{"id":13120,"date":"2025-10-29T14:24:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T14:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/?post_type=update&#038;p=13120"},"modified":"2025-10-29T14:24:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T14:24:24","slug":"now-accepting-applications-2026-27-nea-big-read","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/now-accepting-applications-2026-27-nea-big-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Now Accepting Applications: 2026-27 NEA Big Read"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Applications are now open for the 2026-27 cycle of the <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/get-support\/nea-big-read\/\">NEA Big Read<\/a>, a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s NEA Big Read will center around the theme&nbsp;America250, honoring the 250<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America\u2019s Semiquincentennial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NEA-Big-Read-Library-2026-27.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24 NEA Big Read books<\/a> available for programming this cycle celebrate America&#8217;s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using a book selection as inspiration, applicants will facilitate discussions, writing workshops, and creative programming activities that explore this theme and celebrate the unique aspects of their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The NEA Big Read is an initiative of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arts.gov\/\">National Endowment for the Arts<\/a> (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nea-big-read-at-a-glance\">NEA Big Read At-A-Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>What is it?<\/strong> The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around the central theme <em>America250<\/em> using one of 24 available books as inspiration. It offers matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Who can apply?<\/strong> Nonprofit arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where?<\/strong> Your organization must be located and operate within the United States or the Native Nations that share this geography.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When to apply?<\/strong> A mandatory Intent to Apply is due January 15, 2026, with final applications due January 29, 2025. Funded programs will take place between September 2026 and June 2027.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about eligibility and how to apply <a href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/get-support\/nea-big-read\/\">in the guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-about-nea-big-read\">About NEA Big Read<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The NEA Big Read supports community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As our nation moves into its 250<sup>th<\/sup> year, the goal of this program is to honor America\u2019s rich artistic and cultural heritage, inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grantees will receive funding for their programming and purchasing books, and tools to support them in working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and leading meaningful book discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NEA Big Read programs vary and can be as short as a week or as long as several months. Beyond discussions of the book, organizations may choose to include a kick-off event, invite the author for a visit, or have other events inspired by the content and themes of the book. These may include panel discussions, lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, theatrical and musical performances, poetry slams, writing workshops and contests, and community storytelling events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NEA Big Read welcomes applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:54px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<section  class=\"wp-block-image-cta bg-light-coral lg:relative \" data-block-index=\"0\" style=\"z-index:3;\">\n    <div class=\"lg:content-4-col-grid flex flex-col\">\n\n        \n        <div class=\"lg:row-span-1 lg:row-start-1 relative min-w-0 flex items-center order-2 lg:order-none col-start-3\">\n            \n            <div class=\"absolute top-0 right-0 lg:hidden\">\n                            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"px-4 sm:px-8 lg:px-0 pt-7 sm:py-24 lg:py-36 pb-11  lg:pl-5 lg:pl-16\">\n\n                                    <h2 class=\"text-midnight text-3xl sm:text-5xl leading-none mb-4 sm:mb-9\">Explore the 2026-27 NEA Big Read Library<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <p class=\"text-midnight mb-6 sm:mb-20 text-base\">The 24 titles available this cycle span fiction and nonfiction books that celebrate America&#8217;s culture, history, and resilience through the eyes of its people.<\/p>\n                \n                                    <p>\n                        <a class=\"inline-flex items-center transition-colors text-sm leading-6 z-20 relative pt-2.5 pb-2 px-10 rounded-xl border text-dark-sky border-dark-sky hover:bg-white\/20 active:bg-dark-sky\/5\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/NEA-Big-Read-Library-2026-27.pdf\"\n  \n>\n      <span class=\"block w-4 -ml-2 mr-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n      <?