The National Endowment for the Arts Access to Artistic Excellence grants support organizations that help to make art more accessible to more people, particularly in underserved, remote or low-income populations. The NEA awards grants to organizations that strive to provide artists with new opportunities and communities with better access to art, as well as organizations that make a continuing effort to preserve cultural diversity and traditions. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.
These grants offered by the National Endowment for the Arts support smaller-scale local organizations with proposed projects to increase underserved communities' access to art. The NEA encourages applicants to design interdisciplinary projects that bring together multiple organizations. Projects can focus on adult education and enrichment or community-based arts outreach. Grant awards are for $10,000.
These NEA grants are designed to support the arts education of children and youth. Organizations should propose projects that will allow students to participate with and engage with practicing artists and teachers. Proposed projects can involve collaborative or community-based arts projects. The NEA requires that all projects enable students to gain access to art and study art, as well as create art themselves. The educators involved in the project must then grade students according to national standards. Different organizations may team up to fulfill these various requirements. The NEA accepts both community-based and school-based project proposals. Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.