Pōhaku, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists. Photo: Sareen Hairabedian
The Artist Engagement Fund advances racial and cultural justice, increases artist mobility, models equitable artist fees, and centers community engagement through the support of artistic activity taking place in NPN National Partner communities.
Through the AEF, NPN provides grants of up to $10,000 to BIPOC and/or Small-Budget Rural National NPN Partners and $5,000 to all other NPN Partners; supporting artist fees for newly commissioned and touring works.
The program focuses on support for projects that:
- address issues of racial or cultural justice;
- prioritize meaningful engagement between communities, artists, and presenters;
- and result in a live public exchange.
Currently, the Artist Engagement Fund supports artists from the United States and Mexico and can only be accessed through an NPN National Partner organization.
The Artist Engagement Fund is supported by the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.
Fiscal Year 2025
56
Artist Projects
- 187 individual artists from 41 cities
- 80% led by Black, Indigenous, or People of Color
- 29% of lead artists identify as trans, gender-nonconforming, non-binary or two-spirit
- 221 activities, including 124 community engagement activities
