Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists is sponsored by Mid-America Arts Alliance. This program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA's six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nation…

Artistic Innovations - Mid-America Arts Alliance Grants for artists and organizations Applications are open now The Artistic Innovations Grant Program supports the development of new, original works in the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) six-state region: Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. This grant encourages experimentation across artistic disciplines.

Through Artistic Innovations, individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations can apply for grants of up to $15,000 to create and present new work. Funding, cost-share requirements, application forms differ by applicant type: Individual artists may apply for up to $15,000 with no cost share required.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists are made possible through M-AAA’s strategic reinvestment of a gift from Yield Giving. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations may apply for up to $15,000 with a cost-share requirement. These grants are supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Since 2012, Artistic Innovations has provided more than $2 million in funding to support new art projects across the region. The next cycle of Artistic Innovations applications is now open. Apply by Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.

m. CT. Missouri FY26 Artistic Innovations Grantee Pack Dance.

Photo by Chris Bauer Photography. Guidelines for Individual Artists Guidelines for Organizations Who Artistic Innovations is for Kansas FY26 Artistic Innovations Grantee Susan Miranda. Photo by Kristin Weber Photography.

Artistic Innovations is for individual artists or nonprofit arts organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region that: have new, original, or experimental ideas, projects, or products to share with audiences. share experiences of art, art making, or artists at the heart of the initiative.

engage the public through feature presentation and outreach, which could include (but is not limited to) performance, publication, lecture/demonstration, exhibition, master class and/or workshop. are from rural or urban communities. Applicants should have an anticipated project budget that reflects a dollar-for-dollar match for the grant amount requested.

We encourage applications from artists and organizations that embody and/or serve populations that are underserved, such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by external forces such as geography, race/ethnicity, economics, and/or disability. Artists and organizations who are applying to M-AAA for a grant for the first time are encouraged to apply.

put experiences of art, art making, or artists at the heart of the initiative. engage the public, for example, through performance, publication, lecture/demonstration, exhibition, master class and/or workshop. have included the disciplines of dance, film, literature, music, theater, and visual arts.

See previously funded projects . What Artistic Innovations provides Nebraska FY26 Artistic Innovations Grantee Lincoln Crossroads Festival. Photo by Deborah Kaplan.

Matching grant of up to $15,000 for project expenses. Applicants are encouraged to request an amount that is reflective of the project and their capacity to manage the grant. Grant funds may be used for expenses incurred starting on or after January 1, 2027, and must be totally expended on or by June 30, 2027.

See the full eligibility guidelines below. Kansas FY26 Artistic Innovations Grantee Arts Council of Johnson County. Artwork by Justin Border.

Image courtesy of Arts Council of Johnson County. Application opens: August 20, 2026 Application deadline: September 24, 2026 at 5:00 p. m.

CT. Office Hours: August 26 to September 16, 2026 Application Adjudication: October 1 to November 30, 2026 Applicant selections and notifications: December 18, 2026 M-AAA public awards announcement: January 2027 Project Period: January 1, 2027–June 30, 2027 Missouri grantee Bread and Roses Missouri. Photo courtesy of Bread and Roses Missouri.

Artistic Innovations Grant Program supports the creation of new, original works of art by eligible in-region artists and organizations. Applications will be assessed for artistic merit and artistic excellence. M-AAA intends to make awards that encourage the spirit of experimentation and exploration and benefit a broad constituency.

Awards will be made across the six-state M-AAA region, with at least two grants awarded per state (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas). This program will disburse cost-sharing grants of up to $15,000 to no fewer than 12 grantees. Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists are made possible through M-AAA’s strategic reinvestment of a gift from Yield Giving.

Artistic Innovations Grants for Organizations are provided through generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Apply Now: Individual Artists Guidelines for Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists Program Objectives - Individual Artists Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists Deadline: September 24, 2026 at 5:00 p. m.

CT. Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) partners with and supports artists, organizations and communities to grow access to the arts, culture, and creativity. The Artistic Innovations Grants for Individual Artists is supported through Mid-America Arts Alliance’s strategic reinvestment of a transformational gift from Yield Giving to strengthen artists, organizations, and communities.

