NOFO: National Endowment for the Arts – Research Labs Program (US)

Deadline: 24-Mar-25

The National Endowment for the Arts Research Labs Program funds projects that support trans disciplinary research teams to build public knowledge about the arts and their contributions to individuals, communities, and society at large.

Each Lab will conduct multiple research studies and develop a suite of products or services. Recipients will develop a multi-year research agenda, conduct multiple research studies, and develop a suite of products or services (e.g., a website, research papers, workshops, or evidence-based tools) of value not only to arts researchers, but also to practitioners in the arts and other sectors such as healthcare, education, and business or management.

Area of Research

• The priority research area is:
  • What are measurable impacts of the arts on the following outcome areas: health and wellness for individuals; cognition and learning; and U.S. economic growth and/or civic or business innovation? Under what conditions do such impacts occur, through what mechanisms, and for which populations and/or sectors?

Funding Information

• Total amount of funding expected to award: $1,200,000
• Expected dollar value of awards (range): $100,000-$300,000
• Anticipated number of awards: 4 awards
• Duration: NEA Research Lab awards may have a period of performance of between 24 and 30 months.

Eligible Activities

• Each NEA Research Lab will design and execute the following:
  • Research Lab Agenda, Keystone Study, and Related Activities:
    • Choose one of the following research focus areas in which to develop and refine a multi-year Research Lab agenda:
      • Measuring the Impacts of the Arts:
        • On U.S. Economic Growth, and/or Civic or Business Innovation
        • On Cognition and Learning
        • On Health and Wellness for Individuals
    • Create a team representing at least two distinct research disciplines to engage in all aspects of the NEA Research Lab.
    • As part of the multi-year Research Lab agenda and within the initial award’s period of performance, conduct at least one keystone study that addresses at least two key research questions under the topic area selected.
    • As part of the application, applicants must propose a plan for sustaining the multi-year Research Lab agenda beyond the initial award’s period of performance.
  • Required Products and Services:
    • Develop, host, and regularly update a public website specifically about the NEA Research Lab.
    • Produce at least one research report that documents the methods and findings of each research study.
    • Prepare and deliver at least two presentations per year, one to a community of researchers and the other to a community of arts practitioners.
  • Administration:
    • Establish and support a technical working group. It will include representatives from partner organizations, and/or experts in distinct fields of practice or research that are needed to inform the work of the NEA Research Lab.
    • Recipients are strongly encouraged to participate in technical assistance activities, as provided by the NEA, relevant to the NEA Research Labs program.
    • Participate in trans disciplinary NEA Research Labs meetings every six months that include multiple NEA Research Labs supported under the NEA Research Labs program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The lead applicant organization must be a:
  • U.S. institution of higher education, or
  • Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following are not eligible to apply as the lead applicant organization:
  • Individuals;
  • Commercial and for-profit enterprises;
  • Applications through a fiscal sponsor/agent. All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf;
  • An organization whose primary purpose is to channel resources (financial, human, or other) to an affiliated organization may not apply if the affiliated organization also submits its own application.
  • The designated 50 state and six jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts organizations (RAOs).

For more information, visit Grants.gov.