Opportunity Information: Apply for 2019NEA01OT
NEA Our Town (FY2020) is a discretionary grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that funds creative placemaking projects. The core idea is to support place-based work where arts, culture, and design are not treated as add-ons, but as practical tools used alongside community development efforts. Projects are expected to strengthen communities by advancing local outcomes that are economic (such as business activity, jobs, tourism, or revitalized commercial corridors), physical (such as the design and use of public spaces, streetscapes, or cultural districts), and/or social (such as community connection, identity, belonging, safety, or civic participation). The program emphasizes projects that can lead to longer-term, systemic shifts so that arts and design strategies remain integrated in local planning and development after the grant ends.
A defining requirement of Our Town is the partnership structure. Every application must be submitted by a partnership between a local government entity and a nonprofit organization, and one of the two partners must be a cultural organization. While the lead applicant can be either the government or the nonprofit, the expectation is that the partnership is real and active, with shared planning and implementation. The NEA also encourages teams to bring in additional partners from other sectors to make the work more durable and more relevant to community goals. Examples of encouraged sectors include agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, and workforce development. In practice, the strongest projects usually show how these cross-sector relationships will help the arts-driven strategy become part of how the community routinely tackles challenges and opportunities.
Funding is provided as matching grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, with a required minimum cost share/match equal to the NEA request. In other words, applicants must commit at least one dollar of non-federal match for every dollar requested from the NEA. The award ceiling is $200,000. Funded project activity supported by the NEA may begin on July 1, 2020, or any time after that date, and the program allows a grant period of up to two years, giving applicants flexibility to plan, design, build partnerships, and deliver programming or engagement over a realistic timeline.
The FY2020 cycle highlighted the 10-year anniversary of the Our Town program, and the NEA signaled a desire for projects that reflect a new and catalytic way of working. That means proposals are expected to demonstrate more than a one-time event or isolated arts activity; they should show potential for sustained support and recognition of arts, design, and culture as essential components across every phase of community development, from planning and engagement through implementation and long-term stewardship.
In terms of applicant eligibility, the program is open to a wide range of government and nonprofit entities, reflecting the required government-nonprofit partnership model. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 45.024. The funding opportunity number is 2019NEA01OT, and the original application closing date listed for this cycle was August 8, 2019.
The program is also structured to allow multiple avenues for organizations that are active with NEA funding. An organization may submit up to two applications as a lead applicant to Our Town in this cycle. Organizations can also participate as partners on as many Our Town applications as they like, which makes it possible for a single nonprofit or public agency to support several community efforts without being limited to only one collaboration. Applicants may also apply to other NEA opportunities, such as Art Works and Challenge America, as long as each request is for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of a project. Finally, the program explicitly notes that prior unsuccessful applicants are welcome to apply again; not being recommended for funding in the past does not prevent future submissions.
Overall, NEA Our Town FY2020 is best understood as a competitive, partnership-driven investment in creative placemaking, aimed at helping communities use arts and design to produce measurable community development outcomes and to build lasting local systems that keep cultural strategies embedded in ongoing planning and redevelopment work.Apply for 2019NEA01OT
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Our Town, FY2020" 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 2019-05-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-08-08. (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 (FY2020) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is NEA Our Town (FY2020)?
NEA Our Town (FY2020) is a discretionary grant program from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that supports creative placemaking projects. It funds place-based work where arts, culture, and design are used as practical tools alongside community development efforts.
What types of projects does Our Town fund?
Our Town funds creative placemaking projects that strengthen communities by advancing local outcomes that are:
- Economic (for example: business activity, jobs, tourism, or revitalized commercial corridors)
- Physical (for example: design and use of public spaces, streetscapes, or cultural districts)
- Social (for example: community connection, identity, belonging, safety, or civic participation)
What is meant by "creative placemaking" in this program?
In the context of Our Town, creative placemaking means integrating arts, culture, and design into community planning and development in a way that is central to the work, not added on at the end. Projects are expected to align arts-driven strategies with real community development goals and outcomes.
Does the program prefer one-time events or longer-term projects?
The program emphasizes projects that can lead to longer-term, systemic shifts. Proposals are expected to show more than a one-time event or an isolated arts activity, with the goal that arts and design strategies remain integrated into local planning and development after the grant ends.
What is the required partnership structure for an application?
Every application must be submitted by a partnership between:
- a local government entity, and
- a nonprofit organization.
One of the two partners must be a cultural organization.
Can either partner be the lead applicant?
Yes. The lead applicant can be either the local government entity or the nonprofit organization, as long as the application reflects a real, active partnership with shared planning and implementation.
Does the NEA encourage additional partners beyond the required two?
Yes. The NEA encourages teams to bring in additional partners from other sectors to make the work more durable and more connected to broader community goals.
What kinds of cross-sector partners are encouraged?
