The National Endowment for the Arts is a United States federally funded program that offers support and funding for projects that exhibit artistic excellence. It was created by the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government.
The NEA mission is "to [enrich] our Nation and its diverse cultural heritage by supporting works of artistic excellence, advancing learning in the arts, and strengthening the arts in communities throughout the country."
Between 1965 and 2003, the agency has made more than 119,000 grants.
It offers grants in three areas:
- Art projects
- Leadership initiatives
- Partnership agreements
