National Endowment for the Arts

Description

An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2016 categories: Art Works or Challenge America. The Arts Endowment's support of a project may start on or after January 1, 2016. Grants awarded under these guidelines generally may cover a period of performance of up to two years. An organization that has received Challenge America grants in FY 2013, 2014, and 2015 may not apply for a Challenge America grant under these FY 2016 guidelines. Grant Program Description The Challenge America category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development. This category encourages and supports the following two objectives: • Engagement: Engaging the public with diverse and excellent art. • Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts. You will be asked to select the objective that is most relevant to your project. When making selections, you should identify the objective(s) that reflect the results expected to be achieved by your project. If you receive a grant, you also will be asked to provide evidence of those results. Challenge America grants: • Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. • Are limited to the specific types of projects outlined below. • Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education

Contact

NEA Web Manager
webmgr@arts.gov