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New Work New England provides grants of $7,500-$15,000 directly to New England artists in dance, film, interdisciplinary work, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling, and theater to support creating and producing new work that the artist intends to share with multiple New England communities. The focus of this pilot program is on artists and the creative process and projects that further equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
New Work New England is a three-year pilot program initiated in 2020 and guided by NEFA’s strategic plan. NEFA’s goals for the pilot are:
In addition to grant funds, NEFA will provide networking and visibility opportunities for artists through the annual Idea Swap, and other opportunities to develop relationships with New England organizations to further support the development, production, presentation and future touring of new work in New England communities. Support for organizations, and for subsequent presentation and touring will be available through the New England States Touring Program (NEST).
To be eligible for New Work New England, applicants must:
Applicants based outside of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
Presenting organizations commissioning new work from artists. The artist(s) creating the proposed new work should be the applicant. Artistic ensembles may commission another artist if there is a joint co-creation process that is iterative, values the participation of all ensemble members, and includes all participating artists in the community engagement activities.
Applications that focus solely on documentation of an existing artistic work. Recording or documentation can be part of a larger artistic development process.
Projects in which the performers will primarily be students.
Projects that previously received New Work New England grant support.
Projects which remount a past work without a continued artistic development process that substantially advances the work.
Projects focused on traditional restaging of classic productions.
Projects that engage communities solely through an educational setting. There must be at least one opportunity for the general public to engage with the artist(s).
New Work New England grants will range from $7,500-$15,000 and will be awarded through a competitive selection process. Approximately 10-15 grants will be awarded annually during the initial 3-year pilot. A panel of reviewers from the arts field will base evaluation of the applications on the following criteria:
Priority will be given to artists who have not previously received direct funding through NEFA programs including the National Dance Project, National Theater Project, Creative City, New Work New England, and through The Boston Foundation’s Live Arts Boston.
Final grant decisions will take geographic diversity into account, including all New England states, rural and urban communities.
The application deadline has passed.
Applicants will be notified by March 2022. The grant period will begin April 1, 2022 and go no later than September 30, 2023.
The first payment will be issued once a contract has been signed following the award notification. The final payment will be issued upon receipt and approval of the final report.
Funding decisions will be made through a peer review process.
Final grant payments will be made upon receipt of the following which must be submitted within 40 days after the grant period or the conclusion of the funded project activities (whichever comes first):
Failure to provide this material within 40 days of the event may result in cancellation of the grant and all pending NEFA grants. If the project scope or timing is changed, or the project is cancelled, or if you anticipate a delay in submission of materials, please contact Daniela Jacobson.
Support for New Work New England comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Seedlings Foundation, the Fund for the Arts at NEFA, the American Rescue Plan, the Rebecca Blunk Fund, Anonymous Foundation, and from individual donors.
American Rescue Plan
Anonymous Foundation
Fund for the Arts
Rebecca Blunk Fund
Individual Donors
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