National Endowment for the Arts Big Read – Jan 15 (LOI)
Posted by Arts Midwest on January 13, 2026
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is a program that awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to organizations.
These grants support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. As our nation moves into its 250th year, the goal of this program is to honor America’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.
Grantees will receive funding for their programming and purchasing books, and tools to support them in working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and leading meaningful book discussions.
NEA Big Read programs vary and can be as short as a week or as long as several months. Beyond discussions of the book, organizations may choose to include a kick-off event, invite the author for a visit, or have other events inspired by the content and themes of the book. These may include panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, poetry slams, writing workshops and contests, and community storytelling events.
Programming for the 2026-2027 grant cycle will center around the theme America250.
The deadline to submit an Intent to Apply is January 15, 2026. Full applications are due January 29, 2026.
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