The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will receive $50 million from the Recovery Act.  These funds will go towards the funding of direct grants for arts projects and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn.

More information about NEA plans can be found by clicking here or visiting www.nea.gov/recovery.

NEA Programs Receiving Funds

NEA Grant Programs:  $50 million

NEA Competitive Grants

Description: "One-time grants to eligible nonprofit organizations including arts organizations, local arts agencies, statewide assemblies of local arts agencies, arts service organizations, units of state or local government, and a wide range of other organizations for projects that focus on the preservation of jobs in the arts."

Type of funding: Competitive Grants

How to apply: All applicants must be previous NEA award recipients from the past four years. The application deadline is April 2, 2009.  Click here for application guidelines and information.

NEA Subgrants Program

Description:  "In addition to direct grants from the NEA, organizations have three other avenues from which to seek support through the ARRA. Approximately 50 percent of the ARRA funds will be available through subgrants awarded by:

• State arts agencies.
• Regional arts organizations of state arts agencies.
• Designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant funds.

An organization that is not eligible to receive funds directly from the NEA has the potential to receive a stimulus grant from its state arts agency, regional arts organization, or a designated local arts agency. Please monitor the Web sites of your state arts agency and regional arts organization for guidelines and application information. See contact information on the NEA web site."

Type of funding: Competitive Grants

How to apply: A list of local arts agencies receiving ARRA funds for regranting is expected to be available on the Arts Endowment's Web site by mid-July 2009.  Click here for application guidelines and information.

Grants to State and Regional Arts Organizations

Description:  "One-time grants to the designated 50 state and six jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs), their six authorized regional arts organizations (RAOs), and the national service organization for SAAs and RAOs for projects that focus on the preservation of jobs in the arts.  See the list of these organizations on the NEA site."

Type of funding: Competitve Grants

How to apply: This funding opportunity is limited to the designated 50 state and six jurisdictional arts agencies, their six authorized regional arts organizations, and the national service organization of SAAs and RAOs. All organizations must be NEA awardees at the time of application and have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts Endowment award(s) previously received.  Each organization is limited to one application.  The application deadline was March 13, 2009.  Click here for application guidelines and information.