Opportunity Information: Apply for 2018NEA01OT
The NEA Our Town FY2019 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 2018NEA01OT) is a discretionary federal grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts (CFDA 45.024) focused on creative placemaking. The central idea is to fund projects that intentionally weave arts, culture, and design into broader community-strengthening work, with the goal of producing tangible local economic, physical, and social benefits. The NEA emphasizes that strong projects do more than deliver a one-time event; they help create lasting, systemic ways for arts, culture, and design to remain integrated into how a community plans, invests, and problem-solves over time.
Projects supported under Our Town can begin on July 1, 2019, or any time after that date, and the grant period can last up to two years. Applicants are allowed to submit up to two applications as the lead applicant for this program. Organizations can also participate as partners on as many Our Town applications as they wish, which encourages broader collaboration across multiple community efforts. The program also allows applicants to apply to other NEA opportunities such as Art Works and Challenge America at the same time, as long as each request is for a clearly different project or a distinct phase of a project. Prior applicants who were not recommended for funding in the past are explicitly allowed to reapply.
Our Town funds two main types of projects. The first category, Place-Based Projects, supports on-the-ground efforts in specific communities that use arts engagement, cultural planning, design, and/or support for artists and the creative industries to improve local quality of life. A key requirement for place-based work is a formal partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, and at least one of the partners must be a cultural organization. Funding in this category is offered as matching grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, and the required cost share or match must be at least equal to the grant amount, meaning recipients must commit non-federal resources that match the NEA award dollar-for-dollar.
The second category, Knowledge Building Projects, supports efforts that generate and share practical knowledge about how arts, culture, and design can be leveraged to strengthen communities. These projects are aimed at organizations positioned to disseminate learning broadly, such as arts service organizations, design service organizations, and other national or regional membership groups, policy organizations, or university-based entities. Knowledge building projects must involve a partnership structured to enable knowledge sharing and exchange. Awards in this category are also matching grants, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, again with a minimum one-to-one cost share or match equal to the federal request.
Eligibility is broad and includes various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under that nonprofit category). The opportunity was posted with an original application closing date of August 9, 2018, and the maximum award ceiling listed is $200,000, aligning with the top end of the Place-Based Project grant range.Apply for 2018NEA01OT
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Our Town, FY2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.024.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-09. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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NEA Our Town FY2019 (2018NEA01OT) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NEA Our Town FY2019 grant opportunity?
NEA Our Town FY2019 (Funding Opportunity Number 2018NEA01OT) is a discretionary federal grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), listed under CFDA 45.024. It focuses on creative placemaking: projects that intentionally integrate arts, culture, and design into broader efforts to strengthen communities and generate tangible local economic, physical, and social benefits.
What does the NEA mean by "creative placemaking" in this program?
In this opportunity, creative placemaking refers to work that weaves arts, culture, and design into community planning, investment, and problem-solving. The NEA emphasizes projects that do more than deliver a one-time event, aiming instead to create lasting, systemic ways for arts, culture, and design to remain part of how a community develops over time.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The goal is to produce tangible local economic, physical, and social benefits through projects that strengthen communities by integrating arts, culture, and design into community life and decision-making.
When can funded projects start?
Projects supported under Our Town can begin on July 1, 2019, or any time after that date.
How long can the grant period last?
The grant period can last up to two years.
What are the two main project types funded by Our Town?
Our Town funds two categories: (1) Place-Based Projects and (2) Knowledge Building Projects.
What is a Place-Based Project under Our Town?
Place-Based Projects support on-the-ground efforts in specific communities that use arts engagement, cultural planning, design, and/or support for artists and the creative industries to improve local quality of life.
Is a partnership required for Place-Based Projects?
Yes. Place-Based Projects require a formal partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity.
Does at least one Place-Based partner need to be a cultural organization?
Yes. For Place-Based Projects, at least one of the partners must be a cultural organization.
How much funding is available for Place-Based Projects?
Place-Based Projects are offered as matching grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000.
What match or cost share is required for Place-Based Projects?
The required cost share or match must be at least equal to the grant amount. This means recipients must commit non-federal resources that match the NEA award dollar-for-dollar (a minimum 1:1 match).
What is a Knowledge Building Project under Our Town?
