Program/Grant: NEA Big Read

What happens when a survivalist, a novel, and a small-town library come together? A day of fire-starting, squash-picking, and rediscovering our place in the natural world.

This community-wide reading program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for programming that uses the theme of "Our Nature" as inspiration.

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

Sarah Smarsh's 2018 memoir Heartland, a book about rural issues, was discussed in rural communities across South Dakota.

Ross Gay’s poetry book Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude spurred murals, conversations, and connection in this small Kentucky city.

Two art films, one focused on land and another an homage to the sky, were inspired by Andrew Krivak’s The Bear.

Applications are now open for the 2024-25 cycle of our two national grants programs: the NEA Big Read and Shakespeare in American Communities.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), in partnership with Arts Midwest, is pleased to announce grants to 62 nonprofit organizations to hold NEA Big Read programming in 2023-2024.

Applications are now open for our two national grants programs: the NEA Big Read and Shakespeare in American Communities.