If you are looking for the Artistic Innovations Grant for Organizations, click here . Read M-AAA’s Mission, Vision, and Values to learn more about us at: www. maaa.

org/about/mission . Through grants of up to $15,000, the Artistic Innovations program supports the development of new or original works of art across all disciplines, created exclusively by in-region individual artists and art-based organizations in M-AAA’s six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography).

Eligible applicants include individual artists and nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the region. See Applicant Eligibility Requirements in the accordion below for more information. This grant encourages experimentation across all artistic disciplines.

See Project Eligibility Requirements for more information. We intend to award at least one individual artist grant and two organizational grant recipients per state across the six-state region. For the FY2027 grant cycle, this program will disburse grants of up to $15,000 to no fewer than 18 grantees.

See Grant Awards & Grantee Requirements in the accordion below for more information. Learn more about M-AAA’s FY2026 Artistic Innovations Grant Recipients and their projects at: www. maaa.

org/programs-grants/artistic-innovations/2026-grant-recipients. Applicants can preview the application form in the Application At-A-Glance document. To support applicants in their preparation process of applying, they can preview the application form in the Application At-A-Glance document.

To support applicants in their preparation process of applying, they can download a copy of the FY27 Guidelines (Individuals) and preview the application form in the FY27 Application At-A-Glance document and the recommended Work Sample Template and Budget Template .

Individual Artist Grant Considerations The Artistic Innovations grant program supports direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements to individuals through private funds. These grants are funded through private support and, unlike Artistic Innovations grants to organizations, are not supported by the National Endowment for the Arts .

Effective for the August 2026 application cycle, M-AAA no longer requires a cost share or match for Individual Artist Grants. This change is made possible through the strategic reinvestment of a gift from Yield Giving, expanding M-AAA’s ability to empower and support individual artists in our region.

M-AAA intends to award up to $15,000 to at least one individual per state for projects taking place between January 1, 2027, and June 30, 2027. Individual artists may submit one application per application cycle. Each artist may receive no more than two awards across all recurring M-AAA grant programs within a single fiscal year.

Previous Artistic Innovations grantees, as well as featured artists or ensembles, must observe a one-year waiting period before reapplying to this program. Receiving funding through other M-AAA programs, whether federally or privately funded (for example, Windgate), does not affect an applicant’s eligibility for this grant. See Applicant Eligibility Requirements for more details.

Eligible Individual Artists must : Be at least 21 years of age on or before the application deadline; Be a citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status in the United States; and Be a full-time resident in M-AAA’s six-state region, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography, prior to the application deadline and during the entire grant period of activity, if awarded.

Eligible applications for project selection will be assessed on Artistic Merit Through Stewardship of Funding and Artistic Excellence through the Artwork . If selected for funding, grantees must comply with M-AAA Policies and Procedures . M-AAA grant agreements, funding distributions, and other administrative requirements will take place upon grant recipients accepting their awards.

Have questions? Contact us for programmatic questions at [email protected] . Individual Artist Eligibility Through M-AAA’s annual grant program, we intend to award grants to eligible individual artists whose projects engage broad public audiences across the six-state region.

We welcome applications from Individual Artists including: Individual artists applying for the first time to M-AAA Individual artists who have not been successful with previous M-AAA grants or other opportunities Individual artists that embody and/or serve underserved populations, such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, race/ethnicity, economics, and/or disability* Individual artists located in rural and urban communities * M-AAA abides by state and federal laws that prohibit public support to those who discriminate against people with disabilities.

All of our partners and grantees—that includes exhibition venues, grant recipients, and presenting organizations—are required to ensure that they are in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Note: An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. Individual Artist Applicants must : Be at least 21 years of age on or before the application deadline.

Be a citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status. Note: Social Security Number information is not required at the time of application, but will be requested if awarded . Be a full-time resident in M-AAA’s six-state region before the application deadline and during the entire grant period of activity, if awarded.

Provide two proofs of residence. Your current state driver’s license, recent bill from a bank, mortgage company, utility company, credit card company, doctor or hospital, bank statement, property tax bill, current valid homeowner’s or renter’s policy, or motor vehicle insurance card or policy, current valid motor vehicle registration, 2024 tax filing (IRS or State) with sensitive information removed. P.

O. box information is not accepted. Have an artist statement and/or résumé that demonstrates at least a 3-year history of arts engagement in a creative practice before the application deadline.

