The NEA Research Labs program is a funding opportunity
under the NEA’s Research Awards portfolio. The program funds projects (referred
to herein as NEA Research Labs, or Labs) that support transdisciplinary
research teams to build public knowledge about the arts and their contributions
to individuals, communities, and society at large. 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.

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?

Performance period: 24-30 months

Anticipated award size: $100,000-$300,000

Application limits: An organization may submit only one
application to the FY26 Research Labs funding opportunity.

Cost sharing: NEA awards cannot exceed 50% of the total
project costs. All awards require a nonfederal cost share/match of at least 1
to 1. These cost share/matching funds may be all cash or a combination of cash
and in-kind contributions, and can include federally-negotiated indirect costs.