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"iso-8859-1\"?>\r\n<!-- Generator: Adobe Illustrator 18.0.0, SVG Export Plug-In . SVG Version: 6.00 Build 0)  -->\r\n<!DOCTYPE svg PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD SVG 1.1\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/Graphics\/SVG\/1.1\/DTD\/svg11.dtd\">\r\n<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" version=\"1.1\" id=\"Capa_1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\"\r\n\t viewBox=\"0 0 482.14 482.14\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\r\n<g>\r\n\t<path d=\"M142.024,310.194c0-8.007-5.556-12.782-15.359-12.782c-4.003,0-6.714,0.395-8.132,0.773v25.69\r\n\t\tc1.679,0.378,3.743,0.504,6.588,0.504C135.57,324.379,142.024,319.1,142.024,310.194z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\r\n\t<path d=\"M202.709,297.681c-4.39,0-7.227,0.379-8.905,0.772v56.896c1.679,0.394,4.39,0.394,6.841,0.394\r\n\t\tc17.809,0.126,29.424-9.677,29.424-30.449C230.195,307.231,219.611,297.681,202.709,297.681z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\r\n\t<path d=\"M315.458,0H121.811c-28.29,0-51.315,23.041-51.315,51.315v189.754h-5.012c-11.418,0-20.678,9.251-20.678,20.679v125.404\r\n\t\tc0,11.427,9.259,20.677,20.678,20.677h5.012v22.995c0,28.305,23.025,51.315,51.315,51.315h264.223\r\n\t\tc28.272,0,51.3-23.011,51.3-51.315V121.449L315.458,0z M99.053,284.379c6.06-1.024,14.578-1.796,26.579-1.796\r\n\t\tc12.128,0,20.772,2.315,26.58,6.965c5.548,4.382,9.292,11.615,9.292,20.127c0,8.51-2.837,15.745-7.999,20.646\r\n\t\tc-6.714,6.32-16.643,9.157-28.258,9.157c-2.585,0-4.902-0.128-6.714-0.379v31.096H99.053V284.379z M386.034,450.713H121.811\r\n\t\tc-10.954,0-19.874-8.92-19.874-19.889v-22.995h246.31c11.42,0,20.679-9.25,20.679-20.677V261.748\r\n\t\tc0-11.428-9.259-20.679-20.679-20.679h-246.31V51.315c0-10.938,8.921-19.858,19.874-19.858l181.89-0.19v67.233\r\n\t\tc0,19.638,15.934,35.587,35.587,35.587l65.862-0.189l0.741,296.925C405.891,441.793,396.987,450.713,386.034,450.713z\r\n\t\t M174.065,369.801v-85.422c7.225-1.15,16.642-1.796,26.58-1.796c16.516,0,27.226,2.963,35.618,9.282\r\n\t\tc9.031,6.714,14.704,17.416,14.704,32.781c0,16.643-6.06,28.133-14.453,35.224c-9.157,7.612-23.096,11.222-40.125,11.222\r\n\t\tC186.191,371.092,178.966,370.446,174.065,369.801z M314.892,319.226v15.996h-31.23v34.973h-19.74v-86.966h53.16v16.122h-33.42\r\n\t\tv19.875H314.892z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\r\n<\/g>\r\n<\/svg>    <\/span>\n  \n      <span class=\"relative\">\n      See the Books\n    <\/span>\n  <\/a>\n                    <\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n                    <div\n                class=\"lg:col-span-2 lg:row-span-1 lg:row-start-1 min-w-0 overflow-hidden relative lg:left-0 h-96 sm:h-[32rem] lg:h-auto\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"557\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/America-250.jpg\" class=\"absolute w-full !h-full object-cover inset-0\" alt=\"America250 Logo for the 2026-27 NEA Big Read\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 50vw, 100vw\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/America-250.jpg 557w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/America-250-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/America-250-150x150.jpg 150w\" \/>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute w-full h-full\">\n                                    <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute left-5 bottom-8\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        \n        \n        <div aria-hidden=\"true\"\n            class=\" h-[calc(100%-24rem)] sm:h-[calc(100%-32rem)] absolute right-0 bottom-0  lg:h-full lg:w-1\/2 w-full right-0\"\n        >\n                    <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section  class=\"wp-block-image-cta bg-light-green lg:relative \" data-block-index=\"1\" style=\"z-index:2;\">\n    <div class=\"lg:content-4-col-grid flex flex-col\">\n\n        \n        <div class=\"lg:row-span-1 lg:row-start-1 relative min-w-0 flex items-center order-2 lg:order-none col-start-2\">\n            \n            <div class=\"absolute top-0 right-0 lg:hidden\">\n                            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"px-4 sm:px-8 lg:px-0 pt-7 sm:py-24 lg:py-36 pb-11   lg:pr-16\">\n\n                                    <h2 class=\"text-midnight text-3xl sm:text-5xl leading-none mb-4 sm:mb-9\">Get Ready to Apply<\/h2>\n                \n                                    <p class=\"text-midnight mb-6 sm:mb-20 text-base\">Learn more about the types of projects that the NEA Big Read supports and review our grant guidelines. <\/p>\n                \n                                    <p>\n                        <a class=\"inline-flex items-center transition-colors text-sm leading-6 z-20 relative pt-2.5 pb-2 px-10 rounded-xl border text-dark-sky border-dark-sky hover:bg-white\/20 active:bg-dark-sky\/5\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/get-support\/nea-big-read\/\"\n  \n>\n  \n      <span class=\"relative\">\n      Learn More\n    <\/span>\n  <\/a>\n                    <\/p>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n                    <div\n                class=\"lg:col-span-2 