Funder: National Endowment for the Arts
Due Dates: March 24, 2025 (Part 1: Grants.gov) | April 3, 2025 (Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal)
Funding Amounts: Up to $300,000 per award; typical duration aligned with FY 2026 projects; 1:1 cost-share/match required.
Summary: Supports transdisciplinary research teams investigating the arts' impact on individuals, communities, and society, producing multiple studies and related products or services.
Key Information: Requires confirmed partnership with an arts organization or individual artist/culture bearer; applicants must have 5+ years of operating history; federal registrations required before applying.
Description
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Research Labs program funds projects that support transdisciplinary research teams grounded in the social and behavioral sciences. These teams conduct multiple research studies to build public knowledge about the arts and their contributions to individuals, communities, and society at large. Each funded Lab is expected to develop a suite of products or services based on their research findings.
This program is part of the NEA’s broader five-year research agenda aimed at generating empirical insights about the arts for the benefit of both arts and non-arts sectors. The NEA may offer a subsequent renewal award to recipients consistent with program priorities and performance.
Due Dates
- Part 1: Grants.gov Submission Deadline — March 24, 2025, 11:59 pm Eastern Time
- Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal Submission Deadline — April 3, 2025, 11:59 pm Eastern Time
- Notification of funding decisions — December 2025
- Earliest project start date — January 1, 2026
Funding Amount
- Awards up to $300,000 per project
- 1:1 cost-share or matching funds required from applicants
- Funding supports multiple research studies and development of related products or services
Eligibility
- U.S. institutions of higher education, or
- Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations with at least five years of experience commissioning and conducting behavioral or social science research and disseminating findings
- Must have a confirmed partnership with at least one arts organization or an individual artist/culture bearer who may not be affiliated with an arts organization at the time of application
- Applicant organizations must have at least five years of operating history prior to the application deadline
- Not open to individuals, fiscal sponsors, or commercial/for-profit entities
Application Process
- The application is a two-part process:
- Submit the Application Package via Grants.gov by March 24, 2025
- Complete the Grant Application Form (GAF) in the NEA Applicant Portal by April 3, 2025
- Applicants must register with Login.gov, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov before applying; registration can take several weeks
- Detailed application instructions and questions are provided in the NEA Research Labs Application Instructions document
- Estimated time to prepare and submit the application is approximately 26 hours
Additional Information
- The NEA Research Labs program emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration and expects substantial participation from arts partners
- The program supports research that yields empirical insights benefiting both arts and non-arts sectors
- The NEA may offer one renewal award subject to priorities, funding availability, and awardee performance
- Applicants should review the full Program Guidelines and Application Instructions before applying
- Reporting and award management requirements apply to successful applicants
External Links
Contact Information