New England States Touring (NEST) Grant
New England States Touring (NEST) Grant supports New England presenters hosting regional artists’ performances, readings, and film screenings to build meaningful connections with communities.
Funder: New England Foundation for the Arts
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (December round) | April 1, 2027 (April round) | August 2, 2027 (August round)
Funding Amounts: $500–$5,000, generally covering up to 60% of the artist fee
Summary: Supports New England presenters hosting public performances, readings, and film screenings by New England artists, with community engagement activities.
Key Information: NEST 2 requires separate, coordinated applications from presenters inside and outside the artist’s home state.
Description
The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) administers NEST to connect New England communities with artists from across the region. Grants support public performances, readings, and film screenings alongside activities that build meaningful relationships between artists and communities. The program seeks to provide access to artistic excellence, appropriate artist compensation, and a stronger regional presenting and touring infrastructure.
NEST prioritizes new arts experiences for communities and encourages applications from organizations engaging rural and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Projects are assessed on artistic excellence and merit, alignment with presenters’ programming goals, meaningful engagement beyond the presentation, and resources supporting artists’ vision and sustainability. Community partnerships, cross-sector exchanges, and strategies addressing participation barriers related to age, class, disability, gender, geography, and economics are encouraged. NEST 2 also values collaborative planning that deepens engagement for artists and tour partners.
