NEFA was selected to develop American Masterpieces: Dance (AMD) in partnership with the NEA and DanceUSA in 2005 based on its expertise in the design and delivery of performing arts grants programs, such as the highly-respected National Dance Project. “NEFA’s history with national grant-making programs in dance has been key to the establishment of AMD,” said Douglas Sonntag, Director, Dance, of the National Endowment for the Arts.

As the dance component of a major initiative of the NEA to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy, AMD celebrates the extraordinary and rich evolution of dance and choreography in the United States. The three-year agreement to establish AMD has resulted in 45 select projects (both Reconstruction and Touring grants) and over 100 performances, tours, and educational programs that have reached large and small communities throughout the United States. To search for AMD grant recipients, visit the grant recipients section.

AMD Grant Recipients: Click here for Evaluation forms.

Click here for the AMD Touring Grant Reserved Funding Application form.

Future Funding

The NEA will administer a program for supporting dance reconstruction and re-stagings under its major initiative American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. The dance component of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius will continue to celebrate the extraordinary and rich evolution of dance and choreography in the United States and build on the knowledge, findings, and practices developed by NEFA during their development and administration of the AMD program for the NEA. Future grants will now be awarded by the NEA in two areas:

• For dance companies, presenters, and festivals: the reconstruction or restaging of significant American dance works and their performance at home and on tour
• For college and university dance programs: the restaging, performance, and documentation of significant dance choreography in order to provide dance students with access to the legacy of American dance history. While faculty can assist with a project, the primary reconstructor/artist must be someone from outside the campus.

All guidelines and details for this program can be obtained at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/AMDance.html.

AMD Evaluations

Reconstruction Grant Evaluations

If you have received an AMD Reconstruction Grant, you must complete a final evaluation form as stated in your award contract. This evaluation is due three weeks after the premiere of the work(s), or as otherwise stated on your award contract. The completed evaluation is needed before a final payment can be made on the grant.
Download the evalution form.

Touring Grant Reserved Funding Evaluations

If you have received an AMD Touring Grant for Reserved Funding, you must complete a final evaluation form.  The completed evaluation is needed before a final payment can be made on the grant.
Download the evaluation form.

Contact

Cheri Opperman
Program Association, National Dance Project
copperman@nefa.org 
617.951.0010 x524