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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

    May 5, 2025

    NEA Issues Grant Terminations: Speak Up Now

    In an unprecedented reversal of approved federal support for the arts, late on the evening of May 2, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) sent notifications to many current grantees, terminating awards in progress, effective May 31, 2025. The agency also withdrew many offers of new FY25 grant awards that had been accepted by applicants, publicly announced by the NEA, and were awaiting final official notification to start receiving funding.

  • Advocacy

    April 4, 2025

    Urgent: Speak Up for Federal Cultural Agencies

    Action is rapidly unfolding by the Administration, in the courts, and across Congress as the nation’s arts and cultural agencies continue to be threatened with restrictions and dismantling. Join us in speaking up to protect our nation’s investment in arts and culture.

  • Advocacy

    March 25, 2025

    Policy Landscape Resources, International Artist News, and Education Executive Order

    In This Issue: Urgent: Keep Pace with the U.S. Visa Process; U.S. Department of Education Directed to Close; and Resources on NEA and Big-Picture Policy Landscape

  • Advocacy

    March 17, 2025

    Federal Budget, New and Renewed Targets in Executive Orders, and More

    In This Issue: Congress Passes FY25 Funding; IMLS, Voice of America, and FMCS Targeted by Executive Order; Court Lifts Injunction on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Orders; Supporting Music Education as Federal Debates Unfold; Check Out the League's Latest Resources

  • Advocacy

    March 10, 2025

    NEA Modifies Compliance Requirements for First Step of Grant Applications

    The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has published further updates to the FY26 grant application process in response to recent legal action.

  • Advocacy

    March 7, 2025

    New Court Action as NEA Grant Deadline Nears

    As the National Endowment for the Arts implements recent Executive Orders, grant applicants are newly required to certify their compliance with restrictions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and “gender ideology.” Court action underway calls for halting implementation of these restrictions, as prospective applicants face a March 11 deadline for registering their intent to apply for the first round of FY26 grants.

  • Advocacy

    February 28, 2025

    Court Action Prompts NEA Updates to Assurance of Compliance

    As reported in the League's Advocacy Update earlier this week, on Friday, February 21, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction (PDF) blocking implementation of two executive orders (EO 14151, and EO 14173) attempting to terminate or change federal grants and contracts for programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Advocacy

    February 24, 2025

    Policy Action Plan, NEA Updates, Bipartisan Nonprofit Support, and More

    In This Issue: Four Policy Actions You Can Take Today; Latest News on NEA Funding Requirements; New Data on Bipartisan Support for Nonprofit Sector; Protecting Species, Supporting Music

  • Advocacy

    February 12, 2025

    Revised FY26 NEA Grant Guidelines Announced

    As reported late last week, the National Endowment for the Arts has posted revised grant guidelines and deadlines for FY2026 Grants for Arts Projects.

  • Advocacy

    February 6, 2025

    New Deadlines and NEA Grant Guidance Ahead

    The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has shared an update about its FY2026 grant process, including new deadlines, plans for revised grant guidelines, and eligibility rules.

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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