National Endowment for the Arts  
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DESIGN

From the typeface on this page to the neighborhood in which you live, every object and place is the result of design. Design surrounds us and has a direct impact on the quality of our lives. Furthermore, designers fuel innovation by employing creative thinking to solve problems, drive economic development, and address social issues. The design field encompasses many disciplines including, but not limited to, architecture, communications and graphic design, fashion design, industrial and product design, interior design, landscape architecture, planning, universal design, rural design, and urban design. The National Endowment for the Arts recognizes design's ever-present impact on society by funding activities that encourage, preserve, and disseminate the best in American and global design.

The Arts Endowment often receives questions from potential applicants about the appropriate discipline for their project. Applications that address multiple design disciplines (e.g., urban design and graphics) should be submitted under Design. Similarly, historic preservation organizations that focus on architecture, landscape architecture, or designed objects also should apply under Design. Museums and visual arts venues presenting a design exhibition or installation should contact Arts Endowment staff to determine whether to apply under Design or under Museums or Visual Arts. Finally, applicants should be aware that the Arts Endowment does not fund capital campaigns, construction costs, or the purchase or leasing of sites or structures. Please contact us if you have further questions.


Swimming pool design model
For the Noguchi Museum exhibition, The Imagery of Chess Revisited, a game room was set up with chess sets for families and visitors.

Funding Opportunities in Design

Grants for Arts Projects
CFDA No. 45.024

The National Endowment for the Arts' primary funding opportunities for organizations can be found here. An organization may submit only one application through one of the following FY 2014 Grants for Arts Projects categories (see "Application Limits" for the few exceptions to this rule). For most organizations, these categories represent the full range of funding options for the entire year. Applicants should examine the goal and purposes of their project as well as the review criteria of these categories, and apply to the one category that is most relevant. The Arts Endowment will not transfer applications between categories.

  • Art Works: To support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Within these areas, innovative projects are strongly encouraged. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. The application is due on August 8, 2013. There is no March deadline for Art Works design projects. Design organizations are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through Our Town and Research: Art Works. 

  • Challenge America Fast-Track: To support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Grants are for $10,000. (Deadline: May 23, 2013)

 

Our Town
CFDA No. 45.024

Organizations may apply for creative placemaking projects that contribute to the livability of communities and place the arts at their core. An organization may request a grant amount from $25,000 to $200,000. (Deadline: January 14, 2013)

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National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards

Outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people may apply for these awards. (Receipt deadline:February 4, 2013)

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Lifecycle of an Application
Guidelines available: Application guidelines are made available on the Arts Endowment's website and through Grants.gov
Application submitted: Applications that meet the deadline are assigned an application number. Applicant receives acknowledgment of application receipt. Applications are forwarded to Program staff
Staff review: Staff reviews applications for completeness and eligibility and may contact an applicant for clarification and additional information. Application materials are sent to panelists several weeks before the panel meeting. Work samples may be distributed in advance or may be held for review at the panel
Panel review: Panels generally meet from one to five days, depending on application load. Each panel is made up of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Each application is reviewed and rated in accordance with the published review criteria.
National Council-Chairman Review: The staff reconciles the panel recommendations with available funds and forwards them to the National Council on the Arts, where they are reviewed in open session. The Council makes recommendations on which applications to fund and which applications to reject. Fast-Track grants receive an expedited review. Following panel and staff review, recommendations are forwarded to the Chairman who makes the final decision on all grant awards.
Notification: Applicants not recommended for funding are notified. Applicants recommended may be contacted first for revisions to the project. Fast-Track Grant applicants will receive a preliminary letter of notification. Grantees later receive an official grant award notification with information about legal and reporting requirements
 

 

      
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