Opportunity Information: Apply for 2010NEA01AAE2
Apply for 2010NEA01AAE2
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Access to Artistic Excellence, FY 2011" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.024 Promotion of the ArtsGrants to Organizations and Individuals.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2010 and posted on Mar 23, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 12, 2010 August 12, 2010, Application Deadline An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2011 Grants for Arts Projects categories Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. June 1, 2011, Earliest Beginning Date for Arts Endowment Period of Support. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts Special district governments City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments County governments.
- APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY Nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations units of state or local government or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes may apply. Applicants may be arts organizations, local arts agencies, arts service organizations, local education agencies (school districts), and other organizations that can help advance the goals of the Arts Endowment. To be eligible, the applicant organization must Meet the Arts Endowments Legal Requirements including nonprofit, tax exempt status at the time of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf. Applications through a fiscal agent are not allowed.) Have a three year history of programming prior to the application deadline. Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts Endowment grant(s) previously received. See How to Prepare and Submit an Application for the documentation that is required to demonstrate eligibility. The designated fifty state and six jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts organizations (RAOs) may serve as consortium members and participants including consortium lead applicants. However, all grant funds must be passed on to the other consortium members. Each SAA or RAO may serve as the lead applicant for only one consortium project. SAAs and RAOs are eligible to apply on their own behalf through the Partnership Agreements guidelines. Ineligible applications will be returned. Application Limits An organization may submit only one application under these FY 2011 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines, with few exceptions as listed below.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The NEA Access to Artistic Excellence (FY 2011) opportunity was a discretionary National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant program designed to support projects that combine high-quality artistic work with broader public access to the arts. The program emphasized that strong projects often do more than one thing at once: they uphold artistic excellence while also expanding who can encounter, participate in, and benefit from the arts. A special emphasis for this cycle was innovation, meaning proposals that explored new ways of making art, pushed the field in new directions, or used creative resources in fresh, effective ways.
Funding was intended for organizations proposing projects that build artistic activity and public engagement. Examples of supported purposes included helping artists create, refine, perform, or exhibit work; presenting artistic works representing all cultures and historical periods; preserving important artworks and cultural traditions; expanding and diversifying audiences; offering opportunities for people to experience and participate in a wide range of art forms; strengthening the effectiveness and capacity of arts organizations and artists; and using the arts as a tool for community strengthening. The NEA also highlighted a priority interest in reaching underserved populations, defined as people whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. The announcement notes that this goal is supported in part through Challenge America funds, signaling that access-focused outreach to underserved communities aligned strongly with NEA priorities.
The grant had a required cost share or match, meaning recipients needed to provide non-federal matching funds as part of the project budget. Award amounts ranged from a minimum (floor) of $5,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $150,000. The funding listing was associated with CFDA 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts - Grants to Organizations and Individuals), and the funding instrument type was a grant.
Eligibility was broad but centered on U.S.-based organizations rather than individuals. Eligible applicants included nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that specific nonprofit category listing), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, city or township governments, county governments, state governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Beyond fitting an eligible applicant type, organizations had to meet the NEA legal requirements (including nonprofit tax-exempt status at the time of application), apply directly on their own behalf (applications through fiscal agents were not allowed), and have at least a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline. Applicants also needed to be up to date on reporting: any organization with previous NEA awards had to have submitted acceptable final report packages by the required due dates, or the application could be deemed ineligible and returned.
A key administrative restriction was the application limit: an organization could submit only one application under the FY 2011 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines across the listed categories (Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, and Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth), with only limited exceptions referenced in the full guidelines. The announcement also described how State Arts Agencies (SAAs) and Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) could participate in consortium arrangements, including serving as consortium lead applicants, but with constraints: grant funds had to be passed through to other consortium members, and each SAA or RAO could lead only one consortium project. SAAs and RAOs could also apply separately through Partnership Agreements guidelines, indicating a separate NEA funding pathway for those entities.
Important dates for this opportunity included a posted date of March 23, 2010, and an application deadline of August 12, 2010 (with the archive date listed as September 11, 2010). For successful applicants, the earliest project start date for the NEA period of support was June 1, 2011, which mattered for planning timelines, contracting, and when funded activities could begin.