The program highlights many sectors as encouraged partners, including agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, and workforce development.
How much funding is available through Our Town (FY2020)?
Our Town provides matching grants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000.
What does it mean that the grant is a "matching grant"?
It means the applicant must provide a cost share/match that is at least equal to the amount requested from the NEA. The required minimum match is 1:1, or at least one dollar of non-federal match for every dollar requested from the NEA.
What is the minimum required cost share/match?
The minimum required cost share/match must equal the NEA request amount (a 1:1 match).
When can NEA-supported project activity begin?
Funded project activity supported by the NEA may begin on July 1, 2020, or any time after that date.
How long is the allowed grant period?
The program allows a grant period of up to two years, giving applicants time to plan, design, build partnerships, and deliver programming or engagement activities.
Why did FY2020 place special emphasis on catalytic approaches?
The FY2020 cycle marked the 10-year anniversary of the Our Town program, and the NEA signaled a desire for projects that reflect a new and catalytic way of working. The emphasis is on sustained support and recognition of arts, design, and culture as essential components across community development phases.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include a range of government and nonprofit entities, reflecting the required government-nonprofit partnership model. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and city or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
Are nonprofit organizations required to have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits are listed as eligible if they have 501(c)(3) status (with the note that this category excludes institutions of higher education).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 45.024.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 2019NEA01OT.
What was the original application closing date for this cycle?
The original application closing date listed for this cycle was August 8, 2019.
How many applications can an organization submit as the lead applicant?
An organization may submit up to two applications as a lead applicant to Our Town in this cycle.
Is there a limit to how many Our Town applications an organization can join as a partner?
No. Organizations can participate as partners on as many Our Town applications as they like.
Can applicants also apply to other NEA grant opportunities?
Yes. Applicants may also apply to other NEA opportunities (such as Art Works and Challenge America) as long as each request is for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of a project.
If an organization was unsuccessful in the past, can it apply again?
Yes. The program explicitly notes that prior unsuccessful applicants are welcome to apply again; not being recommended for funding in the past does not prevent future submissions.
What is the overall purpose of NEA Our Town (FY2020)?
Overall, it is a competitive, partnership-driven investment in creative placemaking that helps communities use arts and design to produce measurable community development outcomes and to build lasting local systems that keep cultural strategies embedded in ongoing planning and redevelopment work.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (2019NEA01OT) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NEA Research Labs, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1901 Funding Number: NEAPS1901 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| NEA Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1902 Funding Number: NEAPS1902 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NEA Research Grants in the Arts, FY2020 Apply for 2020NEA01ORA Funding Number: 2020NEA01ORA Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Sound Health Network, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1903 Funding Number: NEAPS1903 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Translation Projects, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA03LFTP Funding Number: 2020NEA03LFTP Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Creative Forces: Clinical Component, FY2020 Apply for NEAPS1904 Funding Number: NEAPS1904 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $4,400,000 |
| U.S. Mission to Nigeria: Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Apply for AFCP 2020 S ABUJA Funding Number: AFCP 2020 S ABUJA Agency: U.S. Mission to Nigeria Category: Arts Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Ukraine: U.S. Embassy Book Translation Program Apply for PAS UKRAINE 2020 001 Funding Number: PAS UKRAINE 2020 001 Agency: U.S. Mission to Ukraine Category: Arts Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEA Literature Fellowships: Poetry, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2020NEA03LFCW Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Grants for Arts Projects 1, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01GAP1 Funding Number: 2020NEA01GAP1 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Research Labs, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01ORALABS Funding Number: 2020NEA01ORALABS Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network (Community Arts Engagement Subgranting), FY2020 Apply for NEAPS2001 Funding Number: NEAPS2001 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| NEA Arts Education Partnership (AEP), FY2020 Apply for NEAPS2002 Funding Number: NEAPS2002 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $1,050,000 |
| NEA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, FY2020 Apply for 2020NEA01CARES60 Funding Number: 2020NEA01CARES60 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| NEA Grants for Arts Projects 2, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01GAP2 Funding Number: 2020NEA01GAP2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Our Town, FY2021 Apply for 2020NEA01OT Funding Number: 2020NEA01OT Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Promoting a Better Understanding of American Elections Apply for DOS LONDON PD 2020 0XX Funding Number: DOS LONDON PD 2020 0XX Agency: U.S. Mission to the United Kingdom Category: Arts Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| NEA Arts & Artifacts International Indemnity Program, FY2021 Apply for 2021FCAH01 Funding Number: 2021FCAH01 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Arts & Artifacts Domestic Indemnity Program, FY2021 Apply for 2021FCAHDOM01 Funding Number: 2021FCAHDOM01 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Historic Building Study for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Apply for W9126G 20 2 SOI 4995 Funding Number: W9126G 20 2 SOI 4995 Agency: Fort Worth District Category: Arts Funding Amount: $64,000 |
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