National Endowment for the Arts Big Read

In June 2023, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest, announced support for 62 nonprofit organizations to hold NEA Big Read programming in 2022-2023. In total, the NEA is investing $1,075,000 to support programming centered around one of 15 different contemporary books, with the aim of inspiring meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in participating communities.

To help applicants choose a book that inspires community programming and relates to the theme WHERE WE LIVE, the NEA Big Read has gone back to its roots. This year’s NEA Big Read applicants can select one of 50 titles featured in the NEA Big Read library.  The NEA Big Read library now includes selections culled from years past that showcase a wide range of genres, perspectives, and geographic regions.

Here is a list of helpful resources for planning and conducting your NEA Big Read.

• SmartSimple Walkthrough – This tutorial covers communication, reporting, and payments in our grants portal.
• NEA Big Read on arts.gov – This is where you’ll find content about the NEA Big Read books and authors.

Accessibility and Resources

• Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook
• Arts Midwest’s Accessibility Center

Crediting and Visibility

• PR Toolkit
• NEA Big Read Credit Line – This PDF contains the crediting language you must use in all of your print and electronic media.
• Downloadable logos for crediting. 
• Images and Video Permission and Usage Form

Other Resources

• Assurance of Compliance – Ensure your events comply with federal regulations by reviewing this PDF document.
• Bulk book orders – Need a place to start for buying bundles of books? This doc contains information for a few different options.

Learning from Peers

Presentations from past recipients of the NEA Big Read grant speaking on a handful of topics

• Approaches to On-campus engagement, by Sarah Shotland
  • Transcript
• Designing community engagement, by Sarah Shotland
  • Transcript
• Taking NEA Big Read programs virtual, by Keri Watson
  • Transcript
• Ready For Success: Virtual Partnerships & Programming For Musuems and Libraries: Chelsea Collison and Jasmine Tran, grantees of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program, share their insight on what it’s like to conduct community arts programming in the context of a partnership between a museum and a library during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Event Planning 101, by Georgina Marie Guardado : Planning a big event, and want to make sure you can accomplish your goals? Let this resource guide you through the do’s and don’ts, including getting organized, engaging your community, communicating clearly, and caring for yourself!
• Creating Partnerships with Schools and School Districts, by Stephanie Toole: Interested in exploring ways to partner with local schools on your programming? Unsure where to start? Working with such institutions can sometimes be complicated and marred by red tape. This resource will help you navigate the challenges and provide tips for working with school districts in your area in order to create dynamic programming for students

There are many ways to be a part of the NEA Big Read, especially if there’s a program in your community. Here are just a few of the ways you can get involved.  

• Join a panel to help decide which projects receive NEA Big Read funding. Panelists represent an array of backgrounds and areas of expertise, as well as geographic diversity. Panelists can be arts professionals or knowledgeable laypeople who are passionate about the arts. Learn more about how to become a panelist.
• Attend an event. The simplest way to be a part of the NEA Big Read is to attend the program’s events in your area. Events can range from book discussions to film screenings to author visits and more. 
• Volunteer. Did you know studies show that readers are more likely to volunteer than non-readers? If there’s an NEA Big Read event in your community, consider asking how you can help. 
• Talk to your local librarians. Ask them if they’ve heard of the NEA Big Read and if they might want to submit an application for the next funding cycle. That’s a great way to help bring NEA Big Read events to your area. 
• Become a sponsor. Do you represent a corporation or small business? If so, you can sponsor your local NEA Big Read or donate goods and services for NEA Big Read events. Or if you’re not in a position to sponsor Big Read events, you can organize a workplace read that mimics Big Read events at your company.
• And last but certainly not least: Read! Even if there’s not an NEA Big Read event in your area, you can choose to read any of the NEA Big Read selections on your own or with a group of friends.  

​​Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,700 NEA Big Read programs around the country, providing more than $23 million to organizations. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 15 years, grantees have leveraged more than $50 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 5.7 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, approximately 90,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible.

“The book taught us how to talk to and trust one another so that we could ultimately approach issues that were difficult and immediate,” writes one NEA Big Read participant, echoing the sentiments of many other participants around the country. Studies show that reading for pleasure reduces stress, heightens empathy, improves students’ test scores, slows the onset of dementia, and makes us more active and aware citizens. Book clubs and community reading programs extend these benefits by creating opportunities to explore together the issues that are relevant to our lives. 

For more information on the NEA Big Read, check out our FAQ page. 

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.