Advocacy Alert | NEA Updates, and More
February 3, 2026
Artist Communities is no longer a stand-alone category in the NEA’s FY27 Grants for Arts Projects.
Stay up-to-date on news, events, and perspectives in the artist residency field.
Hear from network colleagues and peers from across the arts residency field. Here, you'll find announcements about upcoming ACA events, Advocacy Alerts that spotlight policy issues, news and press releases, and insights and perspectives from board members, staff, and friends of the ACA network.
Advocacy Alert
November 21, 2025
New data and advocacy tools emerge as the arts sector faces financial strain, policy threats, and funding uncertainty—from museum downturns and grant rule changes to FY26 funding asks, updated visa procedures, and shifting equity and education landscapes.
Advocacy Alert
October 21, 2025
Courts affirm artistic freedom as a federal judge blocks the NEA’s “gender ideology” restriction, while the ongoing government shutdown threatens NEA/NEH funding, slows artist visa processing, and coincides with new USCIS Premium Processing procedures.
Advocacy Alert
August 29, 2025
Updates on expanded federal oversight of grants, the cancellation of the NEA Creative Writing Fellowship, new legal guidance supporting equity efforts, and an upcoming Aspen Institute panel on the future of workplace equity.
Advocacy Alert
August 8, 2025
Updates about the proposed budget for the NEA and NEH, new visa petition forms, and the League of American Orchestras provides information on the NEA grant process.
Advocacy Alert
July 25, 2025
Updates about the proposed budget for the NEA and NEH, new visa petition forms, and the League of American Orchestras provides information on the NEA grant process.
Advocacy Alert
July 7, 2025
Recent federal funding cuts and executive orders are reshaping the arts, humanities, and education sectors. Learn about opportunities to defend free expression and cultural infrastructure.
Advocacy Alert
May 31, 2025
New dashboards tracking NEA-related press and grant data; the scope of over $26M in canceled grants; nonprofit risks in a pending federal tax bill; and a congressional letter defending academic freedom in the humanities.
Advocacy Alert
May 9, 2025
The scope of NEA grant terminations, how to take action via VoterVoice, resources for navigating federal grant withdrawals, guidance for filing appeals by May 9, and more.
Advocacy Alert
May 5, 2025
Recent federal funding cuts and executive orders are reshaping the arts, humanities, and education sectors. Learn about opportunities to defend free expression and cultural infrastructure.
Advocacy Alert
April 18, 2025
Support Arts Education for All, Track DOGE Funding Cuts, Follow Arts Policy Developments, Sharpen Your Advocacy Skills.
Advocacy Alert
March 27, 2025
NEA Gap deadline extension, rules and processing delays in the visa process, and Protect My Public Media coalition.
FEMA Seeks Feedback from Artists in the Field
May 30, 2024
After years of collaborative work and preparation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched 2024 as its “Year of Resilience.” This brings good news for artists recovering from natural disasters.
FUNDING | The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Application Portal Now Open
April 27, 2021
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) application portal is currently open and accepting applications for the $16 billion funding pool.
ADVOCACY ALERT | Accessing Relief + Next Wave of Legislation
March 10, 2021
Expanded relief funding is currently available to arts organizations through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and NEA COVID-19 Relief.
National Endowment for the Arts Awards $27 Million for Arts Projects Nationwide
February 10, 2021
Organizations in every state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, will receive federal funding for arts projects from the National Endowment for the Arts in this round of fiscal year 2020 funding. Overall, 1,073 grants totaling $27 million were awarded for programs 14 artistic disciplines in communities throughout the United States.
ADVOCACY ALERT | What is in the New Relief Bill?
January 7, 2021
At the close of the year, U.S. Congress passed $900 billion in Covid economic relief, which includes targeted support for the arts sector - $15 million allocated to support live entertainment, and an additional $280 million in PPP forgivable loans.
ADVOCACY ALERT | Artist Communities + Civic Engagement
October 22, 2020
“Civic engagement is moving an agenda that improves the quality of life in our communities, using our practice to impact change that results in a more equitable and just society for people and the planet.”
—Elizabeth Jabar
ADVOCACY | Activating Your Networks to Get Out the Vote
September 28, 2020
Nonprofits can (and should) support activities that encourage voters to register, participate in elections, and stay civically engaged!
ADVOCACY ALERT | Urge U.S. Congress to Expand COVID-19 Relief for the Arts Sector
July 16, 2020
Reach out to your members of Congress today to share stories from your organization that demonstrate the impact of COVID-19 on nonprofit administrators, freelancers, artists, and community members in your region.
National Endowment for the Arts Announces CARES Act Grantees
July 7, 2020
Earlier this week, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced 846 nonprofit arts organizations that have been recommended for grants through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
FIELD SURVEY | Mapping a Path to Reopening
July 7, 2020
The Alliance of Artists Communities (AAC) is gathering information from residency programs to help all stakeholders understand the impact of Covid-19 related closures.
COVID-19 Preparedness for Residencies Resources + Approaches
March 23, 2020
We recognize that residencies operate in communal contexts, and we are considering how COVID-19 affects artist mobility and general program operations. We will continue to connect you with translatable resources to support you in your decision-making processes during this public health crisis.