Everyone thinks the arts are not for them, that they don’t have an artistic bone in their body. Nothing can be further from the truth. The arts are for everyone, just look at the Artistic Disciplines and Funding Priorities.
Artistic Disciplines
- Arts Education
- Literacy Arts
- Challenge America
- Local Arts Agencies
- Presenting and Multi-disciplinary Works
- Dance
- Museums
- Theatre and Musical Theatre
- Design and Our Town
- Music
- Visual and Media Arts
- Folk and Traditional Arts
- Opera
The NEA Funding Priorities
- Funding Priority 1: Arts and Health
- Military personal, veterans, and their families
- Pediatric care and other childhood diseases
- Opioid use prevention treatment and recovery
- Disaster relief and emergency response and preparedness
- Care of older adults experiencing cognitive or neurodegenerative health issues
- Funding Priority 2: Arts and the Economy
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) competency training
- Career development for people with disabilities
- Preparation for high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future
- Funding Priority 3: Arts and Education
- Learners with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities.
- View more detailed list of priorities.
The NEA’s 3 Basic Programs
| Program Name | Brief Description | Funding Amounts | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Art Projects (GAP) | GAP’s experience the arts and foster and celebrate America’s artistic heritage and cultural legacy. GAP’s arts education benefits all stages of life, and support arts & health programs including creative arts therapies. GAPs are for a specific set of set of activities and not to be used for general operating or seasonal support. They can focus on one or more funding priorities. | $10,000 – $100,000 Sub-granting Exception $30,000 – $150,000 Challenge America Exception $10,000 only 1:1 Cost share required. Sources may include both cash and in-kind. | Gap 2 – Part 1 July 9, 2026 Gap 2 – Part 2 July 14–21, 2026 Partnership Full Application Sept. 2026. Gap1 – Passed Next Est. Feb. 27 |
| Research Awards | Discrete research studies that investigate the value a/o impact of the arts in American life. See funding priorities list above. Applicants can apply more than once a year. Outputs: Conduct a research study or a set of studies; Write a 15-30-page research paper of publishable quality; Abstract/Summary; and Full Research Paper. | $200,000 – $100,000 | Est. March 2027 |
| Research Lab Awards | Long term research agendas that include multiple empirical studies, dissemination of various products or services, and must include an interdisciplinary team of researchers, a technical working group, and an arts partner. See funding priorities list above. Applicants may only apply once per year. Outputs: See below. | $100,000 – $300,000 | Est. March 2027 |
Please Note
- Active Research Labs can be found at on the National Endowment of the Arts website.
- 1:1 cost share does not need to be committed at time of application but you cannot use Federal Funds.
- Cost share sources can be as follows: cash, private foundations, individual donations, ticket sales, and in-kind services.
- Applicants may apply to both research awards and other NEA programs but there cannot be overlapping costs and activities.
Research Labs—What Does It Require?
- Research agenda, keystone study, and related activities
- Chose as topic area.
- Create an interdisciplinary team.
- Conduct a keystone study or a set of studies.
- Develop a plan for sustaining a multi-year research agenda.
- Products & Services
- Maintain a website for the lab.
- Write a 15–30 page research paper of publishable quality.
- Abstract/Summary.
- Full research Paper.
- Prepare and deliver at least 2 presentations per year.
- Generate other research products (ex: datasets, questionnaires, web app, or other technologies).
- Administration
- Establish and support a technical working group.
- Participate in interdisciplinary NEA research lab meetings.