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Announcing the 2025-26 NEA Big Read Grantees

A smiling person leading a group in a callligraphy lesson.
Photo Credit: Adrienne Chadwick
Calligraphy demonstration by the Chinese Association of Science, Education, and Culture of South Florida as part of Broward Public Library Foundation's NEA Big Read programming.

Over $1 million in grants will support 65 organizations presenting community literary programming across the country.

Today, Arts Midwest announced $1.09 million ($1,094,670) in NEA Big Read grants going to 65 nonprofit organizations to present community literature programming in 2025–26.

These grants will 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.

Community programming during this cycle of the NEA Big Read is focused on the theme “Our Nature.” Using their book selection as inspiration, grantees will offer book discussions, writing workshops, and creative activities that explore our relationship with the physical environment. In addition, all NEA Big Read grantees are hosting an event in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Grantees are from 33 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, with 38 percent of the recipients receiving their first NEA Big Read grant this year. Each NEA Big Read grantee will receive a matching grant ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support their project.

The NEA Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

A person presenting to a seated group in an art gallery in front of a large painting.
Photo Credit: Julie Umberger
Artist Bo Bartlett talks about the influence of his hometown of Columbus on his work as part of Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ NEA Big Read programming.
  • 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

Examples of projects supported:

  • A group of dancers in white and brown costumes cradling their arms and looking downwards.

    Ballet Five Eight

    ORLAND PARK, IL

    Ballet 5:8 will present a ballet based on Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street.

    Learn More
  • A patch of yellow and purple flowers in a garden.

    Botanical Garden of the Piedmont

    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

    Botanical Garden of the Piedmont (BGP) will present a series of events focused on Ada Limon’s book You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World.

    Learn More
  • People walking through the stalls of an outdoor farmers market.

    Palm Springs Cultural Center

    PALM SPRINGS, CA

    The Palm Springs Cultural Center will present programming at the Certified Farmers’ Markets of the Coachella Valley inspired by Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil.

    Learn More

Explore the Grantees

Below are lists of community organizations selected to participate in the NEA Big Read program for 2025-26. Or, explore all grantees in Arts Midwest’s searchable grantee database.

Grantee Database
OrganizationCityStateAward
University Of Alaska AnchorageAnchorageAK$19,720
Legacy 166MobileAL$20,000
Central Arkansas Library SystemLittle RockAR$20,000
Northern Arizona Book Festival IncFlagstaffAZ$11,000
Playhouse ArtsArcataCA$15,000
Nevada County LibraryNevada CityCA$19,920
City Of Oceanside – Oceanside Public LibraryOceansideCA$20,000
Palm Springs Cultural CenterPalm SpringsCA$20,000
University Of RedlandsRedlandsCA$20,000
Santa Clara City Library Foundation And FriendsSanta ClaraCA$14,960
Platte Valley Players IncBrightonCO$10,000
Hartford Public LibraryHartfordCT$19,490
New Haven International Festival Of Arts & Ideas IncNew HavenCT$20,000
National Building MuseumWashingtonDC$20,000
New Castle County GovernmentNew CastleDE$20,000
Miami Dade CollegeMiamiFL$20,000
Orlando Shakespeare Theater IncOrlandoFL$20,000
Vinton Public LibraryVintonIA$10,000
Madison County Foundation For Environmental EducationWintersetIA$11,250
College Of Western IdahoNampaID$20,000
Kuumba LynxChicagoIL$20,000
Pivot Arts IncChicagoIL$17,970
Du Page SymphonyNapervilleIL$19,450
Ballet Five EightOrland ParkIL$20,000
Midwest Partners FoundationPrincetonIL$13,100
Illinois State Museum SocietySpringfieldIL$14,000
Muncie Public LibraryMuncieIN$20,000
Vigo County Public LibraryTerre HauteIN$20,000
One Book One New OrleansNew OrleansLA$10,300
Chesapeake Childrens Museum IncAnnapolisMD$20,000
Performing Arts Center For African CulturesBowieMD$15,000
Maine Charitable Mechanic AssociationPortlandME$20,000
Beaver Island District LibraryBeaver IslandMI$9,000
B.A.S.S. IncHighland ParkMI$20,000
Hope CollegeHollandMI$20,000
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action CouncilLansingMI$15,990
Minneapolis College Of Art & DesignMinneapolisMN$20,000
South Sudanese FoundationMoorheadMN$14,500
Red Wing Art AssociationRed WingMN$20,000
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership InstituteSt. PaulMN$20,000
ArtReach St CroixStillwaterMN$20,000
Lewis & Clark LibraryHelenaMT$20,000
Lexington Public LibraryLexingtonNE$5,000
Linked2LiteracyLincolnNE$16,600
Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey, Camden CampusCamdenNJ$20,000
Arthur Johnson Memorial LibraryRatonNM$12,170
Southern Adirondack Library SystemSaratoga SpringsNY$20,000
Learning Through ArtCincinnatiOH$20,000
Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts CenterClevelandOH$20,000
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public LibraryCleveland HeightsOH$20,000
National Audubon Society Inc/Grange Audubon CenterColumbusOH$16,500
Lakewood Public LibraryLakewoodOH$10,250
Oxford Lane LibraryOxfordOH$7,500
Mcmahon Auditorium AuthorityLawtonOK$20,000
Nasd Education FoundationNorristownPA$10,000
Sistema Universitario Ana G Mendez IncorporadoCarolinaPR$20,000
Bison School District 52-1BisonSD$5,000
Creative Movement IncDallasTX$20,000
Nuestra Palabra Latino Writers Having Their SayHoustonTX$20,000
Allen And Alice Stokes Nature CenterLoganUT$20,000
Botanical Garden Of The PiedmontCharlottesvilleVA$20,000
Mark Skinner LibraryManchester CenterVT$9,600
Swanton Public LibrarySwantonVT$10,000
Museum Of GlassTacomaWA$20,000
Natrona County Public Library FoundationCasperWY$11,400
TOTAL$1,094,670

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 Fall 2025.