Our Programs and Grants
Supporting the region with funding, exhibitions, learning, and more
At Mid-America Arts Alliance, our mission is to strengthen and support artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout our six-state region of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. We are dedicated to bringing more art to more people. For over fifty years, we have crafted our offerings to meet the needs of our community.
Our Opportunities
Click the accordion items below for a list of our grants and programs, most of which have annual application cycles.
Opportunities for Artists
M-AAA provides grants, business training, leadership development, and peer connections to artists in our region, and beyond, through these programs.
- Artist INC – Regional and beyond
- Artist Leadership Fellows – Regional and beyond
- Artistic Innovations – Regional
- Artists 360 – Northwest Arkansas
- Catalyze – Central Arkansas
- Interchange – Regional
- Jazz Road (with South Arts) – National
- National Leaders of Color Fellowship (with Creative West) – National
- Walking Together (with Mid Atlantic Arts) – National
Opportunities for Organizations
More Opportunities for Organizations and Communities
M-AAA strengthens those who support arts and creativity through grants and organizational services. Bring more art to more people, and bring touring artists to your state, with programs that offer and support traveling exhibitions.
- Artistic Innovations – Regional
- ArtsHERE – Regional and National
- Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants – National
- Cultural Sustainability – Regional and National
- Culture of Health–Advancing Together (CHAT) – Houston
- Engage – Regional
- ExhibitsUSA – National
- Folk and Traditional Arts Initiative – Regional
- Regional Touring Program – Regional
- Walking Together (with US RAOs) – National
Empower Your Community Through Art
Mid-America Arts Alliance serves individual artists and organizations in the lower Midwest and beyond.
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Artists Grants & Fellowships
Many individual artists and creatives are eligible for Mid-America Arts Alliance grants, fellowships, professional development, and support. If you engage in a creative practice, you are an artist. Our definition of “artist” is broad and includes, but isn’t limited to, creative workers,… -
Community & Organization Grants
Many nonprofit organizations are eligible for Mid-America Arts Alliance programs and grants. We support those supporting the arts in their communities, through grantmaking, organizational development, and deeply discounted arts and humanities exhibitions. Visit the pages below to examine our offerings… -
Exhibitions
We support those supporting the arts in their communities with deeply discounted arts and humanities exhibitions through ExhibitsUSA (EUSA), the traveling exhibition program managed by Mid-America Arts Alliance. We also support exhibitions, special projects, celebrations, and events at The Culture… -
Discover
Mid-America Arts Alliance seeks to empower, support, and amplify community through art. Learn more about what makes us stand out: the artists blazing new paths, the organizations serving unreached audiences, and the arts communities blooming in places large and small.…
Have a question about our programs and grants?
View our calendar for important dates and deadlines. Contact us for help finding the right program for you.
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Contact Us
To reach M-AAA by phone, please call (816) 421-1388. If you know who you’re looking for, visit our Staff page for email addresses by department. Subscribe to the M-AAA newsletter to get monthly updates on opportunities for artists and arts… -
Get Involved
Partner with us in our vision to provide more art for more people. There are many ways to get involved with M-AAA, and support artists and arts organizations in your community. From serving as a grant reviewer to participating in…
Latest News
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Studio Visit with St. Louis Songwriter Ryan Marquez
Find Out MoreJust east of St. Louis, across the Mississippi River, there is a peaceful room filled with curved wooden walls ready to receive harmonies and vibrations. It’s here, at Lonnie’s Farm Recording Studio, that we find Ryan Marquez sitting at the…
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Joint Statement on the National Endowment for the Arts: Important Actions and Resources
Find Out MoreDear valued member of our community, On Friday, many active and pending grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) were abruptly terminated. This comes alongside the president’s proposal to eliminate the NEA entirely in the FY26 federal budget.…
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22 Organizations Across the Heartland Receive Cultural Sustainability Awards
Find Out MoreTwenty-two arts organizations across the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) six-state region have received grants of $50,000 through Cultural Sustainability: Operational Impact Grants for Small Arts Organizations, a pilot program supporting culturally driven arts organizations and arts-centric businesses with operating expenses…
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Circle Theatre Builds Bridges, Helps Military Families Find Community
Find Out MoreIt might have looked like they were building costumes for a play. But these makers and collaborators were building community and resilience. Finding your people can be a challenge, especially for military families on the move. Each relocation comes with…
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Artist and Arts Organization Opportunities and Deadlines
Find Out MoreAre you an artist, creator, or arts organization seeking new art opportunities to grow your practice, expand your network, or secure funding? Our rolling roundup of upcoming opportunities is designed to help you stay informed about the latest art grants,…
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Celebrating Cultural Heritage: 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellows from the M-AAA Region
Find Out MoreSteve Tamayo of Nebraska and Edward Poullard of Texas have been named 2025 NEA National Heritage Fellows—an honor that recognizes their outstanding contributions to traditional arts in America. These fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) are the nation’s…
Header photography: Catalyze grantees at the 2024 retreat in central Arkansas. Photography by R.A. Howard.