The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Research Awards program offers funding for research projects that explore the value, impact, and role of the arts in American life. The program comprises two distinct opportunities: Research Grants in the Arts and NEA Research Labs. Research Grants in the Arts supports studies on the value or impact of the arts within the U.S. arts ecosystem or in their interaction with other domains of American life. NEA Research Labs funds transdisciplinary research teams in the social and behavioral sciences to generate empirical insights into the arts for broader applications. NEA Research Labs grants may be eligible for one renewal award, subject to various factors, including performance, funding availability, and agency priorities.

The primary objective of the program is to further the NEA's five-year research agenda by generating evidence-based insights into the arts' influence on individuals and communities. Research Grants in the Arts focus on standalone studies, while NEA Research Labs emphasize long-term research collaborations that address topics of interest to both arts and non-arts sectors. The program seeks to enhance understanding of the arts' contributions to well-being, creativity, community development, and other societal outcomes.

Funding levels vary depending on the program. Research Grants in the Arts offers awards between $20,000 and $100,000, while NEA Research Labs awards range from $100,000 to $300,000. Both programs require a 1:1 cost-share or match. Eligible applicants for Research Grants in the Arts include nonprofit organizations, units of state or local government, and federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. For NEA Research Labs, eligible applicants include U.S. higher education institutions or nonprofit organizations with a three-year history of conducting and disseminating research in the social and behavioral sciences. NEA Research Labs applications also require a confirmed partnership with an arts organization, artist, or culture bearer.

Applicants must meet several prerequisites before submitting an application. Organizations must have at least three years of operating history by the application deadline, and individuals, fiscal sponsor-submitted applications, and for-profit enterprises are not eligible. The application process requires registration with Login.gov, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov, which can take several weeks to complete. The application itself consists of two parts: submission through Grants.gov and completion of the Grant Application Form via the NEA Applicant Portal.

Key dates for the 2025 application cycle include the publication of program guidelines in January, the opening of the Grants.gov application package in mid-February, and the submission deadline for Part 1 on March 24, 2025. Part 2, involving the NEA Applicant Portal, opens on March 27, 2025, with a submission deadline of April 3, 2025. Notifications of funding decisions will be issued in November 2025, and projects may begin as early as January 1, 2026.

Comprehensive program guidelines and application instructions are available on the NEA website, including detailed descriptions of each grant program, eligibility criteria, application questions, and submission procedures. Additional resources, such as webinars and Q&A sessions, are provided to assist applicants. Prospective applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the program materials and plan sufficient time for the multi-step application process.