NALAC Fund for the Arts: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant

NALAC Fund for the Arts: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant is sponsored by National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC). This grant supports Latinx/é individual artists, cultural workers, and ensembles based in the U. S.

and Puerto Rico. The funding is for artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, and opportunities that address public concerns and/or influence social change.

2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant "Chumash Fire Serpent, Claiming Territory."

by Maria Calderon, 2018 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grantee About 2026 NALAC Fund for the Arts: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant For over 20 years, the NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA) has provided critical funds to Latinx/é artists, cultural workers, and ensembles to further develop their artistic vision and creative capital.

Established in 2005, the NFA was developed in partnership with the Ford Foundation and guided by artists and community leaders who saw the need for more resources for Latinx/é creatives in the United States, including Puerto Rico. NALAC recognizes the transformative power of the arts in social change.

Given our times, this year NALAC will award 20 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grants of $5,000 each to fund artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, and opportunities that support the individual or ensemble in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change. These funds are available to Latinx/é individual artists, individual cultural workers, and ensembles (defined as a group of artists working together).

There is one Primary Applicant per application, the individual artist/cultural worker who applies for funding for either themself or on behalf of an ensemble (defined as a group of artists working together). NALAC strongly encourages Latinx/é applicants from underrepresented communities within Latinidad, including Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, Undocumented, and Disabled folx.

MIMA, 2019 NALAC Fund for the Arts, Puerto Rico Artist Grantee Grant funds must directly support the applicant in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change through artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities.

Eligible expenses in service of this work may include the following: Living Wages and Artist Fees Production and Presentation Workshops and Residencies Space, Materials, and Supplies Activities in the proposal and all related expenses must take place within the 12-month award period: September 2026 – September 2027 . Expenditures using award funds are only permitted within these dates.

tierrafiltra, 2019 NALAC Fund for the Arts, Artist/Ensemble Grantee, Foto cortesía de / Photo Courtesy of Huerto Urbano del Callejón Trujillo Applications open: Monday, March 2, 2026, at 9:00 a. m. CST Applications close: Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.

m. CST Cafecito Office Hour: Friday, March 6, 2026, 3:00 p. m.

– 4:00 p. m. CST Awards are selected in September, with all applicants notified of their proposal status by early October.

The grant period officially begins when the selected grantee signs their Letter of Agreement (LOA) with NALAC. General inquiries may be submitted in writing via the NALAC Programs Support Desk . Applicant support via the Programs Support Desk will be available until 5:00 PM CT on Monday, March 23, 2026 , the application closing date.

Natalia Anciso and MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, 2019 NALAC Fund for the Arts Grantee.

Description and Objectives Description and Objectives for the NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant The 2026 NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA): Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant provides critical funds to support Latinx/é individual artists, individual cultural workers, and ensembles in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change through artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities.

This year, NALAC will award 20 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Awards of $5,000 each to Latinx/é individual artists, individual cultural workers, and ensembles (defined as a group of artists working together) across the United States, including Puerto Rico. Bolster Latinx/é individual artists, individual cultural workers, and ensembles in their efforts to promote social justice and social change through the arts.

Support and amplify the creative expression of Latinx/é artists, cultural workers, and ensembles. Build the artistic and professional capacity of Latinx/é artists, cultural workers, and ensembles. Strengthen communities by investing in cultural assets as well as the human and social capital of Latinx/é individuals and ensembles in the U.S., including Puerto Rico.

Applications will be accepted starting on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 9:00 a. m. CST .

The call for applications will close on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p. m. CST .

Eligibility for NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Must be at least 18 years of age Must be based in the U.S., including Puerto Rico Must identify as a Latinx/é artist, cultural worker, or ensemble (defined as a group of artists working together) Must use funds to directly support the Primary Applicant in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change through artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities Must have an active NALAC Membership If you do not have an active NALAC Membership or your existing membership has expired, please take a moment to activate your membership .

Please note that you will need your NALAC Membership Order Number to complete the application. Your Membership Order Number is the 4-digit number located in the subject line of the email you received confirming the purchase of your NALAC membership. If you have questions about membership or eligibility, please contact the Programs Support Desk.

Must have submitted all final reports and completed all evaluations and reporting requirements for any previously awarded NALAC Grants. Grantees of the 2024 NFA Individual Artists and Ensembles and earlier are eligible to apply. Recipients of the 2025 NFA: National Arts Partners grant are not eligible to apply.

Details for NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant: $5,000 Award Duration: September 2026 – September 2027 (12 months) Please note that the 12-month award period is initiated when a Letter of Agreement (LOA) between NALAC and the grantee is signed.