lg:row-span-1 lg:row-start-1 min-w-0 overflow-hidden relative lg:right-0 h-96 sm:h-[32rem] lg:h-auto\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"absolute w-full !h-full object-cover inset-0\" alt=\"A group of about 40 seated people hold up books to the camera\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 50vw, 100vw\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Finding_Home_image_2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" \/>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute w-full h-full\">\n                    <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hidden sm:block relative w-full h-full bg-hero-gradient \">\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-6 md:right-10 lg:right-20 xl:right-24 bottom-52 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                New York Irish Center<\/p>\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-24 md:right-32 lg:right-36 xl:right-44 bottom-36 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                Queens, NY<\/p>\n                    <p class=\"absolute text-white text-right w-16 text-xs leading-3 right-6 md:right-10 lg:right-20 xl:right-24 bottom-24 translate-y-8 lg:translate-y-4 xl:translate-y-0\">\n                NEA Big Read<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"absolute left-5 bottom-8\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        \n        \n        <div aria-hidden=\"true\"\n            class=\" h-[calc(100%-24rem)] sm:h-[calc(100%-32rem)] absolute right-0 bottom-0  lg:h-full lg:w-1\/2 w-full left-0\"\n        >\n                    <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wing-container wing-top-right relative z-50 hidden sm:block\" aria-hidden=\"true\" >\n    \n        <div \n            aria-hidden=\"true\" \n            class=\"wing absolute w-24 md:w-34 lg:w-48 h-14 md:h-20 lg:h-28 transform right-0 top-px -translate-y-full [clip-path:polygon(100%0%,100%100%,0%100%)] bg-\"\n        ><\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n    \n<section\n  \n  class=\"wp-block-text-cta bg-white text-black flex site-padding relative\"\n  data-block-index=\"2\" style=\"z-index:1;\"\n>\n\n  <div\n    class=\"main-col w-full pt-9 pb-15 sm:py-36 items-center inline-grid auto-rows-fr grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-0\"\n  >\n\n    <div>\n              <h2 class=\"lg:max-w-[557px] pr-0 lg:pr-8 text-3xl mb-10 lg:mb-0 leading-none sm:text-5xl \">\n          Have questions about the NEA Big Read?<\/h2>\n          <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"w-fit lg:ml-auto\">\n              <p class=\"lg:max-w-[465px] font-serif  mb-10 \">\n          Be sure to check out our FAQs, and if you&#8217;d like to talk to us we&#8217;re just an email away.\u202f <\/p>\n      \n      <span class=\"flex flex-row flex-wrap gap-4\">\n                  <a class=\"inline-flex items-center transition-colors text-sm leading-6 z-20 relative overflow-hidden text-dark-sky pt-2.5 pb-2 px-10 rounded-xl bg-light-green before:content-[&#039;&#039;] before:absolute before:inset-0 before:transition-colors before:bg-transparent hover:before:bg-white\/20 active:before:bg-dark-sky\/5\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/get-support\/nea-big-read\/faq\/\"\n  \n>\n  \n      <span class=\"relative\">\n      FAQ\n    <\/span>\n  <\/a>\n        \n                  <a class=\"inline-flex items-center transition-colors text-sm leading-6 z-20 relative pt-2.5 pb-2 px-10 rounded-xl border bg-white text-dark-sky border-dark-sky hover:bg-grey-tint active:bg-grey-tint-2\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:grants@artsmidwest.org\"\n  \n>\n  \n      <span class=\"relative\">\n      Contact Us\n    <\/span>\n  <\/a>\n              <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This community-wide reading program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for programming connected to the theme of America250.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13625,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"8337,12058,5251,7119,3833,235","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"aw-author":[66,622],"location":[],"program-grant":[6],"update-category":[599],"class_list":["post-13120","update","type-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","aw-author-arts-midwest","aw-author-nea","program-grant-nea-big-read","update-category-opportunities"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Now Accepting Applications: 2026-27 NEA Big Read - Arts Midwest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This community-wide reading program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for programming connected to the theme of America250.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/now-accepting-applications-2026-27-nea-big-read\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Now Accepting Applications: 2026-27 NEA Big Read\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This community-wide reading program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for programming connected to the theme of America250.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/artsmidwest.org\/about\/updates\/now-accepting-applications-2026-27-nea-big-read\/\" 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