Amplifying Midwestern Creativity
Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates arts organizations and creative communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond.

Joyful, loud, and Midwest proud
Grant Opportunities and Programs
We support efforts that connect people, ideas, and solutions through creativity. Learn more about our grantmaking initiatives and our community programming.

NEA Big Read
The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around the central theme, “Where We Live,” using one of 50 available NEA Big Read Books as inspiration. Selected organizations receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support their projects. Arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.
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ArtsHERE
Through grants of $65,000 to $130,000 and peer learning opportunities, this new national initiative invests in organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity within their practices and programming. Applications are welcome from organizations that are diverse in terms of geography, scale of operations, and focus of arts programming; as well as organizations that work at the intersection of the arts and other domains, such as community development, health/well-being, climate/environment, or economic development.
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Shakespeare in American Communities
Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program supporting high-quality productions and educational activities for young audiences. Selected organizations receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 to support their projects. 501c3 non-profit professional theater companies with at least two years’ experience providing professional performances and educational activities to middle and/or high schools are encouraged to apply.
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Best Practices for Federal Grant Applications
Federal funding for the arts is available but not always the most accessible, especially if you’ve never applied for opportunities in the past. This article provides a basic eligibility roadmap for non-profit organizations that are new to seeking federal funding.
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