Examples of your creative practice do not have to be from consecutive years or seasons. Virtual programming, planning, and COVID-19 recovery activities are all considered to be arts programming. To define eligibility, a 3-year history of arts engagement refers to when the applicant began their creative practice independent of activities required in pursuit of an academic degree or other certification.

Commit to M-AAA’s Grantee Assurance of Compliance and Federal Suspension and Debarment Policy. To learn more, visit www. maaa.

org/resources/assurance-of-compliance ; Agree to credit acknowledgment of M-AAA in all promotional materials. To learn more, visit https://maaa. org/resources/grantee-crediting-requirements/ ; and Be in good standing with M-AAA and all federal agencies with no delinquent grant documents and/or reports, if awarded.

Those not eligible to apply include: 2026 Artistic Innovations grant recipient or the featured artist or ensemble in another Artistic Innovations project in fiscal year 2026 ; Current M-AAA board members, staff members, and immediate families of full-time employees; Applications through fiscal sponsors/agents on behalf of an applicant (individuals must apply on their own behalf and cannot act as a pass-through entity); Project Eligibility Requirements A strong Artistic Innovations project centers in-person experiences with art, art-making in any discipline, or artists and introduces a new original idea or artwork at any stage of creative development to the applicant’s audience.

Projects must be led solely by artists or art-based nonprofit organizations based in the six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native Nations in this geography) .

We welcome applications from eligible applicants across all disciplines, including but not limited to: Crafts (Clay, Fiber, Glass, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Paper, Plastic, Wood) Dance/movement (Ballet, Ethnic/Jazz, Tribal, Modern) Design Arts (Architecture, Fashion, Graphic, Industrial, Interior, Landscape Architecture, Urban/Metropolitan) Folklife/Traditional Arts (Crafts & Visual Arts, Dance, Music, Oral Traditions/Spoken word, Stand-up comedy/Storytelling) Humanities (Facilitated conversations, Compilation of historical documentation, Preservation of history) Interdisciplinary (a combination of two or more creative disciplines) Literature (Fiction, Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry) Media Arts (Film, Audio, Technology/Experiments, Podcasts, Video) Multidisciplinary (composed of several creative disciplines) Music (Band, Chamber, Choral, Ethnic, Jazz, New, Orchestral, Popular, Solo/Recital, Song Writing) Opera/Music Theatre (Opera, Musical Theater) Theater (General, Mime, Puppet, Theater for Young Audiences, Storytelling) Visual Arts (Collage, Experimental, Graphics, Multimedia, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture) All projects should reflect the spirit of the Artistic Innovations grant program and advance M-AAA’s philosophy through its proposed work.

Projects must include at least two (2) public-facing engagements that occur in M-AAA’s six-state region: A feature or premiere presentation event that takes place in-person and/or virtually between January 1, 2027, and June 30, 2027 in M-AAA’s six-state region. An event must be a minimum of 60 minutes in length, showcasing the artwork.

Activities can include, but are not limited to: Other creative approaches An outreach engagement or educational activity takes place in-person and/or virtually between January 1, 2027, and June 30, 2027 in M-AAA’s six-state region. An activity must be a minimum of 30 minutes in length and can be presented either by the artist, scholar/educator(s), or those working directly in support of the project.

All activities must educate the community about the art form(s) and provide direct interaction between the artist(s) and audience. Activities can include, but are not limited to: Other creative approaches Applicants are encouraged to engage underserved groups/communities including populations whose opportunities to experience the arts have been limited relative to factors such as geography, economics, race or ethnicity, or disability.

M-AAA recognizes that in-person public-facing engagements might not be possible given public health safety issues, but for the application process, we require applicants to plan for and describe the best-case scenario in which in-person experiences can take place during the grant period of activities. Funded project activities are not required to be free but must be open to the general public.

Note: Any events available only to subscription ticket holders are not considered open to the general public. Activities must take place in an accessible facility or on an accessible online streaming platform that allows for artist and audience interaction before, during, and/or after the feature presentation and/or outreach engagement.

