NEA Shakespeare in American Communities, FY2024 | NEAPS2402

Opportunity Information: Apply for NEAPS2402

The NEA Shakespeare in American Communities (SIAC), FY2024 is a discretionary National Endowment for the Arts funding opportunity offered as a Cooperative Agreement (Funding Opportunity Number NEAPS2402, CFDA 45.024). The program is designed to bring high-quality, professional live performances of Shakespeare to young people, paired with educational activities that help students connect with the plays and themes in practical, classroom-relevant ways. A key emphasis is access: SIAC targets middle and high school students in communities across the United States and explicitly includes youth in juvenile justice facilities, recognizing that many participants may have limited opportunities to experience professional theater or engage with Shakespeare in an interactive, performance-based setting.

The purpose of the funding is to support national program delivery and coordination rather than to fund individual school or theater company applications directly. NEA funds are intended to cover program management expenses and to provide subgrants to participating theater companies that will deliver the performances and related learning activities in their communities. The program has a long track record: since launching in 2003, SIAC reports that roughly 2.5 million students have taken part, underscoring its scale and sustained role in arts education and cultural enrichment.

While the FY2024 solicitation centers on Shakespeare performance and education, the program is also signaling future growth. Beginning in 2025, SIAC plans to broaden its artistic scope to include works inspired by Shakespeare, not only Shakespeare texts themselves. It will also add apprenticeship opportunities aimed at early and mid-career theater administrators and technicians, which suggests an expanded commitment to workforce development behind the scenes and in organizational roles, not just artistic programming on stage.

Eligibility is tightly restricted. Although the listing includes a general eligibility category of 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), the solicitation text makes clear that this Cooperative Agreement is limited to the six U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs). Applicants must meet the NEA eligibility requirements specific to RAOs under the National Endowment for the Arts Partnership Agreements guidelines, and they must be up to date on reporting: acceptable Final Report packages for all prior NEA awards must have been submitted by the required deadlines. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization under this solicitation, which reinforces that this is intended to be a single, centralized award supporting a coordinated national effort.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of January 18, 2024, and an award ceiling of $1,482,000. The opportunity was created on November 16, 2023, and is administered by the National Endowment for the Arts under the Arts funding activity category.

• The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Shakespeare in American Communities, FY2024" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.024.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,482,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for NEAPS2402

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