NEFA

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As a social impact organization, NEFA builds, sustains, and fights for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond. We reserve the right to remove comments that are not in keeping with our values, including for the following reasons:

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NEFA seeks a Program Coordinator for our Creative Economy department! Apply to join our team by September 28.
09/01/2026

NEFA seeks a Program Coordinator for our Creative Economy department!

Apply to join our team by September 28.

NEFA staff attended Creativity Builds Connection: Arts, Health, and Well-being in Maine on August 27. This panel convers...
08/28/2026

NEFA staff attended Creativity Builds Connection: Arts, Health, and Well-being in Maine on August 27. This panel conversation, moderated by Mollie Cashwell of the Cultural Alliance of Maine and held at the Crewe Center for the Arts at the University of Southern Maine, highlighted the key role of public funding for the sector in Maine.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) chairman Mary Anne Carter discussed an NEA study that revealed that the agency's funding reaches more congressional districts than the top 1,000 foundations, with particular impact in rural areas.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), chair of the arts caucus and ranking member of the Appropriation's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee, highlighted how arts funding strengthens communities while improving education outcomes.

Maine Arts Commission chair Bob Keyes spoke to the unique role of arts the arts in rural communities and for healthy aging.

In 2024, we shared an important update regarding the National Dance Project (NDP) and National Theater Project (NTP) as ...
08/27/2026

In 2024, we shared an important update regarding the National Dance Project (NDP) and National Theater Project (NTP) as both programs approached concluding in their current forms. Since then, we have remained steadfast in equitably distributing resources, supporting artist and community convenings, and contributing to cross-sector discussions designed to fortify the field.

We are committed to celebrating the indelible legacy of our national programs while charging forward with curiosity towards evolution. This fall, we will partner with a consultant to lead a research and development process that will inform NEFA’s future design of a two-year national pilot grantmaking program.

Read more from Indira Goodwine-Josias, Deputy Director, National Program Strategy, below.

We’re excited to announce, on what happens to be Women's Equality Day, that three of our colleagues have been promoted t...
08/26/2026

We’re excited to announce, on what happens to be Women's Equality Day, that three of our colleagues have been promoted to newly created roles in service of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan:
🌟Indira Goodwine-Josias has been named Deputy Director, National Program Strategy
🌟Adrienne Petrillo has been named Deputy Director, Regional Program Strategy
🌟and Kelsey Spitalny has been named Senior Manager, Organizational Impact.

Join over 150 New England-based nonprofit cultural organizations at Idea Swap! The Idea Swap is your opportunity to star...
08/25/2026

Join over 150 New England-based nonprofit cultural organizations at Idea Swap! The Idea Swap is your opportunity to start a conversation, meet your peers, and learn about projects you can potentially bring to your community with NEFA support.

Arts Service Organizations (A*Os) are essential connective tissue within the arts ecosystem. Help tell their story by ta...
08/24/2026

Arts Service Organizations (A*Os) are essential connective tissue within the arts ecosystem. Help tell their story by taking ADC Consulting's 2026 National A*O Survey!

The knowledge generated through this research will be open data and belong to and benefit the field, helping organizations, artists, and arts workers better find, understand, advocate for, and support one another.

Massachusetts-based artists and Massachusetts-based organizations working with artists are welcome to apply for a Public...
08/19/2026

Massachusetts-based artists and Massachusetts-based organizations working with artists are welcome to apply for a Public Art for Spatial Justice project grant.

Grants range from $15,000-30,000. Projects must take place in Massachusetts and creatively cultivate expressions or embodiments of spatial justice through public artmaking.

All artistic disciplines are welcome to apply at the link below. ⬇️

NEFA executive director Harold Steward, board co-chair Angie Lane, and board vice chair Adele Sicilia had the privilege ...
08/18/2026

NEFA executive director Harold Steward, board co-chair Angie Lane, and board vice chair Adele Sicilia had the privilege of hosting the annual Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) retreat at the beautiful MIT Endicott House in Dedham, MA.

From their inception, the RAOs have worked with the State Arts Agencies and the National Endowment for the Arts to help ensure that public funds are distributed responsively, equitably, and efficiently across the United States. The six RAOs: Arts Midwest, Creative West (formerly WESTAF), Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts, NEFA, and South Arts.

photos by Juan Souki.

The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $3,000 to support professional development opportunities for New...
08/18/2026

The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $3,000 to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices.

📂Apply by October 13.

Common Wealth Murals has scholarships, with support from NEFA's Public Art Learning Fund, for "The Muralist's Toolkit: A...
08/13/2026

Common Wealth Murals has scholarships, with support from NEFA's Public Art Learning Fund, for "The Muralist's Toolkit: A Virtual Course for Mural Project Planning from Vision to Ex*****on." The training, led with care and intention by Greta McLain, founder and creative director at GoodSpace Murals, and Britt Ruhe, executive director of CWM, teaches artists how to take a mural project from concept to completion.

🎨 Training: January-February, 2027
📅Apply by November 30, 2026

Read an announcement from senior program director for public art Kim Szeto that illustrates how this partnership has evolved, below ⬇️

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