Projects not eligible include: activities outside of the M-AAA six-state region activities that are already funded by M-AAA through another grant program activities that are not open or available in part to the general public activities that are not arts-focused (e.g., conference keynote speeches, sidewalk sales, food festivals, fireworks displays, etc.) activities that solely engage artists who reside outside the M-AAA region activities that engage solely through online streaming content activities taking place exclusively in schools during school hours activities through which students will receive academic credit for attendance or participation, including student participation assessments activities that are part of an awards ceremony, benefit, or fellowships, fundraiser, or scholarships annual activities or fees in a funding period (e.g., a performance schedule) art competitions, festivals, or fairs facility or artwork conservation, repair, or restoration facility construction, maintenance, or renovation institution/organization establishment, or support subgranting, regranting, or cash awards stabilization/endowment/challenge restaging traditional works (e.g., literature and productions) to preserve the originals For unallowable project costs, see Appendix A: Cost Principles of the Application At-A-Glance document for more details.

Project Information Required for the Application We welcome applications with eligible projects that encourage experimentation and exploration. Eligible applications will provide information about the following: Project Timeline. Provide a project timeline document that is realistic and include milestones or significant events associated with the proposed project and activities.

A project timeline document is a required part of the application process to meet our eligibility requirements. Project Description. A description of activities open to the public and must include: Activity dates/times, title/work/program, key artist/personnel name.

Venue Contracts or Rental Agreements. A fully executed contract (e.g., Letter of Agreement/Intent or Memorandum of Understanding) is required between the applicant and any venues where activities take place. This must include: venue names, addresses of where activities will take place in person, and venue accessibility information.

Where the venue remains to be selected, describe the selection procedures that you plan to follow and the qualifications that you seek. Brief description of the agreed-upon activities that will take place. Total number of artists included.

Artist/ensemble fees associated with the project, including their payment for services (performance, workshops, etc.), transportation, accommodations, and per diem costs described in the contract associated with the project. Note: M-AAA program staff will review the contract and artist/ensemble contact information to determine eligibility, including residency.

Artists who are part-time residents must be based in M-AAA’s six-state service region during the ​project’s period of performance. If a fully executed contract is difficult to obtain, draft documentation must reflect tentative project details that can be submitted with the application for consideration. Note: Grant award decisions require a fully executed contract on file prior to M-AAA distributing grant funds.

Applicants and partners are urged to include a termination clause (also known as a Force Majeure) in all artist performance contracts that defines the circumstances of the agreement that can be grounds for cancellations and/or changes.

The clause should outline reasons the artist and the presenter fail to appear or perform their obligations that can be caused by or due to the acts of any unforeseen circumstances, like a state of emergency, natural or human-made disasters.

Cancellations related to a contract contingent on M-AAA’s grant funding that is not awarded can qualify for ending an agreement held between the artist and the presenter if included under said clause. Organizational Partners involved in the project (if applicable). An organizational partner is an outside entity providing resources other than money to support the project.

Funders are not excluded from being partners, but they must also provide other informational capital, or actively participate in the project. Provide a summary document and/or any letter(s) of support from organizational partner(s).) Include the names of each organizational partner, their contact information (e.g., street address, website), and mission statement.

Be sure to note the address in which they are incorporated in the six-state region. Describe their involvement in the development of the project to date or the support they will provide during the grant period of activities. Where they remain to be selected, describe the selection procedures that you plan to follow and the qualifications that you seek.

Individual or Lead Artists for the project. Artists are the ones who create or perform the art that an audience or the public comes to see or interact with. For example, these are painters or sculptors who create works of art for an exhibition or are teaching artists who offer workshops to engage groups of people through their art form.

Artists are also those who perform or offer master classes for an audience such as musicians, actors, dancers, or poets. Provide a summary document about the lead artist if applicable. (optional) Include the name of the individual or lead artist, a brief, current biography, and website address, if applicable.

Be sure to note the city and state in which they reside in the six-state region. Describe their involvement in the development of the project to date or the support they will provide during the grant period of activities. Describe the support the individual or lead artist will provide during the grant period of activities.

Provide a résumé of the individual or lead artist, if applicable. (required) A résumé must demonstrate at least 3 years of engagement in a creative practice highlighting artistic endeavors or arts programming. Other Individual Partners involved in the project (if applicable).

An individual partner is a person who will provide resources other than money to support the project. Provide the names of each individual partner, a brief, current biography, and website address, if applicable. Be sure to note the city and state in which they reside.