The Primary Applicant is responsible for ensuring that the use of grant funds is compliant with the proposal outlined in the application and the terms in the signed LOA. The Primary Applicant is responsible for all federal, state, and local tax implications associated with receiving the award.

The award may be used at the Primary Applicant’s discretion and must directly support the applicant in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change through artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities. Grantees receive the full award at the start of the 12-month grant duration. Grantees provide updates for grant reporting purposes.

Grantees agree to execute the funded proposal toward artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities that will support them in addressing public concerns and/or influence social change in the award time frame. The following are not eligible for support through the NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant: The purchase of capital goods or investments such as financial products, property, or vehicles.

The grant award may be used to purchase equipment in service of the proposed activities or general operating support. University or College projects, groups, departments, or organizations (e.g., a student organization or art gallery that is part of an academic institution). Student work completed for academic credit or as part of an academically supported project, program, or residency.

Retroactive funding (expenses for activities which occur before the beginning of the award period). Application Closes: Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p. m.

CST Before applying, all Primary Applicants must verify that they meet the eligibility requirements in these guidelines. Step 1: Create a Submittable account. Step 2: Open the application.

To find the application, follow the “Apply Now” link from the NALAC Submittable Homepage next to the grant program you are interested in. Please be sure to read all the prompts before starting your application. Step 3: Submit by the due date.

Applications will be accepted starting on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 9:00 a. m. CST.

The call for applications will close on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p. m. CST.

All materials must be submitted via the online system by the posted deadline. Late applications will not be accepted, so please check your time zone accordingly. The online application will automatically close at 11:59 p.

m. CST on March 23, 2026. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at least 24-48 hours before the deadline date to allow time to address any technical issues.

To apply, you must have an active NALAC Membership. In the application, you will be prompted to provide your NALAC Membership Order Number to complete the application. Your Membership Order Number is the 4-digit number located in the subject line of the email you received confirming the purchase of your NALAC Membership.

If you have questions about your membership, please contact the Programs Support Desk . If you do not have a NALAC membership or if your NALAC membership has expired, please take a moment to activate your membership . Regarding notifications about your application Notifications about your application status will be sent to the email address associated with your Submittable account.

Please verify that your Submittable contact information is correct and up to date. Application Overview for NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Applications open March 2, 2026, at 9:00 a. m.

CT and close March 23, 2026, at 11:59 p. m. CST Login or create a Submittable account Application instructions are located on the NALAC Submittable Homepage Complete the Primary Applicant information Submit application materials and work samples with accompanying descriptions To access the rest of the application, applicants must first answer a screening questionnaire based on the NFA eligibility requirements.

Primary Applicant Profile The Primary Applicant provides their Name, Artistic or Preferred Name, Pronouns, Contact Information, Biography and Demographic Information Background Narrative: Artistic/Cultural Practice & Social Change Applicants provide an overview of their artistic/cultural practice, including their history as a practitioner, and describe their understanding of the arts as a tool for social change.

Applicants describe the proposed activities and goals, explaining how the artistic/cultural project, initiative, or opportunity will directly support the applicant in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change. Collaborating Partners and/or Ensemble Members (if applicable) Applicants may specify any number of collaborators.

All partners must have already confirmed their intent to collaborate on the proposal at the time of the application submission. Applicants describe how they will use the funds (for example, timeline and dollar amounts for purchases, artist fees, payments, etc.), explaining how the funds will support their artistic/cultural work to address public concerns and/or influence social change.

Two to three work samples from your or the ensemble’s practice with accompanying descriptions. Resume/CV for the individual artist, individual cultural worker or artists in the ensemble (optional) Support & Resources for Applicants Support & Resources for Applicants NALAC staff will be available to answer questions and provide technical support throughout the application period.

NALAC offers the following support during the application period: A recorded informational webinar outlining the 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant application guidelines and submission process. A live virtual Cafecito office hour webinar to ask questions and receive technical support from NALAC staff. See below for more details.

Cafecito Office Hour Webinar Details When: Friday, March 6, 2026, 3:00 – 4:00 p. m. CST Where: Zoom ( Register Here ) Please note: You must register to attend General inquiries may be submitted in writing via the NALAC Programs Support Desk .

Inquiries accepted through Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:00 p. m. CST Application Review & Selection Process Application Review & Selection Process for NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Eligible applications will be evaluated by peer-review panelists in the Latinx/é arts and culture field.

Applications will be reviewed according to the criteria listed below. Dedication to Artistic/Cultural Practice & Social Change: The applicant exhibits history as an artistic/cultural practitioner and demonstrates thoughtfulness about how they understand the arts as a tool for social change.

