NEA Art Works CFDA 45.024

The NEA's guiding principle is embodied in one sentence: "Art works."

"Art works" is a noun; the creation of works of art by artists. "Art works" is a verb; art works on and within people to change and inspire them. "Art works" is a statement; arts jobs are real jobs that are part of the real economy.

Art Works encourages and supports the following four outcomes:
•Creation: The creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence,
•Engagement: Public engagement with diverse and excellent art,
•Learning: Lifelong learning in the arts, and
•Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts.

Applicants will be asked to select the outcome that is most relevant to their projects (they also will be able to select a secondary outcome). When making selections, applicants should identify the outcome(s) that reflect the results expected to be achieved by their project. If a grant is received, grantees also will be asked to provide evidence of those results. Applications are due March 8, 2012.

1.Creation: The portfolio of American art is expanded.

Support is available for projects to create art that meets the highest standards of excellence across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations. Through the creation of art, these projects are intended to replenish and rejuvenate America's enduring cultural legacy. Creation activities may include:

•Commissioning, development, and production of new work.
•Design competitions and design or planning projects for new arts or cultural spaces or landscapes.
•Workshops and residencies for artists where the primary purpose is to create new art.
•Opportunities for writers and translators to create or refine their work.
•Projects that employ innovative forms of art-making and design.
The anticipated results for Creation projects are new works of art. If a grant is received, at the end of the project grantees will need to provide evidence of the new art works created. If the project activities do not lead to the creation of completed works of art within the period of a grant, grantees may demonstrate progress toward the creation of art by describing the artists' participation and work accomplished by the end of the grant. Before applying, please review the reporting requirements for Creation.

2.Engagement: Americans throughout the nation experience art.

Support is available for projects that provide public engagement with artistic excellence across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations. These projects should engage the public directly with the arts, providing Americans with new opportunities to have profound and meaningful arts experiences. Engagement activities may include:

•Exhibitions, performances, concerts, and readings.
•Film screenings.
•Touring and outreach activities.
•Restaging of repertory and master works of historical significance.
•Art fairs and festivals.
•Documentation, preservation, and conservation of art work.
•Public programs that raise awareness of cultural heritage.
•Broadcasts or recordings through Web sites; live streaming, audio- and video-on-demand, podcasts, MP3 files, or other digital applications; television; and radio.
•Design charrettes.
•Publication, production, and promotion of digital, audio, or online publications; books; magazines; catalogues; and searchable information databases.
•Services to artists and arts organizations.
•Projects that extend the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
•Projects that employ innovative forms of art and design delivery.
The anticipated results for Engagement projects are direct experiences with the arts for the public. If a grant is received, at the end of the project grantees will need to describe the participants' experiences as well as the composition of the participant group. If the nature of the project does not allow for the documentation of participants' experiences explicitly, grantees may document the composition of the participant group and numbers of participants and activities, and describe the activities used to engage the public with art. Before applying, please review the reporting requirements for Engagement.

3.Learning: Americans of all ages acquire knowledge or skills in the arts.

Support is available for projects that provide Americans of all ages with arts learning opportunities across a diverse spectrum of artistic disciplines and geographic locations. These projects should focus on the acquisition of knowledge or skills in the arts, thereby building public capacity for lifelong participation in the arts. Learning activities may include:

•Lifelong learning activities for children, adults, and intergenerational groups.
•Standards-based arts education activities for K-12 students.
•Workshops and demonstrations.
•Mentorships and apprenticeship programs.
•Professional development for artists, teaching artists, teachers, and other educators.
•Assessments and evaluations of arts learning.
•Online courses or training.
•Lectures and symposia.
•Production, publication, and distribution of teachers' guides.
•Innovative practices in arts learning for Americans of all ages.
The anticipated results for Learning projects are increases or improvements in the participants' knowledge or skills in the arts. If a grant is received, at the end of the project grantees will need to describe the participants' learning, the composition of the participant group, and the numbers of participants and activities, as well as the activities used to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge or skills in the arts. Grantees who receive support through the Arts Education discipline for standards-based projects will be required to report on additional measurable results, including identifying specific learning outcomes, describing the assessment method, and reporting on the number of participants who demonstrated learning. Before applying, please review the reporting requirements for Learning.

4.Livability: American communities are strengthened through the arts.

Support is available for projects that incorporate the arts and design into strategies to improve the livability of communities. Livability consists of a variety of factors that contribute to the quality of life in a community such as ample opportunities for social, civic, and cultural participation; education, employment, and safety; sustainability; affordable housing, ease of transportation, and access to public buildings and facilities; and an aesthetically pleasing environment. The arts can enhance livability by providing new avenues for expression and creativity. Arts- and design-related Livability activities may include:

•The development of plans for cultural and/or creative sector growth.
•The enhancement of public spaces through design or new art works.
•Arts or design activities that are intended to foster community interaction in public spaces.
•Cultural sustainability activities that contribute to community identity and sense of place.
•The engagement of artists, designers, and/or arts organizations in plans and processes to improve community livability and enhance the unique characteristics of a community.
•Innovative community-based partnerships that integrate the arts with livability efforts.

Please note that certain types of Livability activities will require applicants to provide information in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act. See here for more information.

Innovation

The NEA recognizes that arts and design organizations are often in the forefront of innovation in their work and strongly encourages innovation within the outcomes listed above. Innovative projects are characterized as those that:

•Are likely to prove transformative with the potential for meaningful change....

NEA Site Announcement

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Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: 2012NEA01AW1
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Jan 04, 2012
Creation Date: Jan 04, 2012
Original Closing Date for Applications: Mar 08, 2012 The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Mar 08, 2012.
Current Closing Date for Applications: Mar 08, 2012 The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on Mar 08, 2012.
Archive Date: April 07, 2012
Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Category of Funding Activity: Arts (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)

Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards:
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $100,000
Award Floor: $10,000
CFDA Number(s): 45.024 -- Promotion of the Arts_Grants to Organizations and Individuals
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

Grants.gov Site Announcment