Describe their involvement in the development of the project to date or the support they will provide during the grant period of activities. Work Samples. Provide no more than 5 high-quality work samples created within the last 5 years and relevant to the project and/or show an alignment with the intentions of this grant program.

Applicants can create their own work sample list document or utilize M-AAA’s Work Sample Template . Names of artist/personnel (e.g., lead artist, partners) involved in the work; Date created, performed, or published; Length of recordings (if applicable).

You must explicitly note the time stamp designations of where to start and stop recordings (i.e., video or audio track) intended for panel review (e.g., 1:30 to 2:30); Description of the work. You must include a brief and concise summary and how it relates to the grant or project in 1-5 sentences; and Art websites and login credentials, if protected. You must include the website addresses of your work.

If any of the URL addresses/links are password protected, please include any login credentials (e.g., passwords). Additional Supporting Materials. Provide additional supporting materials.

These materials can include, but are not limited to: letters of agreement and/or support from key individuals, partners, etc. Grant Requests. Have a grant request of no more than $15,000.

Applicants are encouraged to request an amount that is reflective of the project and their capacity to manage the grant; and Provide a detailed project budget that reflects all income and associated expenses that will be incurred for the project and all public-facing events during the grant period of activities for the grant amount requested.

M-AAA grant funds must be used exclusively for direct project expenses incurred in the art-making process and production of public-facing engagements. Review the list of allowable and unallowable expense costs in Appendix A: Cost Principles of the Application At-A-Glance for more details.

Applicants are encouraged to reflect all expenses and income expected for this project in the application budget to clarify the project scope for review. In-person activities: The artist’s fees can include their payment for services (performance, workshops, etc.), transportation, accommodations, and per diem costs described in the contract.

Online activities: The artist’s fee can include payment for services and online streaming fees associated with the project described in the contract. Identify income sources, which can include, but are not limited to: direct/other project incomes (e.g., ticket sales, entry fees) In-kind, cash contributions grants, and/or organizational funding All funding, procured or pending, should be included in the project budget.

For Individual applicants. M-AAA does not require a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) match or cost share requirement but applicants should show any grants, cash reserves, donations, and/or in-kind contributions in support of the project. For Organizations.

Must meet the 1:1 match or cost share requirement through a combination of cash reserves, donations, and/or in-kind contributions. M-AAA does not require evidence of a 1:1 match or cost share at the time of application. Federal and other M-AAA grant funding procured or pending for the project must be included in the budget.

Other funding sources, such as in-kind goods/services, Federal and other federally funded M-AAA grants for the project, should be noted in the budget. NOTE: Federal funding cannot be used to meet the 1:1 dollar-for-dollar cost share requirement. Grant funds may be used for expenses incurred starting on or after January 1, 2027, and must be totally expended on or by June 30, 2027.

Application Review and Funding Selection Criteria M-AAA strongly discourages the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate answers to the narrative application questions. It is, however, acceptable to use AI to proofread and edit your responses to character limits. We will review applications for completeness and to confirm applicants and projects meet eligibility requirements.

Applications that are incomplete at submission, do not meet the required criteria or using AI for any other purpose will be deemed ineligible. Eligible applications are then assessed by a reviewer panel. Each application will be evaluated based on criteria adapted from the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Artistic Merit Through Stewardship of Funding” and “Artistic Excellence through the Artwork.

” Artistic Merit Through Stewardship of Funding: Project Design and Budget: The application demonstrates a realistic timeline, an appropriate budget, clear artistic-based objectives, and adequate risk management considerations.

Project Management: The application indicates the ability of the applicant to implement the project as demonstrated by the qualifications of those involved, including but not limited to appropriate paid personnel, volunteers, and partners, and shows a proactive plan for audience development. Project Accessibility: The application reflects fair practices for the applicant’s audience to access and/or participate in the project.

The application shows evidence that funded project services, information, and facilities where activities are to take place will be accessible for everyone. Artistic Excellence through the Artwork: Project Leadership: The application indicates that the applicant and any partners involved in the project design and execution demonstrate skills, expertise, and experiences that are central to the project as evidenced in the work samples.

Project Impact: The application reflects how the project fits into the scope and mission of the applicant’s body of work and demonstrates the project’s reach and/or depth of engagement to a broad constituency, including geographic and demographic characteristics, and accessibility through its execution and evaluation.

