Young people with disabilities wearing painters' smocks hold out painted pieces of pottery that they created.

ArtMix in Indianapolis, IN, is the recipient of Arts Endowment grants to support a vocational internship program focused on youth and young adults with disabilities. Photo courtesy of ArtMix, Inc[EA1.1]

Three young girls in matching T-shirts and brightly colored sunglasses sit outside with musical instruments. In the foreground, two of the girls are turned and smiling at each other.

Michigan’s Accent Pontiac is the recipient of Arts Endowment grants to support an instrumental music education program for students. Photo courtesy of Jeff Dunn Photography

On an outdoor stage, two men play guitar and fiddle against a backdrop showing the logo of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Americana and Bluegrass duo Kyle Dilingham and Peter Markes perform at the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage at the Great American State Fair. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography

Onstage, an actress plays the role of a teacher talking to a student from her desk. Notes: suffrage anniversary, back to school. Photo courtesy of StageOne Family Theatre

A scene from Lawbreakers! (A Fast and Furious History of Women’s Suffrage) at StageOne Family Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky, supported by the Arts Endowment. Women’s Equality Day, the anniversary of the 19th amendment, is August 26th. 

A man plays the trumpet.

Wave Magnetik performs at the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage at the Great American State Fair. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography

In a darkened space, a man in military uniform lifts a small child to play with brightly colored squares on a lit board.

A military family explores the Dayton Art Institute during a Blue Star Museums event in Dayton, OH. Learn more about this program offering free access to museums for military families at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums. Photo credit: Carrs & Co Photography House

A man performs on an outdoor stage, singing and playing guitar. His left arms ends above the elbow, is wrapped in tape and strums the guitar.

Singer-songwriter Tony Memmel and his band perform at the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage at the Great American State Fair. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography

On an outdoor stage four women sing, while wearing white tops and matching blue and white skirts. A drummer and two guitarists play behind them. The stage is decorated with large banners emblazoned with the logo for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Gospel artists and 2022 National Heritage Fellows the Legendary Ingramettes perform at the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage at the Great American State Fair. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography

Onstage, three children in brightly colored clothes face the audience. A young girl is dressed as a witch, pointing to the distance, flanked on each side by a boy and girl who shield their eyes and look off in that direction.

Students in the Missoula Children's Theatre production of Hansel and Gretel, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Photo by the Missoula Children’s Theatre

A woman wearing a sequined leotard smiles and waves while hanging from an aerial hoop. She is outside, with trees and buildings in the distance.

An aerialist with Cirque Mechanics performs at the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage at the Great American State Fair. Photo by Mike Morgan Photography

What’s Happening at the NEA

A woman in a shirt decorated like a U.S. flag speaks at a microphone on a stage
A July 4 Message from Chairman Mary Anne Carter
As America celebrates 250 years, the arts are helping us reflect on our shared history, celebrate our creativity, & inspire the future.
A Native American Hoop Dancer on stage holds intertwined hoops above his head
N8tive Hoop on the National Endowment for the Arts' Legacy Stage
Watch our video interview with Terry Goedel of N8tive Hoop
Two girls walk away from the Camera under the wing of a plane in an aircraft facility.
Find a Blue Star Museum near you
Actively serving military members and their families may visit participating museums nationwide for free this summer

News

See All News
cover of the Great American State Fair Passport with a graphic of one of the interior state pages
National Endowment for the Arts Highlights the Importance of Arts and Culture at the Great American State Fair
A packed auditorium of community members seated in wooden pews faces a small stage where two people are seated in conversation.
Announcing the 2026-2027 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Communities
Blonde woman at White House with Military Band Heads to her left and right
National Endowment for the Arts Awards "Celebrating the Nation’s 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands” Grants
Sculpture of a globe made from license plates from around the world
National Endowment for the Arts Awards Grants for Arts Projects Spotlighting the Spirit of Sports

Stories

See All Stories
Two women smile and paint
Read
Grant Spotlight: Gilda's Club Metro Detroit
Drawing of Mount Rushmore with an eagle flying in front
Read
Celebrating America’s 250th Grant Spotlight: Connecting Families Through Art at America’s State Fairs
Ronald Reagan
Read
Celebrating America’s 250th Grant Spotlight: New West Symphony

Grants

The National Endowment for the Arts awards grants to nonprofit organizations, state arts agencies, and regional arts organizations in support of arts projects across the country.
Go to the Grants section »
Volunteer to be an NEA panelist »

Impact

See the impact of the Arts Endowment on your state, and how the agency's work in research, accessibility, and other areas has had a major impact in the arts and culture of the country.
Go to the Impact section »

Some Facts about the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with opportunities for arts participation.

Approximately 2,400 Grants

Recommended for grant awards annually in all 50 states, DC, and U.S. territories.

More than 70 Percent

Percentage of Arts Endowment grants that go to small and medium-sized organizations (budgets up to $2 million).

Approximately 33 Percent

Percentage of Arts Endowment-funded activities in high-poverty neighborhoods.

Some Facts from the National Endowment for the Arts

These facts are based on the most recent data (2023) from the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), which is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research & Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department. The ACPSA tracks the annual economic impact of arts and cultural production from 35 industries, both commercial and nonprofit.

$1.2 trillion

Amount the arts and cultural industries contribute to the U.S. economy.

4.2 Percent

Percentage of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is accounted for by arts and cultural industries.

Nearly 5.4 Million

Americans work in the arts and cultural industries on payroll.

Some Facts about the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with opportunities for arts participation.

61 Cents

The Arts Endowment’s annual cost to each American.

0.003 Percent

The Arts Endowment’s percentage of the federal budget.

More Than $6 Billion

Amount awarded by the Arts Endowment since its beginning in 1965.

Some Facts from the National Endowment for the Arts

These facts are based on the most recent data (2022) from the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA), a national survey conducted in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau that has allowed cultural policymakers, arts managers, scholars, and journalists to obtain reliable statistics about American patterns of arts engagement.

Utah

The state’s percentage of adults who attended a live performing arts event (62 percent) exceeded that of the national percentage of U.S. adults (38 percent).

Vermont

The percentage of the state’s adults who read a literary work (60 percent) far exceeded the national average (38 percent).

Wisconsin

The state’s adult population created or performed any type of art at a higher percentage (73 percent) than the national average for U.S. adults (52 percent).