Our Town Grants

Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities. Our Town projects advance local economic, physical, or social outcomes in communities, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change and centering equity. These projects require a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount.

Eligibility

ELIGIBLE LEAD APPLICANTS include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations, local governments, and territory governments.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS are arts, culture, and design that may uniquely:
Bring new attention to or elevate key community assets and issues, voices of residents, local history, or cultural infrastructure.
Inject new or additional energy, resources, activity, people, or enthusiasm into a place, community issue, or local economy.
Envision new possibilities for a community or place—a new future, a way of overcoming a challenge, or approaching problem-solving.
Connect communities, people, places, and economic opportunity via physical spaces or new relationships.
Feature Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian arts across all NEA disciplines.

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