The guidelines for preparing an FY12 grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will look significantly different when released this coming January. Last week, the NEA provided highlights of some of the changes applicants can expect.
The largest NEA grant-making categories, Access to Artistic Excellence and Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth, will be replaced with a new funding category called Art Works, supporting four subcategories:
- Creation: The creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence
- Engagement: Public engagement with diverse and excellent art
- Learning: Lifelong learning in the arts
- Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts
All types of projects supported in the past under Access to Artistic Excellence will continue to be eligible under the Art Works framework.
Two additional eligibility changes will apply: Any applicant applying for an official Consortium project in Art Works must apply for an “innovative” project. If a grantee has received a Challenge America Fast-Track grant for the past three consecutive years, it is not eligible to apply to the Fast-Track category this year but may apply to other NEA funding opportunities including the new Art Works categories.
The League has posted a more detailed description of changes to the FY12 NEA grant process on our web site and will keep you posted regarding further developments!
Posted November 4, 2010
