ArtsHERE

Through grants and peer learning opportunities, ArtsHERE invests in organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming, with the goal of increasing arts participation for underserved groups/communities, and sharing insights that may inform similar funding programs in the future.

See All ArtsHERE Grant Recipients

About ArtsHERE

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awards thousands of grants each year to provide diverse opportunities for arts participation. However, historically underserved communities with rich and dynamic cultural identities continue to report lower arts participation rates than other groups. To address these disparities and better understand these dynamics, the NEA, in partnership with South Arts and in collaboration with the five other U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs), launched a new grant program, ArtsHERE.

ArtsHERE supports organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming and have undertaken consistent engagement with underserved groups/communities. Grants are for specific projects that will strengthen the organization’s capacity to sustain meaningful community engagement and increase arts participation for underserved groups/communities. Grantees have access to peer-learning and technical assistance opportunities designed to share knowledge and build networks.

As a pilot program, ArtsHERE will be documented and evaluated by the National Endowment for the Arts to better understand the project activities supported and how grantees approached this work.

Who ArtsHERE is for

ArtsHERE invests in organizations that have:

• Demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming
• Undertaken consistent engagement with underserved groups/communities.

Applications are welcome from organizations that are diverse in terms of geography, scale of operations, and focus of arts programming; as well as organizations that work at the intersection of the arts and other domains, such as community development, health/well-being, climate/environment, or economic development.

What ArtsHERE Provides

Funded organizations will receive:

• Investment: Managed by South Arts, ArtsHERE will award approximately 95 nonprofit organizations with nonmatching grants of $65,000 to $130,000. Grants are for specific projects that will strengthen each organization’s capacity to sustain meaningful community engagement and increase arts participation for underserved groups/communities.
• Learning: ArtsHERE will offer grantees peer-learning and technical assistance opportunities, designed to share knowledge and build networks.
• Evaluation: As a pilot program, ArtsHERE will be documented and evaluated by the National Endowment for the Arts to better understand the project activities supported through this program and how grantees approached the work, and to inspire others. The evaluation will result in a summary of lessons learned and may inform the future of ArtsHERE and other similar funding programs and practices.

Visit ArtsHERE.org to access the guidelines and submit a Statement of Interest

Timeline

• Statement of Interest Opens: November 15, 2023
• ArtsHERE Overview Webinar: November 30, 2023 | View the webinar recording on ArtsHERE.org
• Statement of Interest Closes: January 19, 2024
• Finalists Notified: March 1, 2024
• Full Application (By Invitation) Opens: March 8, 2024
• Full Application (By Invitation) Closes: April 19, 2024
• ArtsHERE Awards Made: August 1, 2024

Throughout the Statement of Interest period, South Arts will offer Office Hours for applicants seeking support.

Sign Up for Office Hours with South Arts

ArtsHERE is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with South Arts and in collaboration with the other five U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. Wallace Foundation is supporting a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Regional Arts Organizations by providing matching funds to support ArtsHERE.