Two women of color, one in a hijab, sit on the edge of a stage. Both hold scripts. More folks are behind them in the shadows.
Above:

National Theater Project-supported LubDub Theatre Company | photo by Bjorn Bolinder

Supporting a thriving, creative future

NEFA invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation.

Our Vision and Values
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NEFA Summer Hours

NEFA will operate on summer hours through Labor Day with staff signing off at 1:00 PM on Fridays. We are closed Fridays August 15, 22, and 29. Thank you for your patience as we operate in support of staff rest.

Grantmaking for art making. What will you create?

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Upcoming Grant Application Deadlines

NEFA offers grants to artists and organizations to support the creation and presentation of work. 

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New England States Touring (NEST) Grant

December 1
Funds nonprofit organizations to present touring artists in venues across New England.

National Dance Project Travel Fund

Rolling Deadline
National Dance Project Travel Fund provides monetary assistance for U.S. based presenters, curatorial staff, and residency directors or for current NDP artist grantees to connect in person to explore feasibility of presenting NDP-funded projects.

National Dance Project Presentation Grant

By invitation only: Rolling Deadline
Presentation Grants are made to eligible organizations to support up to 50% of the artist fee and travel expenses per engagement of NDP awarded projects on tour.

National Theater Project Presentation Grant

By Invitation Only: Rolling Deadline
Presentation Grants are made to invited U.S. presenters and support up to 50% of the artistic fee for NTP projects.

New England Presenter Travel Fund

Rolling Deadline
Presenter Travel Fund enhances the performing arts in the region by supporting travel costs associated with researching artistic work that may eventually be presented in New England.
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What's happening

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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, & Accessibility

New Grants Application & Reporting Portal

We are excited to announce that our new Grants Application and Reporting portal is now live! While applicants have been using the portal in beta for the past several months, it is now ready for all applicants and grantees. What’s new? The new Grants Application and Reporting portal has a new URL
A Black woman speaks from behind a podium. She wears a fuscia gown. Beside her are two white women also in gowns. One holds a framed work of art.
Dance

National Dance Project's 2025 Dance/USA Trustees Award Acceptance Speech

On June 17, 2025, the National Dance Project (NDP) received the 2025 Dance/USA Trustees Award at its National Conference in Chicago, IL. The full NDP Team (Indira Goodwine-Josias, Cheri Opperman, and Kristin Gregory) accepted the award and provided remarks celebrating this recognition. Dance/USA’s
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Public Art

NEFA Announces 70 Recipients of the Public Art Learning Fund

(Boston, MA) The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is proud to announce the fall 2024 and spring 2025 rounds of the Public Art Learning Fund (PALF) for the 2024-2025 grant cycle, awarding a total of 70 grants to artists across all six New England states, 31 of whom were first time grantees
On a stage, a women kneels and holds herself in purple light. Behind her, more performers in the blue shadows.

Eleven Theater Ensembles Receive National Theater Project Awards

(Boston, MA) The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) announces the 11 recipients of the National Theater Project Creation and Touring awards, as well as the 13 recipients of Artist Development awards, totaling nearly $1.6 million in support to the field. This is the final round of these two
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Fostering regional, national, and international connections

CreativeGround

CreativeGround spotlights the creative people and places at work in New England: cultural nonprofits like libraries and theaters, creative businesses like recording studios and design agencies, and artists of all disciplines such as performing arts, visual arts, and crafts.

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Center Stage

Center Stage is among the most successful programs to bring contemporary international performing artists into direct contact with people across a wide range of U.S. communities, and to share these experiences globally.

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