National Endowment for the Arts

🎨📚 Creativity meets history!

In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Second Lady Usha Vance invited K–8 students nationwide to reimagine America through art—and the results are extraordinary.

With winners across three grade bands, these young artists offer powerful reflections on our nation’s past, present, and future. ✨

Stay tuned as they are celebrated this summer at the Great American State Fair!

https://bit.ly/4dTX7vy

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins.

Rollins was awarded the NEA Jazz Masters fellowship in 1983, part of the second class of recipients. In addition, he was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2010.

Our full statement ⬇

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master and National Medal of Arts Recipient Sonny Rollins It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins, recipient of a 1983 NEA Jazz Masters fellowship and 2010 National Medal of Arts.

🎶✨ Celebrating the next generation of musical theater creators!
The National Endowment for the Arts and National Alliance for Musical Theatre are proud to announce the winners of the 2025–2026 Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students.
Honoring America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s challenge highlights the creativity and storytelling that define this uniquely American art form.
This June, the winning songwriters will travel to New York City to work with mentors and bring their original songs to life in a special concert on June 15 at 7:30pm ET at New World Stages.
🎭 Watch live from anywhere: arts.gov/songwriting | namt.org/challenge

https://bit.ly/3S1I5ws

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our nation. In remembrance, we're sharing poems from the Poetry Out Loud anthology that reflect on courage, service, and loss.

We hit the road earlier this month for our National Council on the Arts meeting!

NEA leadership and the National Council on the Arts visited Western North Carolina to learn more about the impact of Hurricane Helene on the arts sector as well as how the arts are aiding in ongoing recovery.

Head to the blog for a full run down of our visit: https://bit.ly/4fuSFG0

📸 Photos by Andy Wickstrom, andywickstrom.com

begins TODAY! 🎉

Free Admission for active military and their families at participating museums. Find one near you at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums ✨

📸Photos by Natalie Cass

America’s story is still being stitched.🧵
Through America’s Tapestry, a nationwide fiber arts initiative led by artist Stefan Romero, communities across the country are coming together to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary—one thread at a time.
We’re proud to support Seton Hill University as an NEA grantee and key partner in this effort. Alongside institutions like College of William & Mary, volunteers nationwide are creating 13 embroidered panels—each representing an original colony and uplifting overlooked stories from the American Revolution.
Together, we’re weaving a vibrant narrative of our shared history.

begins THIS WEEKEND! ✨

Actively serving military members and their families may visit participating museums nationwide for free as part of this program.

Details:

📅 Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16, 2026 through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026.
📍 Museums can be found in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Museums include history, art, and children’s museums; historical sites; botanical gardens; zoos; aquariums; and more! 🖼📜🐘🐠🔬🌷

🔗For a complete list: arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums

Blue Star Museums is n initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families in collaboration with the Department of War.

REMINDER: Join us in person or online for our National Council on the Arts Meeting this Wednesday in Asheville, NC! Registration link: https://bit.ly/4sDtLa8

Details:
📆 May 6, 2026
⌚ 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
📍 Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

The council meeting will include two panel discussions about:
⭐ Federal, state, and local efforts around disaster preparation and recovery for artists and arts organization (feat. North Carolina Arts Council, Arts AVL, and Mountain BizWorks)
⭐ Clay & Camaraderie, ceramics workshops at Veterans Healing Farm for veterans and military-connected individuals affected by the hurricane, supported by Creative Forces.

LEAF Global Arts will also provide a demonstration of their artist residencies, which receive NEA support.

Congratulations to our 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Jayda Dawn of Indiana! 🎊

Jayda is the winner of the national title and a $20,000 cash prize.

A big congrats to our second place winner Damien Deen (South Dakota) and third place winner Jaden Conley (Illinois). 🥳

We are so proud of all of our national finalists and grateful to everyone who watched the finals with us last night. 🫶 If you missed it, the archive is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/bt6QXrQ8unA?si=74wfXD_etAJuVfcc