NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)
Federal matching grants of $10,000–$100,000 for arts projects, including Arts Education, from nonprofits, governments and tribes with 5+ years of arts programming.
Key facts
- Funder
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Status
- Expected to reopen
- Next deadline
- Not announced
- Amount
- $10,000–$100,000 (LAA subgranting up to $150,000)
- Who can apply
- Nonprofits, Districts, Public schools, Education organizations
- Where
- United States (national)
- Topics
- Arts
- Official page
- https://www.arts.gov/grants/grants-for-arts-projects
- Apply
- https://www.grants.gov
- Last verified
- October 13, 2026
Deadline note: Both 2026 cycles have closed (Feb 12/25 and Jul 9/21, 2026). The NEA has not yet posted dates for the next cycles.
About this funding
Grants for Arts Projects supports projects that let Americans experience the arts, celebrate artistic heritage, and benefit from arts education at all stages of life, plus arts and health programs. Disciplines: Arts Education, Challenge America, Dance, Design & Our Town, Folk & Traditional Arts, Literary Arts, Local Arts Agencies, Museums, Music, Opera, Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works, Theater & Musical Theater, and Visual & Media Arts.
Funding: Challenge America requests are $10,000 only; other GAP requests $10,000–$100,000; Local Arts Agencies subgranting $30,000–$150,000. A 1:1 cost share (cash or in-kind) is required.
Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of state or local government, or federally recognized tribes, with at least 5 years of arts programming and at least $20,000 in operating expenses in the last completed fiscal year. Generally one application per calendar year. Not available to individuals, fiscal-sponsor applications, for-profits, or State Arts Agencies/Regional Arts Organizations.
How to apply
Two cycles each year, two-part application:
1. Part 1 on Grants.gov (2026 deadlines: February 12 and July 9, 11:59 pm ET).
2. Part 2 in the NEA Applicant Portal (2026 deadlines: February 25 and July 21, 11:59 pm ET).
Read the GAP Program Guidelines and the Application Instructions for your discipline (e.g. Arts Education) before applying. Accommodation requests: accessibility@arts.gov at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)?
Nonprofits, Districts, Public schools, Education organizations
How much funding does NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) offer?
$10,000–$100,000 (LAA subgranting up to $150,000)
When is the NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) deadline?
Not announced. Both 2026 cycles have closed (Feb 12/25 and Jul 9/21, 2026). The NEA has not yet posted dates for the next cycles.
How do I apply for NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)?
Two cycles each year, two-part application:
1. Part 1 on Grants.gov (2026 deadlines: February 12 and July 9, 11:59 pm ET).
2. Part 2 in the NEA Applicant Portal (2026 deadlines: February 25 and July 21, 11:59 pm ET).
Read the GAP Program Guidelines and the Application Instructions for your discipline (e.g. Arts Education) before applying. Accommodation requests: accessibility@arts.gov at least 2 weeks before the deadline.