Knowledge Building Projects support efforts that generate and share practical knowledge about how arts, culture, and design can be leveraged to strengthen communities. These projects focus on producing and disseminating learning broadly.
Who are Knowledge Building Projects designed for?
They are aimed at organizations positioned to share learning broadly, such as arts service organizations, design service organizations, national or regional membership groups, policy organizations, or university-based entities.
Is a partnership required for Knowledge Building Projects?
Yes. Knowledge Building Projects must involve a partnership structured to enable knowledge sharing and exchange.
How much funding is available for Knowledge Building Projects?
Knowledge Building Projects are offered as matching grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
What match or cost share is required for Knowledge Building Projects?
The required cost share or match must be at least equal to the grant amount. This means applicants must provide non-federal resources that match the NEA request dollar-for-dollar (a minimum 1:1 match).
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The maximum award ceiling listed is $200,000, which aligns with the top end of the Place-Based Project grant range.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under that nonprofit category).
Can a nonprofit 501(c)(3) apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status are eligible (with the note that higher education institutions are addressed under separate higher education eligibility categories rather than under the nonprofit category).
Can government entities apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include multiple levels of government, including state, county, city/township, and special district governments, as well as federally recognized tribal governments and independent school districts.
Can colleges and universities apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
How many applications can an organization submit as the lead applicant?
Applicants may submit up to two applications as the lead applicant for this program.
Can an organization be a partner on multiple Our Town applications?
Yes. Organizations may participate as partners on as many Our Town applications as they wish.
Can an applicant apply to other NEA programs at the same time?
Yes. Applicants may apply to other NEA opportunities such as Art Works and Challenge America at the same time, as long as each request is for a clearly different project or a distinct phase of a project.
Can an organization reapply if it was not recommended for funding in the past?
Yes. Prior applicants who were not recommended for funding in the past are explicitly allowed to reapply.
What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted with an original application closing date of August 9, 2018.
What does it mean that the grants are "matching" grants?
In this program, "matching" means the applicant must provide a cost share or match that is at least equal to the amount requested from the NEA. The match must be from non-federal resources and must meet or exceed a 1:1 ratio compared to the NEA award.
Do projects need to be more than a single event?
Yes. The NEA emphasizes that strong projects do more than deliver a one-time event, and instead help create lasting, systemic ways for arts, culture, and design to remain integrated into community planning, investment, and long-term problem-solving.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (2018NEA01OT) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NEA Art Works 2, FY2019 Apply for 2018NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2018NEA01AW2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Research Labs, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1801 Funding Number: NEAPS1801 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert and Ancillary Events, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1802 Funding Number: NEAPS1802 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $425,000 |
| NEA The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design TM (CIRD), FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1803 Funding Number: NEAPS1803 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NEA Documentary Sustainability Project, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1804 Funding Number: NEAPS1804 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Research: Art Works, FY2019 Apply for 2019NEAORA Funding Number: 2019NEAORA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA03LFTP Funding Number: 2019NEA03LFTP Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS NGA ABU 19 025 002 Funding Number: DOS NGA ABU 19 025 002 Agency: U.S. Mission to Nigeria Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS NGA ABU 19 025 001 Funding Number: DOS NGA ABU 19 025 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Nigeria Category: Arts Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| U.S. Mission to South Africa: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS PTA AFCPS19 Funding Number: DOS PTA AFCPS19 Agency: U.S. Mission to South Africa Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S. Mission to South Africa: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS PTA AFCPL19 Funding Number: DOS PTA AFCPL19 Agency: U.S. Mission to South Africa Category: Arts Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Conakry, Annual Program Statement: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for DOS CONAK FY18 02 Funding Number: DOS CONAK FY18 02 Agency: U.S. Mission to Guinea Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Ukraine: U.S. government Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program –Culture Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2019 001 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2019 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Arts Funding Amount: $24,000 |
| NEA USArtists International, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1806 Funding Number: NEAPS1806 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $435,000 |
| NEA Performing Arts Discovery, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1807 Funding Number: NEAPS1807 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Performing Arts Global Exchange, FY2019 Apply for NEAPS1805 Funding Number: NEAPS1805 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Prose, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2019NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Art Works 1, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01AW1 Funding Number: 2019NEA01AW1 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Challenge America, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01CA Funding Number: 2019NEA01CA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| NEA Art Works 2, FY2020 Apply for 2019NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2019NEA01AW2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
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