NEA Grants for Arts Projects

The postmark deadline for Access to Artistic Excellence applicants affected by Hurricane Charley in FLORIDA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA and NORTH CAROLINA has been extended to August 26. If you have any questions, please contact your discipline specialist.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts - both new and established - bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education.

The National Endowment for the Arts is interested in projects, regardless of the size or type of applicant organization, that are of national, regional, or field-wide significance; that tour in several states; or that provide an unusual or especially valuable contribution because of geographic location. This includes local projects that can have significant effects within communities or that are likely to serve as models for a field.

For the past several years, the guidelines have directed applicants to the Arts Endowment through a particular category of funding (e.g., Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth). This year, the approach is through the field or discipline (e.g., Dance) of an applicant' s project. The Arts Endowment has made this change to simplify the application process and to underscore the importance of artistic field and discipline at the agency. The categories remain to focus the Arts Endowment's priorities and to organize the opportunities that are available for projects in the various arts fields and disciplines.

An organization may submit only one application under these FY 2005 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines. Assistance is available to eligible organizations of all sizes for projects in:

Dance, Design, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literature, Local Arts Agencies, Media Arts: Film/Radio/Television, Multidisciplinary, Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting, Theater, Visual Arts.

Within each field or discipline above, organizations may apply through one of the following categories:

Access to Artistic Excellence: To foster and preserve excellence in the arts and provide access to the arts for all Americans. This category combines the Artistic Creativity and Preservation and Challenge America: Access to the Arts Standard Review Grant categories that appeared in the FY 2004 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines. An organization may request a grant amount from $5,000 - $150,000.
Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants: To support small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. This category expands the support that was available previously for Challenge America: Access to the Arts Fast-Track Review Grants. Grants are for $10,000.
Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth: To advance learning in the arts for children and youth. An organization may request a grant amount from from $5,000 - $150,000.

If you have questions:

Call: see "Agency Contacts."

202/682-5496 Voice/T.T.Y. (Text-Telephone, a device for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.)

Individuals who do not use conventional print should contact the Arts Endowment's Office for AccessAbility at 202-682-5532 for help in acquiring an audio recording of these guidelines.