National Endowment for the Arts  
About Us
 

ARTS EDUCATION

The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to providing leadership in arts education. The arts are an essential component of education, and all children, not only those with specific artistic talent, benefit from an education in the arts including opportunities to create, perform, and communicate through various artistic media.

Today, the Arts Endowment's focus is on identifying and supporting model programs and projects that provide in-depth knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts to children and youth in schools and communities. Research strongly suggests that young people who learn about and participate in the arts acquire skills that help them in decision making, problem solving, creative thinking, and teamwork. An increasing number of studies also find that arts programs motivate children to learn, assisting in improving performance in core academic subjects. For some children, the arts provide the impetus to stay in school until graduation and, for others, the inspiration to pursue college education. Arts education programs will continue to play a pivotal role as the nation struggles to improve high school graduation rates, develop pre-kindergarten programs, and counter the achievement gap in urban communities.


Funding Opportunities in Arts Education


The Arts & the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 ("Recovery Act")

CFDA No. 45.024

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. (Deadline: April 2, 2009)

Continue >>

National Endowment for the Arts Education Leaders Institute: Call for State Teams for July 26 - 28, 2010, Chicago, Illinois

The Education Leaders Institute (ELI) supports the design of K-12 education with arts at the core through pioneering thinking and intensive dialogue with national leaders. ELI brings together school leaders, legislators, policy makers, educators, consultants, and scholars to envision a healthy national education environment founded on powerful arts education programs. (Deadline: January 15, 2010)

Continue >>

Grants for Arts Projects
CFDA No. 45.024

The National Endowment for the Arts' primary funding opportunities for organizations. (Multiple deadlines)

An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2010 Grants for Arts Projects categories (see "Application Limits" for the few exceptions to this rule). For most organizations, these categories represent the full range of funding options for the entire year. Applicants should examine the goal and purposes of their project as well as the review criteria of these three categories, and apply to the one category that is most relevant. The Arts Endowment will not transfer applications between categories.

Organizations may apply through one of the following categories:

  • Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth

    June 11, 2009, Application Deadline

    To advance arts education for children and youth in school-based or community-based settings. This category supports in-depth, curriculum-based arts education experiences that occur over an extended period. Projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art. All projects must include the following components: 1) the opportunity for students and their teachers to experience exemplary works of art, in live form wherever possible; 2) study of the art experienced including the acquisition of skills for practicing the art form where appropriate; 3) the performance/making of art within the discipline(s) studied; and 4) assessment of student learning according to national or state arts education standards.

     >> Continue for Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth

  • Access to Artistic Excellence

    March 12 and August 13, 2009, Application Deadlines

    To encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide access to the arts for all Americans. This category supports projects that provide short-term arts exposure or arts appreciation for children and youth as well as intergenerational education projects.

    If you wish to apply under Access to Artistic Excellence, click on the discipline that is most appropriate to your project. If you have a project that is multidisciplinary, click on Presenting.

    Artist Communities | Dance | Design | Folk & Traditional Arts
    Literature | Local Arts Agencies | Media Arts: Film/Radio/Television
    Museums | Music | Musical Theater | Opera | Presenting | Theater
    Visual Arts

    NOTE: If you have questions about whether you should apply under Learning in the Arts or Access to Artistic Excellence, read "Choosing the Right Category for Children and Youth Projects."

  • Challenge America:  Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants

    May 28, 2009, Application Deadline

    For support, primarily to small and mid-sized organizations, of projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Grants are for $10,000. Funding is not available for curriculum-based instruction in the arts.

    >> Continue for Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants


The Arts on Radio and Television
CFDA No. 45.024

Supports projects for radio and television arts programs that are intended for national broadcast. Grants generally range from $20,000 to $200,000. (Deadline: September 3, 2009)

Continue >>

Coming Up Taller

Nominate outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people. (Receipt deadline: January 31, 2008)

Continue >>


 
       
Apply for a Grant Grants