National Arts Council Grants
The National Council on the Arts is the agency that oversees the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which is the federal granting authority for the arts. Each year, the NEA offers grants to organizations. Individual grants are made in the form of fellowships, but only for the areas of jazz, opera, literature and folk and traditional arts. There are 16 funding categories.
Other People Are Reading
-
National Endowment for the Arts
-
The NEA was established in 1965. It is the largest single funder of arts in the United States, and its fiscal year 2010 budget was $167.5 million. Over its history, it has awarded more than $4 billion for such projects as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial design competition, the Sundance Film Festival and the American Film Institute. Its mission is to bring the arts to all Americans, support excellence in new and emerging art and to provide art education.
National Council on the Arts
-
The National Council on the Arts was established in 1964 by the National Arts and Cultural Development Act. Its first members were appointed by President Lyndon Johnson and included Duke Ellington, Helen Hayes, Sidney Poitier and John Steinbeck. With the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965, the NEA was established and the 26 presidential appointees to the National Council on the Arts were designated the advisers to the new agency. Members are subject to Senate approval. In 1997, the number of advisers, who serve six-year terms, was reduced to 14. The legislation requires six senators to serve on the council for two-year terms, with nonvoting status.
-
Grants
-
Each of the 16 categories of funding areas has subcategories for the grants available. These subcategories represent the programs established in conjunction with the National Council on the Arts. The subcategories for 2010 were: Grants for Art Projects; the Arts on Radio and Television; NEA Mayors' Institute on City Design 25th Anniversary Initiative; and Coming Up Taller. You must determine which subcategory your project falls under. Each subcategory has its own grant limits. Some grants require matching funds; others do not.
Deadlines
-
In January of each year, the NEA publishes its funding guidelines, noting any program changes that affect returning grantees. The guidelines also establish the deadlines for applications and other requirements of the grants. Applications received after the deadline are not considered. The amount of the grants can be as little as $5,000 and as much as $200,000. Matching grants can be higher.
How to Apply
-
All applicants must apply online. The first step is to register with grants.gov, a process that could take up to two weeks. Once registered, you can download the application packet and begin to assemble its requirements. The NEA requests that you convert your documents to a PDF format before submission to retain formatting. Once you upload your application, go to "Track My Application" to ensure that it was validated and accepted.
-
References
- National Endowment for the Arts: Apply for a Grant
- National Endowment for the Arts:Who Should Use Grants.gov
- National Endowment for the Arts: Dance
- National Endowment for the Arts: At a Glance
- National Endowment for the Arts: National Council on the Arts
- National Council on the Arts: History and Purpose
