NEA Our Town, FY2023 | 2022NEA01OT

NEA Our Town (FY2023) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the NEA Our Town (FY2023) program?

NEA Our Town (FY2023) is the National Endowment for the Arts' creative placemaking grant program. It funds projects that intentionally weave arts, culture, and design into broader community improvement efforts, with an emphasis on practical, measurable benefits for a place and its residents.

2) What does "creative placemaking" mean in this opportunity?

In this program, creative placemaking refers to using arts, culture, and design as strategies to advance community goals, rather than focusing only on presenting artistic programming. Projects are expected to connect arts-based work to improvements in local economic, physical, and/or social conditions.

3) What kinds of outcomes is Our Town trying to achieve?

Projects should contribute to outcomes such as revitalizing a downtown corridor, improving public spaces, building social cohesion, supporting cultural districts, or advancing inclusive community development. The program prioritizes projects that strengthen communities in tangible, trackable ways.

4) Does the program fund one-time events, or longer-term efforts?

The program emphasizes projects that go beyond a single event. Strong proposals help create longer-term, systemic change so that arts, culture, and design remain integrated into how a community plans, invests, and solves problems over time.

5) Is a partnership required to apply?

Yes. A central requirement is a formal collaboration between a local government entity and a nonprofit organization. At least one of those two partners must be a cultural organization.

6) Who submits the application: the government partner or the nonprofit partner?

The application must be submitted through the formal partnership between a local government entity and a nonprofit organization. The opportunity is framed around a joint effort, with the two entities serving as core partners in the application.

7) What is meant by "at least one partner must be a cultural organization"?

Within the required government-nonprofit partnership, at least one of the two partners must be a cultural organization. This ensures the arts and culture component is central to the partnership, not incidental.

8) Are cross-sector partners encouraged?

Yes. Beyond the two required core partners, the NEA encourages cross-sector alliances that connect arts and culture work to other local priorities.

9) Which non-arts sectors does the NEA explicitly encourage projects to connect with?

The opportunity points to sectors including agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, workforce development, and related civic priorities.

10) What is the funding amount range for Our Town awards?

Award amounts range from $25,000 to $150,000, with $150,000 as the maximum (the award ceiling) for this cycle.

11) Is this grant a match (cost share) grant?

Yes. Our Town is a cost share/matching grant. The applicant must commit non-federal funds at least equal to the amount requested from the NEA.

12) What does "non-federal match" mean in the context provided?

Based on the opportunity description, the required match must be non-federal and must be at least equal to the NEA amount requested (a 1:1 match or more).

13) How long can the grant period be?

The grant period can be up to two years, allowing time for planning, community engagement, implementation, and documentation of outcomes.

14) When can supported activities begin for FY2023-funded projects?

For projects funded under this FY2023 competition, the NEA indicated that supported activities may begin on July 1, 2023, or any time after that date.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility spans public entities and nonprofits, including: state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; federally recognized tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding higher education institutions when applying under that category).

16) Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

17) Are school districts eligible?

Yes. Independent school districts are included among eligible applicants.

18) Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible categories.

19) Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits eligible?

Yes. 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible, with a noted exception in the description: higher education institutions are excluded when applying under the 501(c)(3) nonprofit category.

20) Who administers the Our Town program?

The program is administered by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

21) What type of grant program is this?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant program in the arts funding activity area.

22) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 45.024.

23) What is the opportunity number for this cycle?

The specific opportunity number provided is 2022NEA01OT.

24) What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is August 4, 2022.

25) How many applications can an organization submit as a lead applicant?

An organization may submit up to two applications as a lead applicant to Our Town in this cycle.

26) How many applications can an organization participate in as a partner?

A partner organization may participate as a partner on as many applications as it chooses.

27) Can an organization apply to Our Town and other NEA programs at the same time?

Yes. Applicants are allowed to apply to other NEA funding programs (including Grants for Arts Projects) at the same time, as long as each request is for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different phase of a project.

28) What does "distinctly different project or phase" mean for multiple NEA applications?

Based on the description, separate NEA requests must not be duplicative. Each application must cover a different project or a different phase of the same overall effort.

29) Can organizations reapply if they were not recommended for funding previously?

Yes. The NEA notes that prior applicants who were not recommended for funding are welcome to apply again, including to Our Town.

30) What makes a proposal stronger under Our Town based on this description?

The description suggests stronger proposals typically show genuine collaboration between an arts/culture partner and a civic partner, plus other stakeholders, to address a clearly defined community goal. The arts are positioned as a core strategy for community improvement, not an add-on.