Applicants are invited to apply for the New England States Touring Grant Program.
Donor Name: New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/01/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
There are three distinct grant opportunities for New England nonprofit organizations: NEST 1, NEST 2, and NEST 3. Organizations serving rural communities and/or deeply engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are encouraged to apply.
NEST 1
Funds the public presentation and engagement of a New England artist presented by a New England nonprofit organization based in a different New England state from the artist’s home state.
- Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee.
- The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory.
NEST 2
Funds the public presentation and community engagement activities of a New England artist presented by two New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include one presenting organization based inside of the artist’s home state and one other organization from outside of the artist’s home state.
- Both presenting organizations must submit their own application and both applications must be submitted at the same deadline.
- There are three application deadlines each year. They are the first business days of August, December, and March.
- Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee.
- The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory.
NEST 3
Funds tours, including public presentation and community engagement activities, of regional, national, or international artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include a minimum of three New England organizations in different communities presenting the same artist. The organizations applying must be from at least two different New England states.
- Each organization is responsible for reviewing the program goals and criteria, negotiating the terms of the engagement with the artist, and completing a NEST 3 application.
- Organizations may submit up to three NEST 3 applications.
- The annual deadline is the first business day of March.
- Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee to a maximum of $10,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee.
- New England artists must be listed as NEST-eligible on Creative Ground.
- For non-New England artists, an artist work sample must be submitted by one of the touring partners.
- Grant period: Touring projects must occur between June 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025.
Funding Criteria
The amount of funding awarded is based on the extent to which the project meets the criteria. NEST 3 projects will be assessed on the individual strength of each partner’s application and the collective strength of the tour. The funding criteria are:
- Clear rationale for how the project aligns with the organization’s arts programming goals and its significance for the community.
- Collaborative planning among tour partners and artists to provide a meaningful experience for the artist and partner organizations and their communities. The featured artist(s) should be included in project planning. (Applicable for NEST 2 & 3 only).
- Additional activities beyond the performance, which provide opportunities for the artist(s) in this engagement to meaningfully connect with various sectors of the community. Cross-sector exchanges (connecting arts and non-arts organizations) and collaboration are strongly encouraged.
- Expands access to the arts for all New England communities, including rural and/or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. NEFA acknowledges structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, language, culture, and geography, and strives to counter those inequities in our work.
NEFA strongly encourages charging admission to performances and events for the following reasons:
- Admissions are a vital source of income to help pay artist fees and other event expenses.
- Admissions remind audiences that the work of artists has distinct value and that the professionals involved must make a living from their endeavors in order to continue.
- Admissions purchased through advance ticket sales help ensure attendance.
- Admissions purchases provide patron information that can aid in marketing, fundraising, and audience development.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for NEST funding, applicants must:
- Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, school, federally recognized Indian tribal government, or unit of state or local government. (Nonprofit organizations do not have to be arts organizations. Organizations that do not have a federal tax identification number may apply if part of an official government agency). Fiscal agents cannot be funded through NEST.
- Be based in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
- Have a Unique Entity ID in SAM.gov.
For more information, visit NEFA.
