquiries. To help ensure a timely response, we
encourage you to email a discipline specialist with your inquiry and contact information.
Correspondence will be returned promptly.
For Grants for Arts Projects, contact the staff for the field/discipline that is most appropriate
for your project:
[JUMP LINKS TO EACH AREA]
Artist Communities (organizations and projects that offer artist residencies):
• Jennie Terman, termanj@arts.gov or 202-682-5566
Arts Education (pre-K through 12 curriculum-based direct learning projects that align with
either national or state arts education standards, professional development projects, or
collective impact projects):
Direct Learning Projects:
• Denise Brandenburg, brandenburg@arts.gov or 202-682-5044: Music, Opera
•

Nancy Daugherty, daughern@arts.gov or 202-682-5521: Dance, Literary Arts, Musical
Theater, Theater

Lakita Edwards, edwardsl@arts.gov or 202-682-5704: Design, Folk & Traditional Arts,
Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts, Museums, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Visual
Arts
Professional Development Projects:
• Nancy Daugherty, daughern@arts.gov or 202-682-5521
Collective Impact Projects:
• Denise Brandenburg, brandenburg@arts.gov or 202-682-5044
•

Dance (including dance presentation):
• Kate Folsom, folsomk@arts.gov or 202-682-5764
•

Juliana Mascelli, mascellij@arts.gov or 202-682-5656

Design (including architecture, communications and graphic design, fashion design, historic
preservation, industrial and product design, interior design, landscape architecture, inclusive
design, rural design, social impact design, and urban design):
• Courtney Spearman, spearmanc@arts.gov or 202-682-5603

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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Contacts
Folk & Traditional Arts (including folk & traditional arts projects in any art form):
• William Mansfield, mansfieldw@arts.gov or 202-682-5678
Literary Arts:
• Jessica Flynn, flynnj@arts.gov or 202-682-5011
Local Arts Agencies (including projects by arts councils, department of cultural affairs offices,
arts commissions, statewide service organizations partnering with local arts agencies, and arts
projects by local government and special districts). Consult with staff prior to submission:
• Mike Orlove, orlovem@arts.gov or 202-682-5469
PLACEHOLDER FOR NEW STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Media Arts:
• Avril Claytor, claytora@arts.gov or 202-682-5028
Museums (including projects in any discipline that are submitted by a museum):
• Organizations with names that begin A through N: Toni Lindsay, lindsayt@arts.gov or
202-682-5529
•

Organizations with names that begin O through Z: Tamika Shingler, shinglert@arts.gov
or 202-682-5577

Music (including music presentation):
• Organizations with names that begin A through L: Court Burns, burnsc@arts.gov or 202682-5590
•

Organizations with names that begin M through Z: Anya Nykyforiak, nykyfora@arts.gov
or 202-682-5487

•

Jazz Projects: Katja von Schuttenbach, vonschuttenbach@arts.gov or 202-682-5711

Musical Theater (including musical theater presentation):
• Organizations with names that begin A through M: Ouida Maedel, maedelo@arts.gov or
202-682-5509
•

Organizations with names that begin N through Z: Ian-Julian Williams,
williamsi@arts.gov or 202-682-5020

Opera (including opera presentation):
• Georgianna Paul Schuetz, paulg@arts.gov or 202-682-5600
Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works (projects that involve multiple arts disciplines including
multidisciplinary arts presenting and other types of multidisciplinary activities):
• Organizations with names that begin A through E: Jennie Terman, termanj@arts.gov or
202-682-5566
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Grants for Arts Projects FY24 Guidelines: Contacts
•

Organizations with names that begin F through Z: Katryna Carter, carterk@arts.gov or
202-682-5779

Theater (including theater presentation):
• Organizations with names that begin A through M: Ouida Maedel, maedelo@arts.gov or
202-682-5509
•

Organizations with names that begin N through Z: Ian-Julian Williams,
williamsi@arts.gov or 202-682-5020

Visual Arts:
• Organizations with names that begin A through F: Tamika Shingler, shinglert@arts.gov
or 202-682-5577
•

Organizations with names that begin G through Z: Meg Brennan, brennanm@arts.gov or
202-682-5703

Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM, or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites, including questions regarding electronic
accessibility, contact them directly:
•

•

SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM Help.

