American dance is encyclopedic in scope and international in its aesthetic traditions. The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to advancing the nation's full range of dance artistry. The National Endowment for the Arts assists all forms of professional dance by funding dance companies and presenters, service organizations, festivals, convenings, community engagement, education activities, and projects of all sizes. The NEA also supports the documentation and preservation of choreography and performance, and other aspects of dance history. Dance projects funded by the National Endowment for the Arts represent a multiplicity of forms, styles, techniques, and histories that come from every continent in the world and the many different styles -- ballet, modern dance, jazz, folkloric, tap, hip-hop, and other contemporary forms such as aerial work and site specific performances -- that are found in the United States.

Projects

Art Works applications will be accepted at two deadlines. All project types (described below) are accepted at both deadlines. Generally, an organization is limited to one application per year in the Art Works category.

First Art Works Deadline:

Second Art Works Deadline:

Project Types

Dance Companies, Presenters, Service Organizations, and other organizations may apply for projects such as, but not limited to:

• Commissioning and development of dance works.
• Innovative dance projects that create new work through the use of new models, technology, or new media.
• The restaging of repertory.
• Regional and national tours.
• Home-based performances.
• The presentation of dance companies.
• Dance festivals.
• Services to dancers, choreographers, and companies. This may include activities such as convening, data collection, information sharing, and technical assistance.
• Residencies and choreography workshops for artists where the primary purpose is to further artistic exploration and/or create new art.
• Touring and performance activity that emphasizes outreach to underserved communities. (If your project is for youth, see "Choosing the Right Discipline for Youth Projects" to help you in your discipline selection.)
• Innovative methods of engaging audiences, including collaborations with other organizations, through new models that have the potential to maximize resources and/or the impact on the audience, artists, or the field.
• The restaging of master works of historical significance.
• Innovative uses of new models, technology, or new media to document and/or perpetuate choreography, technique, or dance process.
• Documentation, preservation, and conservation of America's dance heritage.
• Professional training including classes, guest artist residencies, workshops, and mentorship of dance artists.
• The development of plans for growth of the dance sector in the local community.
• The development of artist live/work spaces.

If you are recommended for a grant, your project may be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act  (NEPA) and/or the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Endowment for the Arts will conduct a review of your project to ensure that it is in compliance NEPA/NHPA.

Some of the common project types that garner a review are:

• A project involving or occurring near a district, site, building, landscape, structure or object that is 50 years old and therefore eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
• The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor furnishings such as benches or market structures or art such as a sculpture or mural.
• An arts festival in a park.
• Design planning and services for projects that may involve a historic site, structure, or district.

This review and approval process may take up to several months to complete and may delay your project's start date and our ability to make a grant award/our ability to release grant funds.

To learn more about what questions you will need to answer for the review of a project impacted by the National Environmental Policy Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act, see here.

Note: Federal regulations require that all NEA-funded projects be accessible to people with disabilities. Funded activities must be held in an accessible venue and program access and effective communication must be provided for participants and audience members with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to provide information describing how you will make your project physically and programmatically accessible to people with disabilities.