Artistic Innovations Grant Program

The Artistic Innovations Grant Program, administered by the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA), supports the creation and public presentation of new and original works of art within its six-state region: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Funded through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the program seeks to foster innovation, experimentation, and broad public engagement across diverse artistic disciplines. Since its inception in 2012, the program has awarded over $2 million in support to artists and nonprofit arts organizations, emphasizing the development and premiere of new artistic projects. This grant offers up to $15,000 in cost-sharing funds, requiring a dollar-for-dollar match from recipients. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that reflect their capacity to manage the grant effectively and use the funds strictly for direct project expenses related to creation and public presentation. Grant-supported activities must begin on or after July 1, 2025, and conclude no later than June 30, 2026. Each project must feature at least two public-facing engagements within the M-AAA region, one of which must be a premiere or feature presentation, with the other being an educational or outreach activity such as workshops, lectures, or master classes. Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations that demonstrate a minimum of a three-year history of creative practice or programming prior to the application deadline. Applicants must be full-time residents or legally incorporated within the six-state region and must comply with federal accessibility standards. Fiscal sponsorships are not permitted, and applicants must apply on their own behalf. Artists and organizations that received an Artistic Innovations grant in the prior fiscal year, or who are featured in another funded project during the current grant cycle, are not eligible to apply. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive proposal that includes a detailed project timeline, résumé or artist statement, summary from lead artists and/or partners, work sample list, and a project budget using the provided templates. Submission is done through an online application portal, which requires registration and may involve collaborative drafting. The next application window opens on January 31, 2025, and closes at 5:00 p.m. CDT on March 13, 2025. Office hours are available throughout February to assist prospective applicants. Notifications will be sent by June 13, 2025, and awards will be announced in July 2025. Payments are disbursed in two installments: 50% after the grant agreement and interim reporting, and 50% upon submission of the final report, due by July 31, 2026. Applications are evaluated by panels of regional arts professionals and laypersons based on two primary criteria: artistic merit through stewardship of funding and artistic excellence through the proposed work. These include considerations such as timeline realism, budget appropriateness, accessibility practices, project impact, leadership, and alignment with the goals of the grant program. At least two grants will be awarded per state, with a minimum of twelve total grantees selected. Projects must avoid ineligible costs such as capital expenditures, indirect costs, lobbying, or expenditures outside the grant period. Looking ahead, the next cycle of applications is expected to open in Summer 2026. Applicants are encouraged to subscribe to M-AAA’s e-newsletter for updates. For those seeking further details, downloadable resources including the application guidelines, templates, and the “Application At-A-Glance” are available via M-AAA's official website. Technical support and accessibility accommodations are offered upon request, with program inquiries directed to [email protected] and additional help available via drop-in Zoom office hours.

Emphasize the public engagement element and ensure clarity in the project's originality and budget match.