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(Boston, MA) — Today marks an extraordinary milestone. On February 25, 1976, the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, beginning a journey that has helped shape the cultural life of New England and the nation. Fifty years later, we proudly celebrate a remarkable legacy of creativity, partnership, and collective impact made possible by the visionary artists, arts organizations, libraries, economic development corporations, funders, supporters, and thought leaders across the cultural sector who have grown alongside us.
Across five decades, the evolution of NEFA’s mission continues to meet the needs of a changing cultural landscape, yet our core purpose has remained steadfast: investing in artists and the cultural ecosystem of stakeholders who make creative life possible—from presenting organizations and cultural institutions to civic partners, foundations, funders, and all those who steward the conditions for art to thrive.
This milestone year begins with the implementation of NEFA’s new strategic plan, A Mission Forged in Collaboration, released in fall 2025. The plan reaffirms NEFA’s role as a national leader in social impact through the arts and sets an ambitious vision for the decades ahead. As we celebrate this anniversary, we also celebrate the extraordinary creativity, inspiring people, and transformative partnerships that continue to shape our future.
What to Expect in NEFA’s 50th Year
NEFA turns 50 with its eyes firmly on the future. Throughout 2026, NEFA will activate its 50th year across four interconnected areas of focus:
- NEFA turns 50 with its eyes firmly on the future — Throughout 2026, NEFA will activate its 50th year across four interconnected areas of focus:
- Strategic Grantmaking & Ecosystem Building — NEFA will deepen its investments in artists and cultural sector stakeholders, advancing collaborative infrastructure that strengthens the field for the next 50 years.
- Amplified Storytelling — Through the 50 Stories Series and other initiatives, NEFA will elevate the voices, histories, and visions of the artists, organizations, and communities at the heart of its work.
- Fundraising & Resource Development — The anniversary year will serve as a catalyst for expanding the resources available to the creative sector, ensuring NEFA's capacity to lead grows alongside the field's ambitions.
- A Culminating Celebration — a landmark event that brings together the region and the nation to celebrate the cultural sector—the biggest night of arts and culture in New England's recent memory. More details to come.
“NEFA was born out of reluctance, and became something extraordinary," said NEFA's executive director, Harold Steward. "What began in uncertainty, but with faith in deepening regional collaboration, quickly emerged as one of the great opportunities of its era: a chance to build something pioneering. Fifty years later, that spirit of bold invention is not totally behind us; it is enhanced with bold evaluation. We are more poised than ever to push impactful, pioneering work further and build out the infrastructure the cultural sector will need for the next 50 years. As NEFA marks 50 years, we celebrate not only a legacy of impact but a continuing commitment to ensuring artists and the cultural ecosystem have the freedom, resources, and collective support they need to shape the future.”
50 Stories Series
Throughout this historic year, NEFA will spotlight 50 extraordinary projects that have shaped artistic careers, strengthened communities, and transformed the cultural ecosystem. These stories honor the visionary moments, bold experimentation, and enduring infrastructure that made lasting change possible.
Your Stories
Honoring the past is essential to building the future. As we explore NEFA’s archives and reconnect with former directors and staff affectionately known as “NEFAns,” we also invite our valued constituents to share their experiences. How has NEFA supported your artistic vision, your organization, or your community? We warmly invite you to join this milestone celebration by sharing your story, The People's History of NEFA:
From the Archive: The Early Years
We are delighted to launch this anniversary celebration with a treasured archival document from July 1985, offering a vivid snapshot of NEFA’s early programs, leadership, and aspirations, and an inspiring reminder of how far we have come and the enduring values that continue to guide our work.
Read a Brief Description and History
About NEFA
The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in artists and communities, fostering equitable access to the arts and enriching the cultural landscape in New England and across the United States. Founded in 1976, NEFA has grown into a vital national and international leader, advancing opportunities for artists and strengthening the arts infrastructure through grantmaking, partnerships, convenings, and knowledge sharing.
NEFA’s work is made possible through generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the six New England state arts agencies, private foundations, corporations, and individual donors. As NEFA approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026, it continues to lead with creativity, resilience, and vision, affirming the vital role of the arts in civic life and advancing a cultural landscape where all people have equitable access to artistic expression. nefa.org.
CONTACT: Ann Wicks | 617-423-1390