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(Boston, MA) — The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) has released its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, A Mission Forged in Collaboration, a landmark framework that reaffirms NEFA’s identity as a social impact organization and sets forth a bold agenda for the future of the cultural sector. The plan arrives as NEFA prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026, offering both a moment of reflection and a call to action for the decades ahead.
Developed through an 18-month process of cultural tours, surveys, retreats, and facilitated dialogues, the plan incorporates the voices of hundreds of artists, cultural leaders, funders, and community members across New England and the nation. The resulting framework reflects not only NEFA’s legacy but also the urgent realities facing the arts and culture ecosystem today.
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A Mission Rooted in Social Impact
NEFA’s new mission states: “As a social impact organization, NEFA builds, sustains, and fights for arts and culture through grantmaking, partnerships, and advocacy in New England, the nation, and beyond.”
The organization’s new vision envisions a world where the arts and culture ecosystem thrives, artists flourish, and the transformative power of the arts is valued as essential to a more vibrant and equitable society.
Three guiding values—Cultural Rights and Responsibilities, Reciprocity, and Adaptability—affirm NEFA’s commitment to dismantling inequities, building authentic partnerships, and responding with agility to evolving needs.
Goals for the Next Five Years
The plan outlines three interconnected goals that will guide NEFA’s work through 2030:
1. Cultivate a Collaborative Arts and Culture Ecosystem
Strengthen connections among artists, organizations, and communities to ensure access, reciprocity, and shared growth.
2. Amplify the Power of the Arts
Elevate artistic expression as a force for empathy, civic health, and systemic change, positioning artists at the center of public discourse.
3. Build Capacity and Strengthen Organizational Stability
Invest in NEFA’s long-term resilience, ensuring the organization can adapt to shifting cultural and political landscapes.
A Milestone Anniversary
NEFA’s 50th anniversary in 2026 marks not only five decades of impact but also a critical opportunity for renewal. Since 1976, NEFA has pioneered initiatives including national models for touring dance and theater, creative economy research and visibility, community-led public art programs, international cultural exchange, and more, reshaping the funding landscape for artists and organizations nationwide. The Strategic Plan builds on this legacy while launching an ambitious fundraising and advocacy campaign to sustain NEFA’s leadership for the next generation.
“NEFA has always been more than a funder,” said Harold Steward, Executive Director of NEFA. “This plan affirms our role as a social impact organization—accountable to the communities we serve and committed to fostering equity, creativity, and resilience. As we approach our 50th anniversary, we are called to amplify the transformative power of the arts as essential to a thriving society."
Accountability and Accessibility
The plan is designed as a living framework, responsive to change and guided by continual feedback. NEFA will track progress, report outcomes transparently, and convene stakeholders regularly to ensure accountability. To maximize accessibility, the plan will be shared in multiple formats—including digital, print, and plain-language summaries—ensuring that both long-time partners and new audiences can engage with its vision.
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. www.nefa.org.
Contact: Ann Wicks | 617-423-1390