Finally, the notice clarified a major statutory limitation: Congress generally prohibited the NEA from awarding direct grants to individuals, with only specific exceptions (Literature Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, NEA National Heritage Fellowships in Folk and Traditional Arts, and NEA Opera Honors). In practical terms, that meant this Access to Artistic Excellence opportunity was intended for organizations, not individual artists applying on their own, even though many supported projects could directly benefit artists through employment, commissions, residencies, performances, exhibitions, and related opportunities. For additional details and application materials, the announcement pointed to the NEA grants application page at http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/index.html.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NEA Access to Artistic Excellence (FY 2011) grant opportunity?
Access to Artistic Excellence (FY 2011) was a discretionary National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant program intended to support projects that pair high-quality artistic work with broader public access to the arts. The program framed strong projects as those that maintain artistic excellence while also expanding who can encounter, participate in, and benefit from the arts.
What was the main focus of the program?
The program focused on projects that combine artistic excellence with public access. In other words, proposals were expected to demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a meaningful plan to broaden engagement with the arts.
Was there a special emphasis for the FY 2011 cycle?
Yes. A special emphasis for this cycle was innovation. The opportunity highlighted proposals that explored new ways of making art, pushed the field in new directions, or used creative resources in fresh, effective ways.
What kinds of activities could the grant support?
Funding was intended for organizations proposing projects that build artistic activity and public engagement. Examples described in the opportunity included:
- Helping artists create, refine, perform, or exhibit work
- Presenting artistic works representing all cultures and historical periods
- Preserving important artworks and cultural traditions
- Expanding and diversifying audiences
- Offering opportunities for people to experience and participate in a wide range of art forms
- Strengthening the effectiveness and capacity of arts organizations and artists
- Using the arts as a tool for community strengthening
Did the NEA prioritize serving certain communities?
Yes. The NEA stated a priority interest in reaching underserved populations, defined as people whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
How does Challenge America relate to this opportunity?
The notice indicated that the goal of reaching underserved populations was supported in part through Challenge America funds, signaling that access-focused outreach to underserved communities strongly aligned with NEA priorities in this cycle.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts?
Award amounts ranged from a minimum (floor) of $5,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $150,000.
Was a cost share or match required?
Yes. The grant required a cost share or match, meaning recipients needed to provide non-federal matching funds as part of the project budget.
What was the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type was a grant.
What CFDA number was associated with this funding?
The listing was associated with CFDA 45.024 (Promotion of the Arts - Grants to Organizations and Individuals).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad but centered on U.S.-based organizations rather than individuals. Eligible applicant types included:
- Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that specific nonprofit category listing)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
- Special district governments
- City or township governments
- County governments
- State governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
Could individuals apply directly for this grant?
No. The notice explained that Congress generally prohibited the NEA from awarding direct grants to individuals, with limited exceptions (Literature Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, NEA National Heritage Fellowships in Folk and Traditional Arts, and NEA Opera Honors). As a result, this Access to Artistic Excellence opportunity was intended for organizations, not individual artists applying on their own.
If individuals could not apply, could artists still benefit from projects funded under this opportunity?
Yes. While individuals were not intended to apply directly, the notice indicated that supported projects could still directly benefit artists through employment, commissions, residencies, performances, exhibitions, and related opportunities.
What organizational requirements applied beyond being an eligible entity type?
In addition to fitting an eligible applicant category, organizations had to meet NEA legal requirements (including nonprofit tax-exempt status at the time of application). Applicants were also required to apply directly on their own behalf (applications through fiscal agents were not allowed) and to have at least a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
Were fiscal agents allowed to submit applications on behalf of other organizations?
No. The opportunity stated that organizations had to apply directly on their own behalf and that applications through fiscal agents were not allowed.
Was there a minimum history requirement for applicants?
Yes. Applicants needed to have at least a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
How did prior NEA grant reporting affect eligibility?
The notice stated that any organization with previous NEA awards had to have submitted acceptable final report packages by the required due dates. If reporting was not up to date, the application could be deemed ineligible and returned.
Was there a limit on how many applications an organization could submit?
Yes. An organization could submit only one application under the FY 2011 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines across the listed categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America Fast Track, and Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. The notice referenced only limited exceptions in the full guidelines.
How could State Arts Agencies (SAAs) and Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) participate?