•

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Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research
As a federal agency, we are committed to the responsible conduct of research. The NEA
requires applicants to comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the conduct of
research in the United States for projects supported with NEA funding.
If you are recommended for a grant and your project includes program evaluation and/or
research activities that involve directly collecting information from program participants, the
NEA may conduct a review of your project to ensure that it complies with our general guidance
regarding the responsible conduct of research.
Data collection activities conducted under an award are the sole responsibility of the recipient
organization. The NEA’s support of the project does not constitute approval of those data
collection procedures. Accordingly, data collected from respondents/participants will be
conducted by the awardee or at the awardee’s direction, and any NEA-funded researchers
collecting data from respondents/participants may not represent to those subjects that such
data are being collected on behalf of the NEA.
Many projects under the Grants for Arts Projects program include some type of informal
evaluation, such as conducting anonymized surveys of audiences about their satisfaction with a
program, or even basic field observations of program participants such as counting the number
of audience members or tickets sold. These types of activities are often exempt from a program
evaluation ethics review. Furthermore, data collection activities related to completion of the
Final Descriptive Report (FDR) are exempt from a program evaluation ethics review. Examples
of questions on the FDR are available here.
Whether formal or informal, however, evaluation activities of arts programs occurring within
schools or school districts must be done under the rules and regulations governing those
institutions or jurisdictions.
On the other hand, some grantees want to conduct more formal program evaluation and/or
research as part of their grant. Program evaluation may require an ethics review, especially if
the activities will be completed during the grant’s period of performance and will use funding
from the grant or its match (if applicable). Examples include activities that require asking
program participants to provide sensitive and/or confidential information about themselves,
and/or that involve systematic studies to assess a program’s benefits for participants.
If you are recommended for an award that may require a program evaluation ethics review,
you will be notified and asked to provide additional information. This may include providing
more detail on such factors as: the purpose and nature of any research or evaluation activities;
when data will be collected for these purposes; the source of funding to support these
activities, the steps taken to comply with applicable laws and regulations; steps taken to obtain
permissions (including but not limited to the acquisition of existing data) from all appropriate
entities or individuals (including but not limited to minors or other sensitive populations) for
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conducting the proposed evaluation activities; and evidence of ethics training in the conduct of
human subjects research.
Costs of submitting research proposals to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are allowable if the
activity occurs during the award’s period of performance; however, the grantee must provide
evidence that the applicant has consulted with its preferred IRB or IRBs. If you receive an
award, we may withhold funds until IRB approval is demonstrated and evidence of ethics
training in the conduct of human subject’s research is provided for all individuals engaged in
research activities that include human subjects. Such evidence can take the form of an active,
unexpired certificate of completion of a training module. The NEA does not specify or endorse
any specific educational programs. The NEA will not reimburse costs for ethics training.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides additional guidance and resources
for learning about the responsible conduct of research, including decision charts for assessing
whether a project needs an ethics review, a set of free training modules (which can be used to
provide evidence of ethics training for an NEA application), and a database of registered IRBs.
The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education also have resources
related to IRB and human subjects’ protections.
Additional information for regarding systematic evaluation studies can be found here:
https://www.arts.gov/impact/research/resources-program-evaluation-and-performancemeasurement.
A program evaluation review and approval process may take up to several months to complete
and may delay your project's start date and the NEA’s ability to make a grant award or the
ability to release award funds. Thorough and complete information for all project activities will
expedite our process for approving the release of funds. The NEA may withhold award funds
until the program evaluation review is complete.

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File Type	application/pdf
File Title	GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS
Subject	FY24
Author	Lara Allee
File Modified	2022-08-25
File Created	2022-08-25