Arts Midwest
As a Midwestern organization, Arts Midwest specifically focuses on the region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography. Each fiscal year, they award grants to hundreds of organizations, tour artists across the Midwest, and share stories that celebrate Midwestern creativity. Some of their recurring funding opportunities include:
- GIG Fund: The GIG Fund is a grant of $4,000 that supports creative projects and educational events in the Midwest. These funds help organizations present artists in their community by supporting programming and touring costs.
- NEA Big Read: The NEA Big Read is a grant of up to $20,000 to help bring communities together around the shared activity of reading and discussing the same book.
- Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare in American Communities provides grants of up to $25,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants support performances and workshops in schools and in the justice system.
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. Some of their recurring funding opportunities include:
- Grants for Arts Projects: Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities.
- Challenge America: Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000.
- Our Town: Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term.
Community Foundations
Local community foundations are often a source of funding for organizations and individuals within their communities. Learn more about the community foundation that serves your county.
Local Arts Councils
Arts councils can be a source of funding for individuals as well as a source of local arts opportunities. Identify and connect with the local arts council that serves your community.
- Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana
- Indy Arts Council
- Northeast Indiana Regional Arts Council\
- Dearborn Highland Arts Council
- Columbus Area Arts Council
- Fishers Arts Council
- Batesville Area Arts Council
- Carmel Arts Council
- Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana
- Prairie Arts Council (Jasper and Newton Counties)
- Greencastle Arts Council
- Goshen Arts Council
- Greater Greenwood Arts Council
- Creative Arts Council of Wells County
- Angola Mayor's Arts Council
- Hendricks County Art Council
- Speedway Arts Council
- Hancock County Arts
US Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs)
The RAOs have a deep connection to United States regions, knowledge of our arts and culture ecosystems and organizations, and longstanding partnerships with State Arts Agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other public and private funders and service organizations. Learn about the opportunities from the US RAOs.
Placemaking Grants
- Indiana Destination Development Corporation Indiana Destination Development Grants & IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grants : The Indiana Destination Development Grant seeks to fund high-impact projects that raise Indiana’s capacity for attracting visitors and providing new and unique tourism experiences, while enhancing the quality of life for residents. The IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant looks to create community activations of the IN Indiana identifier throughout the state of Indiana.
- Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority CreatINg Places program: CreatINg Places aims to generate the public's involvement in the selection of creative improvements within their own communities, provide funding to see the project through completion, and instill community pride.
Other Opportunities from the State of Indiana
Other state agencies may have funding opportunities relevant to your program or organization. View other state funding opportunities.