The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is seeking to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with a U. S. Regional Arts Organization (RAO) that will administer the 2025-2026 cycle of the NEA Big Read initiative.
The NEA Big Read is a community-focused, literary arts initiative that broadens our
understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power and joy of reading, writing, and sharing stories.
The initiative selects eligible organizations around the country to host dynamic community-wide programs inspired by NEA Big Read-selected writers and/or works of literature.
Each community program that receives an NEA Big Read subgrant—which generally ranges between $5,000 and $20,000—is also provided with resources, outreach materials, and training on various programmatic aspects such as working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and facilitating activities and events.