New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
The New England States Touring (NEST) Grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts funds public performances and community engagement by regional artists across New England states.
Funder: New England Foundation for the Arts
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 | April 1, 2027 | August 2, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to 60% of artist fee, max $5,000 per grant; $500 minimum; up to two applications per deadline.
Summary: Funds New England nonprofits to present regional artists in public performances and community engagement across state lines.
Key Information: Artist must be NEST-eligible and listed in CreativeGround; projects must occur within a year of grant period start.
Description
The New England States Touring (NEST) Grant supports New England-based nonprofit organizations in presenting public performances, readings, or screenings by regional artists. The program aims to increase access to high-quality arts experiences across the region, foster meaningful community engagement, and support the sustainability of New England artists. NEST offers two main opportunities:
- NEST 1: For organizations presenting artists from a different New England state.
- NEST 2: For collaborative presentations involving two organizations (one in the artist’s home state, one in a different state).
Priority is given to projects engaging rural and BIPOC communities and those that provide new arts experiences. Funding supports both the public event and related community engagement activities.
