Resources for Arts Organizations

The Iowa Arts Council’s investments in arts and cultural organizations are a key part of its commitment to strengthening the capacity of Iowa’s creative sector to deliver enriching arts experiences for all Iowans.

Our investments in arts and cultural organizations fall broadly into two categories:

Flexible Organization Support: Cultural Capacity Building and Cultural Leadership Partners grants support an organization’s operating and programmatic expenses in fulfillment of its mission and in alignment with its strategic goals.

Project Support: Art Project Grants for Organizations and Iowa Community Cultural Grants offer funding for projects that involve an arts experience or arts learning opportunity and that demonstrate public value to Iowans through deliberate public engagement and access. Arts and cultural organizations may also seek support for cultural tourism-oriented projects through the Inspire Iowa program

Learn more about additional grant funding opportunities for arts and cultural organizations below.

Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort

Iowa small to midsize arts, culture, history and humanities nonprofit organizations are invited to participate in the Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort. This two-year program will help participants build leadership skills in organization operations, sustainability and programming through professional development workshops, peer learning, mentorship and guidance from outside consultants.

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Arts Midwest - one of six U.S. regional arts organizations - serves a nine-state region that includes Iowa. As a nonprofit organization supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest awards grants to Iowa arts organizations in several priority areas. Current Arts Midwest grant programs include:

GIG Fund: The GIG Fund is a grant of $4,000 that supports creative projects and educational events in the Midwest. These funds help organizations present artists in their community by supporting programming and touring costs.
NEA Big Read: The NEA Big Read is a grant of up to $20,000 to help bring communities together around the shared activity of reading and discussing the same book.
Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare in American Communities provides grants of up to $25,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays.

As an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide. Ongoing NEA funding opportunities for arts organizations include:

Grants for Arts Projects: Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities.
Challenge America: Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000.

Accessibility

Grants Read More

Cultural Capacity Building Grant

Apply for general operating support for your arts, cultural or humanities nonprofit.

Cultural Leadership Partners

Demonstrate your investment in a rich cultural environment that improves the quality of life for all Iowans by becoming a Cultural Leadership Partner.

Art Project Grant

Artists and organizations undertake high-quality arts and cultural projects that positively impact the vitality of arts in Iowa

Resources for Arts Organizations

Iowa Culture Leadership Cohort

Arts Midwest

National Endowment for the Arts

Support

More Opportunities

Cultural Capacity Building Grant

Cultural Leadership Partners

Art Project Grant