New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
The NEST grant helps New England nonprofits present regional artists through public events and community engagement, encouraging cross-state collaboration and access to the arts.
Funder: New England Foundation for the Arts
Due Dates: August 2, 2026 | December 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to 60% of artist fee; max $5,000 per grant; typical awards $500–$5,000; up to 100% for artist fees $2,000 or less.
Summary: Supports New England nonprofits to present NEST-eligible regional artists via public performances and community engagement, fostering cross-state collaboration and access to the arts.
Description
This grant supports New England-based nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments, and government units in presenting public performances, readings, or screenings by NEST-eligible artists from the New England region. The program aims to foster community engagement, artistic excellence, and collaboration across state lines within New England, increasing access to high-quality artistic and cultural experiences. There are two tracks:
- NEST 1: For a nonprofit to present a NEST-eligible artist from a different New England state.
- NEST 2: For two nonprofits—one from the artist’s home state and one from another New England state—to jointly present the same NEST-eligible artist.
Projects must include a public event open and advertised to the general public, with additional community engagement activities encouraged. The grant is competitive and prioritizes projects that bring new arts experiences to communities, support cross-sector partnerships, and provide meaningful artist-community connections.
