An organization may submit only one application under these FY 2022 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines, with the exception of the Media Arts discipline. An organization may submit more than one application in the Grants for Arts Projects category through the Media Arts discipline only at the July 2021, deadline. If you intend to submit a proposal to in the Media Arts discipline you should do so at the July deadline.
Grants for Arts Projects is the National Endowment for the Arts’ principal grants program. Through project-based funding, we support public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation, the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Projects may be large or small, existing or new, and may take place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
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 use the arts to unite and heal, as well as 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.
- Enrich our humanity by broadening our understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society.
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Originate from or are in collaboration with the following constituencies encouraged by White House Executive Orders:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
- Tribal Colleges and Universities,
- American Indian and Alaska Native tribes,
- African American Serving Institutions,
- Hispanic Serving Institutions,
- Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and
- 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.
The NEA is accepting applications in the following disciplines at the February deadline:
- Artist Communities
- Arts Education
- Dance
- Design
- Folk & Traditional Arts
- Literature
- Local Arts Agencies
- Media Arts (If you are seeking this category, do not apply to the February deadlins but should apply directly to NEA for the July 7, 2022 deadline, per NEA guidelines. This category is not limited in the number of submissions at the July deadline.)
- Museums
- Music
- Musical Theater
- Opera
- Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works
- Theater
- Visual Arts
NEA funds projects only.
- A project may consist of one or more specific events or activities; it may be a part of an applicant's regular season or activities. Organizations that undertake a single short-term project in a year -- a ten-day jazz festival, for example -- could apply for that event, or they could identify certain components (such as the presentation of a key artist and the associated activities) as their project. Describe the activities for which our support is requested, and provide specific information on the artists, productions, venues, distribution plans, etc., that will be involved.
- Organizations may apply for any or all phases of a project, from its planning through its implementation.
- A project does not have to be new. Excellent existing projects can be just as competitive as new activities.
- Projects do not need to be large. We welcome small projects that can make a difference in a community or field.
- Projects may be in any of the Arts Endowment’s artistic disciplines.
Grant Amounts, Cost Share, and Matching Funds
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.
Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $100,000. No grant will be made below $10,000. Grants of $100,000 or more will be made only in rare instances, and only for projects that we determine demonstrate exceptional national or regional significance and impact.
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, well over half 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. NEA reserves the right to limit support of a project to a particular portion(s) or cost(s).
Application Limits
An organization may submit only one application under these FY 2021 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines, with few exceptions as listed below.
For this category, exceptions to the one-application rule are made only for:
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). If you have questions regarding eligibility as an independent component contact limitedsubs@psu.edu.
An independent component must be a unit that is both programmatically and administratively distinct from the parent organization, have its own staff and budget, and generally have an independent board that has substantial responsibility for oversight and management. To qualify as independent, a component should be equivalent to a stand-alone institution with a separate mission.
The following do not qualify as independent components:
- Academic departments of colleges and universities.
- Programs and projects of organizations.
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_GrantsInArts_2022 no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
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Cover Page
- Principal Investigator’s (PI's) names and departmental affiliation
- Co-PI's names and departmental affiliation(s)
- A list of possible participating organizations (if applicable)
- Department Head that approves/agrees to match funds
- Discipline Topic
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Project Description (no more than two pages) and identify:
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the artistic excellence of the project, which includes:
- Quality of the artists, arts organizations, arts education providers, works of art, or services that the project will involve, as appropriate.
- Artistic significance of the project.
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the artistic merit of the project, which includes the potential to:
- Celebrate America’s creativity and cultural heritage,
- Invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values, or
- Enrich humanity.
- Extent to which the project serves the organization’s community or constituency.
- Potential impact on artists (including evidence of direct payment) and the artistic field.
- Appropriateness of the project to the organization's mission, audience, community, and/or constituency.
- Appropriateness of any proposed performance measurements. This includes, where relevant, measures to assess student and/or teacher learning in arts education.
- Plans for documentation and dissemination of the project results, as appropriate.
- Ability to carry out the project based on such factors as the appropriateness of the budget, the quality and clarity of the project goals and design, the resources involved, and the qualifications of the project's personnel.
- Where appropriate, potential to reach underserved populations such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited.
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the artistic excellence of the project, which includes:
- 2-page current Bio-sketch for all PIs and Co-PIs.
Formatting Guidelines and Page Limit:
- Font/size: Times New Roman (12 pt.)
- Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
- Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.