Creative and Social Impact: The applicant makes a strong case for why their proposal has the potential to support them in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change. Funding Impact: The applicant clearly illustrates how funds will be used to advance their artistic/cultural work in service of addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change.

Additionally, the applicant demonstrates their capability to successfully complete the proposal within the grant period. Receiving the NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Receiving the NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Awardees will be notified via email in early October 2026. To confirm acceptance of the grant, awardees will sign a letter of agreement.

The letter of agreement (LOA) is a contractual agreement with NALAC which outlines the 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant terms. The Primary Applicant will be responsible for overseeing the use of award funds in compliance with the program requirements and the signed letter of agreement.

FAQ for the 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant Is there a downloadable file with all the guidelines for this grant? A PDF version of our guidelines is available here . Is there a Spanish version of the guidelines available?

Yes! A Spanish-language PDF of our guidelines is available here . Do I need to apply with a project?

The 2026 NFA: Individuals and Ensembles Meet the Moment Grant is not project specific. Applicants are welcome to apply with proposed artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities that will support them in creatively addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change.

For example, the following would all be eligible for consideration: applying for Participatory Action Research (PAR) training, to attend (or to offer) a workshop on creating political cartoons, or to produce rapid-response theater, among many more ideas. We look forward to receiving a range of proposals that artfully approach and support social change! Do I need to provide detailed information on how the funds will be used?

We ask that you describe how you will use the funds in the budget narrative, and we invite you to specify how funds will be allocated (expenses, dollar amounts, etc.). However, we do not require a line-item budget form. Can I apply to fund a living wage?

While applicants may indicate their intent to use funds for a living wage, the applicant must also demonstrate that this use of funds will support activities or purchases that directly relate to artistic/cultural projects, initiatives, or opportunities that will aid them in addressing public concerns and/or influencing social change. If I am based in the United States but operate on the US-Mexico border, am I eligible to apply? Yes!

We welcome applications from Latinx/é individual artists, individual cultural workers, and ensembles who are based in the United States, including Puerto Rico, and operate within the US or along the US-Mexico border. Can I apply more than once? No, you may only apply once per grant.

If you work both individually and as part of an ensemble, you may apply as one or the other, but not both. My work spans multiple disciplines. How do I pick just one?

NALAC requests that you identify the primary discipline that would be most informative in assessing your proposal. Please consider what disciplinary framework best suits panel review and deliberation. How are NFA grantees selected?

NFA grantees are selected based on the review criteria. Eligible applications are evaluated by peer-review panelists who are practicing artists and cultural workers. Panelists complete an independent review and then gather as a panel to deliberate before offering final recommendations.

NALAC staff then reviews these recommendations to ensure alignment with its programmatic objectives and equitable grantmaking practices. Can NALAC give me feedback about the eligibility and/or strength of my proposal? As a standard practice, NALAC cannot advise or help strategize an applicant's candidacy and/or provide feedback on the strength of their idea, proposal, or application as this would present a conflict of interest.

Can I request feedback on my submitted application? Yes! When you are notified of your application award status in early October, you will be given the opportunity to opt-in to receive panel feedback.

More information about requesting feedback will be provided at that time. Can I make changes to my application after I submit it? Once your application has been submitted, it is considered final and cannot be edited.

Please carefully review all materials before submitting to ensure completeness. Can I submit my application after the deadline? No, all applications must be submitted by the deadline.

Please note that the application form will automatically close and stop accepting applications at the due date time of 11:59 p. m. CST, regardless of whether you still have a draft application open on your browser.

We strongly encourage you to submit your application at least 24-48 hours before the deadline date to allow time to address any technical issues. NALAC cannot extend the due date regardless of the cause of any problem you may have encountered. Why are you collecting demographic data from applicants, and who has access?

NALAC collects demographic data to inform and bolster equitable access to our programs. Applications are only shared with select NALAC staff and peer-review panelists, all of whom must abide by strict confidentiality agreements. When you share demographic information with us, you help NALAC secure future funding and assess our effectiveness in serving our communities.

Demographic data will be aggregated anonymously in support of NALAC’s equitable grantmaking efforts and advocacy priorities. How do I know if my previous NALAC membership is still active? Memberships are active for one full year from the membership purchase date.

Your NALAC Membership is identified by your NALAC Membership Order Number, the 4-digit number located in the subject line of the email you received confirming the purchase of your NALAC membership. If you do not have an active NALAC Membership or your existing membership has expired, please take a moment to activate your membership .

If you previously held a membership and are unsure of its status, please contact the NALAC Programs Support Desk . Applicants are responsible for ensuring their membership is active before submitting an application. Leave this field empty if you're human: NALAC uses tracking features to gauge audience viewership traffic and engagement while browsing our website.

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