Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), an independent federal agency supporting artistic excellence and innovation, is offering a special grant opportunity titled “Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.” This initiative aligns with the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026 and supports arts projects that honor the contributions of individuals recognized in Executive Order 13934 and Executive Order 13978. These individuals span diverse fields and include figures such as John Adams, Susan B. Anthony, Muhammad Ali, and Billie Holiday, among others. The NEA is facilitating this opportunity as a part of a larger national commemoration effort, collaborating with entities such as the National Endowment for the Humanities. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. All applicant organizations must have a minimum of five years of arts programming history by the time of application and must meet additional legal and federal registration requirements including registration with SAM.gov, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Grants.gov. Only one proposal is allowed per applicant under this funding stream, and the proposed project must not overlap in cost or activities with any other NEA or federal awards. Each successful applicant will receive a fixed award of $25,000 with no cost-share requirement. A total of approximately $500,000 in funding is expected to be distributed across 15 to 20 awardees. The funding supports a broad range of artistic disciplines including plays, concerts, museum exhibitions, operas, literary works, and visual arts, with the stipulation that all projects must celebrate individuals listed in the aforementioned Executive Orders. Projects must commence no earlier than October 1, 2025, and can span up to 12 months. The application package will be made available in June 2025 through Grants.gov, and completed applications must be submitted no later than July 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants are required to complete various attachments including a narrative, bios of key personnel, a completed budget form, and work samples. The NEA emphasizes careful attention to federal guidelines, including accessibility, civil rights compliance, and environmental reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Evaluation of proposals will be based equally on artistic excellence and artistic merit. Criteria include the quality of the proposed artwork, the qualifications of the artists, the feasibility of the project, and the clarity of the project budget and timeline. Final funding decisions will be made by the NEA Chair based on panel recommendations, with notifications anticipated in September 2025. Applicants recommended for funding must submit final project details for NEA approval before awards are disbursed. All recipients are required to comply with federal reporting requirements and maintain records for three years post-award. For questions regarding the application process, applicants should contact NEA staff at apply@arts.gov. Additional support is available through Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov help centers, all of which offer direct customer service for technical issues related to registration and submission.

Submit early to avoid system issues. Confirm UEI and SAM registrations. Ensure all attachments follow NEA format and requirements. Projects must not be exclusionary and must comply with NHPA/NEPA if applicable.