NEA Big Read Grants

Deadline: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 (The mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 10, with final applications due January 24, 2024)

Applications are now open for matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support NEA Big Read projects between September 2024 and June 2025. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read supports community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book selection with the goal of inspiring meaningful conversations, celebrating local creativity, elevating a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and building stronger connections in each community. New for 2024-2025: Community programming during this cycle will focus on the theme “Where We Live.” Applicants will host book discussions, writing workshops, and creative activities that celebrate unique aspects of their community, using as inspiration one of 50 available NEA Big Read books.

Applicants must be a tax-exempt public library, a 501c3 nonprofit, or a division of state, local, or tribal government located across the United States and the Native nations that share this geography. NEA Big Read programs vary and can last as short as a week or as long as several months. Beyond discussions of the book, organizations may choose to include a kick-off event, invite the author for a visit, or have other events inspired by the content and themes of the book that engage the community, including panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, poetry slams, writing workshops and contests, and community storytelling events.

For more information about the NEA Big Read application visit the page: https://artsmidwest.org/get-support/nea-big-read/applying.