For the first time in its history, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awards grants for arts research.  These grants, totaling $250,000, support projects designed to use existing, high quality datasets to examine novel and significant research questions about the arts. The research data resulting from this project will add to the mounting documentation supporting the value of arts and arts education in the United States.

The funded projects explore three different areas:

• the impact of the arts on local and/or national economic development
• the health and viability of arts and cultural organizations
• the links between arts engagement and cognitive, social, civic, and behavioral outcomes.

NEA Director of Research & Analysis Sunil Iyengar said, "I'm pleased that in addition to publishing research reports and hosting research and policy conferences, the NEA can support the work of other researchers dedicating to promoting better understanding of the value and impact that the arts can provide for our country's citizens."

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