The notice described that SAAs and RAOs could participate in consortium arrangements, including serving as consortium lead applicants, with constraints. Grant funds had to be passed through to other consortium members, and each SAA or RAO could lead only one consortium project.
Could SAAs and RAOs also apply through another NEA pathway?
Yes. The notice stated that SAAs and RAOs could also apply separately through Partnership Agreements guidelines, which is a separate NEA funding pathway for those entities.
What were the key dates for the FY 2011 Access to Artistic Excellence opportunity?
The opportunity listed a posted date of March 23, 2010, and an application deadline of August 12, 2010. An archive date was listed as September 11, 2010.
When could a funded project start?
For successful applicants, the earliest project start date for the NEA period of support was June 1, 2011.
Why does the earliest project start date matter?
The notice emphasized that the earliest start date matters for planning timelines, contracting, and determining when funded activities could begin within the NEA period of support.
Where did the announcement direct applicants for additional details and application materials?
The notice pointed to the NEA grants application page at http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/index.html for more details and application materials.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
Next opportunity: DoD Autism Exploration Hypothesis Development Award
Previous opportunity: Indoor Air Quality Projects in EPA Region 10 (2010)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 2010NEA01AAE2
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (2010NEA01AAE2) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Lowell Folk Festival Apply for NPS 10 NERO 0006 Funding Number: NPS 10 NERO 0006 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $88,500 |
| NEA Project 20/20 Apply for NEAPS1004 Funding Number: NEAPS1004 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| NEA Arts on Radio and Television, FY 2011 Apply for 2010NEA01ARTV Funding Number: 2010NEA01ARTV Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Art and Conservation Stewardship Program Apply for NPS 10 NERO 0013 Funding Number: NPS 10 NERO 0013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $54,000 |
| NEA Creativity and Aging in America, FY 2010 Apply for NEAPS1005 Funding Number: NEAPS1005 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Cataloging Archeological Collections Apply for NPS NOI J8158100901 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8158100901 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $39,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships Translation Projects, FY 2012 Apply for 2011NEA03LFTP Funding Number: 2011NEA03LFTP Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships Fiction and Creative Non fiction, FY2012 Apply for 2011NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2011NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Official U.S. Presentation at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition, (2012), Venice, Italy Apply for S LMAQM 11 RFGP ECA 001 Funding Number: S LMAQM 11 RFGP ECA 001 Agency: OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS MANAGEMENT Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Process and Catalog Archives Collections Apply for NPS NOI J8158110402 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8158110402 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| Maine Acadian Culture Project Apply for NPS 11 NERO 0029 Funding Number: NPS 11 NERO 0029 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Cataloging Archeological Backlog Apply for NPS NOI P11AT00568 Funding Number: NPS NOI P11AT00568 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,907 |
| NEA Arts in Media, FY2012 Apply for 2011NEA01AIM Funding Number: 2011NEA01AIM Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Project Management Services for Architectural and Engineering Design of the New National Museum in Kabul, Afghanistan Apply for SCAPPD 11 CA 130 SCA 060511 Funding Number: SCAPPD 11 CA 130 SCA 060511 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Official U.S. Representation at the 13th Cairo International Biennale, Cairo, Egypt Apply for S LMAQM 12 ECA EGYPT Funding Number: S LMAQM 12 ECA EGYPT Agency: OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS MANAGEMENT Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $135,000 |
| Official U.S. Representation at the 55th International Art Exhibition, Venice, Italy Apply for S LMAQM 12 ECA ITALY Funding Number: S LMAQM 12 ECA ITALY Agency: OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS MANAGEMENT Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $315,000 |
| Improve Conditions for Ongoing Storage Use in Battery Wallace Phase II Apply for NPS NOI P11AT01116 Funding Number: NPS NOI P11AT01116 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| U.S. Afghan National Museum Partnership Apply for SCAPPD 11 CA 140 SCA 071511 Funding Number: SCAPPD 11 CA 140 SCA 071511 Agency: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| SAMO Artists in Residence Apply for NPS P11AT82090 Funding Number: NPS P11AT82090 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $9,000 |
| Artist in Residence Program Apply for P12AC10084 Funding Number: P12AC10084 Agency: National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $80,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "2010NEA01AAE2", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.