Overall Grant Program and Project Alignment: The application demonstrates how the project aligns with the grant program’s objectives to support the creation of original, innovative, and/or experimental artwork through at least 2 public-facing engagements in the six-state region. Accompanying each criterion is a rubric statement.

For each application, reviewers will assign a score from one to six to each criterion based on how well the application aligns with the rubric statement: 6 – Exemplary: Fully achieves the stated criteria. Meets all of the review criteria requirements to the HIGHEST degree. 5 – Strong: Strongly achieves the stated criteria.

Meets all of the review criteria requirements to a SIGNIFICANT degree. 4 – Good: Sufficiently achieves the stated criteria. Meets all of the review criteria requirements to SOME degree.

3 – Fair: Moderately achieves the stated criteria. Meets MOST of the review 2 – Marginal: Minimally achieves the stated criteria. Meets SOME of the review 1 – Weak: Does not achieve the stated criteria.

Inadequately meets the review Applicants will be notified of their application status by M-AAA program staff. Applicants will have an opportunity to request a summary of review comments. Ineligible applicants will be notified with an opportunity to obtain a summary of review comments.

See Program Timeline . Grant Awards & Requirements If an applicant is selected, it will enter into a grant agreement with M-AAA. The agreement will outline the terms and conditions, including federal regulations, project, and crediting requirements of the Artistic Innovations grant award.

Grantees must comply with all requirements as stipulated in the grant agreement, including, but not limited to, the following: Grantees are required to carry out activities consistent with the application as approved for funding; Changes to funded activities must be proposed in advance by the grantee and require written approval from M-AAA’s Director of Arts and Humanities Grant Programs prior to implementing project changes, per the grant agreement .

Awards may be revised in light of such changes. Requests for changes are considered on a case-by-case basis; approval is not guaranteed; Grantees commit to M-AAA’s Grantee Assurance of Compliance and Federal Suspension and Debarment Policy at www. maaa.

org/resources/assurance-of-compliance ; Grantees must complete an online interim and final report form provided by M-AAA. The online final report form summarizes grant-funded activities and accomplishments at the end of the project activity period or at the end of the period of support, whichever occurs first. ; Grantees must agree to credit acknowledgment of M-AAA’s support in all promotional materials.

To learn more, visit www. maaa. org/resources/grantee-crediting-requirements ; Grantees are responsible for and must retain all records, receipts, and proof of expenses for a minimum of three (3) years following the grant period of activity and provide those documents to M-AAA or M-AAA’s grant program funders upon request; Grantees must expend all funds between January 1, 2027, and on or before June 30, 2027.

Funding will be distributed through two (2) payments: 50% upon execution of the grant agreement, W-9 Form, Direct Deposit Authorization Form , and successful review of the Interim Report. 50% upon successful review of the Final Report. To assist grantees in managing their grants, M-AAA offers information and resources at: www.

maaa. org/programs-grants/artistic-innovations and www. maaa.

org/resources/for-grantees . Application opens: August 20, 2026 Application deadline: September 24, 2026 at 5:00 p. m.

CT. Office Hours: August 26 to September 16, 2026 Application Adjudication: October 1 to November 30, 2026 Applicant selections and notifications: December 18, 2026 M-AAA public awards announcement: January 2027 Project Period: January 1, 2027–June 30, 2027 M-AAA Policies and Procedures The Artistic Innovations Grant Program is supported by both federal and private funding.

Effective August 2026, Artistic Innovations grants are funded through two distinct sources: grants to Individual Artists are supported entirely through the reinvestment of a gift from Yield Giving and do not require a cost share or match; grants to Organizations are supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and require a 1:1 cost share or match.

In addition, all M-AAA applicants and grantees must comply with this Assurance of Compliance and agree that, if the applicant is selected and becomes a grant recipient: Grantees are required to make access accommodations upon request for constituents with disabilities at M-AAA-funded activities. The National Endowment for the Arts has resources to assist arts organizations in making accommodations for a ccessibility .

Grantees must compensate all professional performers and related or supporting professional personnel at no less than the prevailing minimum rate of compensation. This requirement is in accordance with the regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor in part 505 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations . Part 505 does not provide information on specific compensation levels.

Grant awards are considered income.