NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert and Related Events, FY 2027

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a federal agency dedicated to supporting and promoting excellence in the arts, is offering funding through a cooperative agreement for the 2027 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert and related events. This annual event celebrates the recipients of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor for jazz musicians and advocates. Since the program’s inception in 1982, the NEA has recognized individuals who have made exceptional contributions to jazz. For 2027, the NEA plans to honor four recipients—typically three musicians and one advocate—through a public concert and a range of complementary activities. The cooperative agreement seeks to identify a single “Cooperator” to plan, coordinate, and implement the Tribute Concert and associated programming. This includes producing a free, public concert in an indoor U.S. venue in April 2027 to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month. The Cooperator is responsible for the full production of the concert, including venue selection, artist recruitment, scripting, design, and logistics. The concert must be accessible to the public and meet all requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition to the live event, the Cooperator must provide a high-quality live stream, webcast, and audio broadcast of the concert, and must ensure a professional digital recording is submitted to the NEA for archival and promotional use. Another key requirement is the creation of professional video tributes to honor each awardee. The Cooperator must contract with an experienced video production team to produce 3–5 minute, closed-captioned tributes for each honoree, incorporating interviews and archival materials. These videos will be shown during the concert and made available for non-commercial, educational uses. Additional events such as public listening sessions, community engagement workshops, and educational programming (e.g., residencies, mentorships, or master classes) are encouraged to broaden the concert’s reach and impact. Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, units of state or local government, federally recognized tribal entities, or one of the six Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs). All applicants must have at least five years of experience in presenting and producing arts events prior to the application deadline. The NEA will award up to $475,000 through this cooperative agreement, contingent on the availability of funds. Although there is no required cost share, any additional project costs beyond the awarded amount must be supported by non-NEA funds. Subgranting is not permitted. To apply, organizations must be registered in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and Login.gov, and must maintain active registration through the life of the award. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than April 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Required application components include a project narrative, bios of key personnel, a completed NEA budget form, relevant programmatic materials, and a video work sample. Applications will be reviewed based on artistic excellence and artistic merit, with final selections made by the NEA Chairman following recommendations from an advisory panel and the National Council on the Arts. The period of performance will begin on or after July 1, 2026, and may last up to 12 months. Project planning and video production will occur primarily in 2026, with the concert and related events taking place in April 2027. Final reports are due within 120 days of the performance period’s end. Award notifications are expected in May 2026. This funding opportunity is not subject to intergovernmental review, and no subawards are allowed under this cooperative agreement. The NEA may consider up to four additional cooperative agreements with the awardee in future years, contingent on performance and funding availability.

Clearly demonstrate experience producing high-profile jazz events and explain marketing strategies; proposals must include accessible concert plans and sample productions.