New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
The New England States Touring (NEST) Grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts funds nonprofits to present touring New England artists, promoting public arts events and community engagement across the region.
Funder: New England Foundation for the Arts
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027 | August 1, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $5,000 per grant; covers up to 60% of artist fees (or 100% if fees are $2,000 or less); organizations may submit up to two applications per deadline.
Summary: Supports New England nonprofits in presenting touring artists for public performances and community engagement activities across the region.
Description
The New England States Touring (NEST) Grant, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), funds nonprofit organizations in New England to present touring artists from the region. The program aims to increase access to high-quality artistic experiences, foster community engagement, and strengthen the arts infrastructure in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEST supports public performances, readings, and screenings, with a focus on projects that introduce new arts experiences or engage rural and BIPOC communities.
NEST offers two main opportunities:
- NEST 1: For a New England-based nonprofit to present a NEST-eligible artist from a different New England state.
- NEST 2: For two New England nonprofits (one in the artist’s home state and one outside) to collaborate in presenting the same NEST-eligible artist.
Grants are awarded competitively and are intended to cover a significant portion of artist fees, encouraging meaningful connections between artists and communities.
