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NEA Funding

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) promotes creativity and public access to the arts in communities across the country through direct grants to arts organizations, state funding partnerships, and national initiatives.  NEA funding increases the capacity of orchestras to provide public access to performances, preserve great classical works, support arts education for children and adults, and nurture the creative endeavors of contemporary classical musicians, composers, and conductors.  

In the links Below, the League provides the latest information about NEA grants to orchestras, recent policy developments, and opportunities for orchestra advocates to urge Congress to restore NEA funding.

NEA Funding

NEA Funding Opportunities

Grants awarded to orchestras by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) provide critical funding for projects that increase access to music in communities nationwide. NEA funding both directly supports local projects and also spurs critical giving from other sources like private foundations, corporations, and individual contributors.

NEA Funding

Take Action: Support NEA Funding

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants awarded to orchestras, and NEA funds administered by state arts agencies, support projects that increase access to music in communities nationwide. NEA funding to orchestras also spurs critical giving from other sources like private foundations, corporations, and individual contributors.

NEA Funding News

  • Advocacy

    January 21, 2026

    NEA, Bow Owners, Visas, and Charitable Giving

    In This Issue: Congress Preserves NEA Funding as FY26 Grants Roll Out; Learn Essential Next Steps for Bow Owners; Visa Processing Changes and Challenges; How Will 2026 Charitable Giving Respond to Tax Policy Changes?

  • NEA Funding

    January 8, 2026

    FY26 NEA Grants to Orchestras

    47 orchestras are direct grant recipients of Grants for Arts Projects (GAP1) awards totaling $1,445,000 million and 14 orchestras are receiving Challenge America grants totaling $140,000, plus there are numerous orchestral- and instrument training program-related projects receiving NEA grants.

  • Advocacy

    December 16, 2025

    Preparing for 2026 and Beyond: NEA Grants, Pernambuco, and More

    In This Issue: Action: Your Voice Makes a Difference: Plan Ahead for 2026; Know Your Bow: What's New and Next; NEA Launches FY27 Grant Guidelines and Announces New Awards; Tax Policy Changes Spur Adjustments to Individual Giving

  • Advocacy

    November 21, 2025

    NEA Updates, Worldwide Vote on Bows, 2026 Giving Resources, and More

    In This Issue: Action: Shutdown Ends, Advocacy and Federal Action Continues; Latest News on NEA Grants Process; Action Next Week on Worldwide Use of Bows; Major Programmatic Transfers from U.S. Department of Education; Individual Giving Adjusts as Tax Policies Change; Visa Processing Address Changes: Grace Period Ends Next Week

  • Advocacy

    October 3, 2025

    Updates on Government Shutdown, Visas, Ticketing, and Protected Species

    In This Issue: Action: NEA Advocacy Continues Amid Government Shutdown; Visa Updates: Shutdown Impact Plus Major Processing Changes; Know Your Bow: CITES Policy Decisions Ahead; Ticket Fraud Policies Under FTC Review

  • Advocacy

    September 2, 2025

    Policy Action Ahead as Congress Returns to DC

    In This Issue: Action: Speaking Up for Music and Conservation; Support Arts in Education Week: September 14-20, 2025; Keeping Up Momentum on NEA Advocacy; Increased Visa Wait Time and Processing Issues

  • Advocacy

    July 28, 2025

    Speak Up as Congress Acts on Funding

    In This Issue: News! Congress Acts on Federal Funding for Arts and Culture; Action to Restore Public Media Funding; and Advancing Arts Education for All

  • Advocacy

    July 14, 2025

    Urge House to Protect Funding for NEA in FY26

    This morning, the House Appropriations Committee released its recommendation for FY26 Interior funding, which includes drastic cuts of nearly 35% for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

  • Advocacy

    July 8, 2025

    Major Updates on Tax Reform, Ticketing, and Much More

    In This Issue: Congress Passes Comprehensive Tax Reform; NEA Grants and Updates; Ticketing Reform Under Consideration by DOJ and FTC; News for Bow Owners: Protected Species Policy; and New Edition of Form for Artist Visa Petitions, And New Fees to Come

  • Advocacy

    June 6, 2025

    Travel Ban, Bipartisan NEA Action, Public Broadcasting Funding, and Protected Species

    In This Issue: Travel Ban and Partial Restrictions Issued by Administration; Bipartisan House Letter Calls for Reinstatement of NEA Grants; Public Media Funding Faces Serious Threat in Rescission Request; Protecting Species, Supporting Music

See all NEA Funding News Items

Contact Congress

Raising your voice about key issues before Congress is essential. Contacting Congress is easy to do, and your communication with elected officials will ensure that communities nationwide continue to benefit from orchestral music.

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