The National Endowment for the Arts has canceled its Challenge America grant for fiscal year 2026. Guidelines had stated that the grant was to support “projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities.”
The NEA also canceled the Feb. 13 deadline for its first round of 2026 Grants for Arts Programs, otherwise known as GAP 1, and moved it to March 11. The deadline for its second round, or GAP 2, is still July 10. Organizations that have already submitted an application must submit a new application under one of these deadlines. Organizations that had planned to apply for a Challenge America grant are now encouraged to apply for a GAP grant.
Funding priority for GAP grants will be given for projects that celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The NEA is revising the guidelines for its GAP grants, and they will be available on arts.gov/grants no later than Feb. 10. Additional changes include that organizations have a five-year history of programming, rather than the three-year requirement in past years.
The changes come in the wake of the Trump Administration’s campaign against government funding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
A webinar covering the updated guidelines will take place on Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required.
Orgs will also have to sign a compliance agreement that includes the following:
“The applicant will comply with all applicable Executive Orders while the award is being administered. Executive orders are posted at whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions.
“The applicant’s compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the U.S. Government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code, pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, dated January 21, 2025.
“The applicant will not operate any programs promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, in accordance with Executive Order No. 14173.
“The applicant understands that federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology, pursuant to Executive Order No. 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
Hello fellow artists in the state of Oregon. A message from an artist in NYC. There is going to come a time, very soon, where we have to be more courageous than we have ever been. We will need to say the things that no one else will say. We will need to, in some cases, put our bodies on the line. We will have to decide if we’re standing up for queer, trans, black, brown and all other marginalized people. We’re going to have to say, “no, thank you.” And we may need to be brave enough to be the first. I hope you will stand with me.
The 250th anniversary is going to be all about celebrating Trump – don’t kid yourself.
With any new government administration comes a change of focus. The Biden admin. chose their focus for art grant monies and we all lived with and through it for years. The Trump admin. has chosen to focus on the 250th Anniversary of a Historical time in the USA and to celebrate it with all of us artists during their time. Let all of the arts organizations that benefit from these grants (and there are many in Oregon) and artists as well welcome this opportunity to show our “stuff”.
The 250th anniversary was already a priority months ago before the new administration took office.