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Announcing the 2024-25 NEA Big Read Grantees

by Arts Midwest and National Endowment for the Arts

A person standing on a stage facing a large seated crowd.
Event for Wichita Public Library as part of Big Read.

$1.07 million will support 62 grantees in presenting community literary programming across the country.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest, is pleased to announce grants to 62 nonprofit organizations for NEA Big Read programming in 2024-2025. In total, the NEA is investing $1,075,000 to support programming centered around a book from the NEA Big Read Library, with the goal of inspiring meaningful conversations, celebrating local creativity, elevating a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and building stronger connections in each community.

“We live in a nation full of so many stories. The NEA Big Read offers jumping off points for us to connect, converse, and learn about each other, all inspired by incredible books.”

TORRIE ALLEN, PRESIDENT & CEO OF ARTS MIDWEST
A dancer in full Native Amerian regalia performs for a crowd in a packed library.
Photo Credit: Chase Castor
Native dance and music takes over the Kansas City Public Library during a kickoff event for their NEA Big Read featuring U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s acclaimed poetry collection An American Sunrise.

Community programming during this cycle is focused on the theme “Where We Live.” Grantees chose their NEA Big Read book based on how its themes, characters, and setting relate to the unique aspects of their community. They will use this selection as inspiration for book discussions, writing workshops, and creative activities in collaboration with a range of local partners.

Grantees are from 35 states with 40 percent of the recipients receiving their first NEA Big Read grant this year. Nearly 30 percent of grantees self-identify as rural. Each NEA Big Read grantee will receive a matching grant ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support their project.

  • 40,000

    Community organizations have partnered for NEA Big Read activities

  • 1,800

    NEA Big Read Programs have been funded

  • 6M

    Americans have participated in NEA Big Read programming since 2006

“With every page turned, the NEA Big Read fosters understanding, empathy and connection. Through a shared reading experience, our NEA Big Read grantees will explore their collective story and sense of place, cultivating a deeper appreciation for the diverse narratives that make up our beautiful and complex communities.” 

MARIA ROSARIO JACKSON, PhD., CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

Examples of 2024-2025 programming:

  • A poster of colorful wildlife with text that reads Northern Arizona Book Festival

    Northern Arizona Book Festival

    NEA Big Read

    FY2024
    Arizona

    The Northern Arizona Book Festival’s 2025 Indigenous Writers’ Symposium will take its inspiration from Tommy Orange’s THERE, THERE. Programming will include a launch event with Orange, a large-scale art installation, a place-based GIS anthology project, a literary walking tour of the Flagstaff bordertown, an Indigenous translation slam, as well as poetry readings, panels, and workshops.

  • Exterior shot of MOCA's location, with modern text reading MOCA across a sleek modern entrance

    Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)

    NEA Big Read

    FY2024
    New York

    MOCA will curate a series of programming including book and panel discussions, immersive performances, creative writing workshops, and a special exhibition on “Interior Chinatown” by Charles Yu. This series will engage local artists and community organizations, connecting past and present through dialogues and personal histories on themes of living in Chinatowns and the immigrant experience.

  • Shelves of books in a peaceful and welcoming room.

    Lake County Library

    NEA Big Read

    FY2024
    California

    Inspired by Andrew Krivak’s The Bear with its homage to earth, wilderness, and survival, our Big Read project will explore the theme of WHERE WE LIVE with programming that will honor our homeland of Lake County, California. With our community, we will explore our local resources, landscapes, and survival skills while turning to The Bear for meaningful discussions.

Explore the Grantees

Below are lists of community organizations selected to participate in the NEA Big Read program for 2024-25. Or, explore all grantees in Arts Midwest’s searchable grantee database.

Grantee Database
OrganizationCityStateAward
United States Marshals MuseumFort SmithAR $20,000
Northern Arizona Book FestivalFlagstaffAZ $10,000
The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural AffairsLos AngelesCA $20,000
Lake County LibraryLakeportCA $  8,000
Teatro VisiónSan JoseCA $20,000
Write Out LoudSan DiegoCA $20,000
Colorado TINTSSalidaCO $12,700
Prairie Cultural CommonsStrattonCO $15,000
Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimanticCT $20,000
Broward County Libraries DivisionFt LauderdaleFL $20,000
University of FloridaGainesvilleFL $14,900
Chattahoochee Valley LibrariesColumbusGA $20,000
Athens-Clarke County LibraryAthensGA $20,000
7 StagesAtlantaGA $20,000
The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of ArtIowa CityIA $20,000
Quincy Public LibraryQuincyIL $20,000
Evanston Public LibraryEvanstonIL $13,000
Vigo County Public LibraryTerre HauteIN $20,000
Salina Public LibrarySalinaKS $15,000
Wichita Public Library FoundationWichitaKS $20,000
Gateway Regional Arts CenterMt. SterlingKY $20,000
Becket AthenaeumBecketMA $  6,000
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial AssociationDeerfieldMA $20,000
The Arts & Justice CollectiveMarstons MlsMA $15,000
Sandy Spring MuseumSandy SpringMD $19,800
Youth Activism ProjectBethesdaMD $20,000
SPACE Gallery with Mechanics HallPortlandME $16,000
Peter White Public LibraryMarquetteMI $16,600
ArtReach St. CroixStillwaterMN $15,000
Kansas City Public LibraryKansas CityMO $20,000
Lewis & Clark LibraryHelenaMT $20,000
The Willa Cather FoundationRed CloudNE $20,000
Rutgers-Camden Center for the ArtsCamdenNJ $19,500
Taos Center for the ArtsTaosNM $20,000
New York Irish CenterLong Island CityNY $20,000
Just Buffalo Literary CenterBuffaloNY $15,000
Newburgh Enlarged City School DistrictNewburghNY $20,000
Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA)New YorkNY $20,000
University of DaytonDaytonOH $20,000
The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County (PLMVKC)Mount VernonOH $20,000
Springfield Museum of ArtSpringfieldOH $16,300
Lorain Public Library SystemLorainOH $10,000
Miami Public LibraryMiamiOK $  6,600
McMahon Auditorium AuthorityLawtonOK $20,000
FishtrapEnterpriseOR $20,000
WPSUState CollegePA $18,300
Write PittsburghPittsburghPA $20,000
Touchstone TheatreBethlehemPA $20,000
Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de GuraboGuraboPR $19,900
Taller Comunidad La GoycoSan JuanPR $20,000
MOJA Arts FestivalCharlestonSC $20,000
Rapid City Arts CouncilRapid CitySD $20,000
Irving Public LibraryIrvingTX $15,000
Nacogdoches Public LibraryNacogdochesTX $19,400
Alley TheatreHoustonTX $20,000
Old Dominion University Research FoundationNorfolkVA $20,000
Massanutten Regional LibraryHarrisonburgVA $10,000
Amherst Glebe Arts Response, Inc.AmherstVA $  9,000
Bristol Public LibraryBristolVA $  5,000
Spruce Peak ArtsStoweVT $20,000
Folio: The Seattle AthenaeumSeattleWA $14,000
Shake Rag Alley Center for the ArtsMineral PointWI $20,000
TOTAL$1,075,000

Visit arts.gov/neabigread for more information. Organizations interested in applying for an NEA Big Read grant in the future should visit Arts Midwest’s website for more information; guidelines will be released in the Fall.