Important Update: A New Chapter for NTP & NDP Programs

Dear NEFA Community,

We are writing to share important news regarding the National Theater Project (NTP) and the National Dance Project (NDP) and to honor the longtime generosity of the Mellon Foundation.

Over the past 28 years, the Mellon Foundation has invested a remarkable $42.8 million in the NDP and NTP programs, underscoring their deep commitment to supporting the performing arts. Alongside Mellon, the Doris Duke Foundation and NEFA have collectively supported thousands of artists through these programs, enabling them to create, present, and tour their work. We’re honored to have worked together to support so many exceptional works of art. Shifts in the funding landscape are natural; Mellon is concluding their decades-long funding arc that has supported NDP and NTP. 

It is human to grieve change even as we embrace it. As we look to the future, NEFA will embark on a reimagining of both NTP and NDP amidst our strategic planning process, which is underway. I share this letter with full alignment and support from our Mellon partners as they do the important work of aligning their resources to best serve social justice in the performing arts for future generations. While the delivery mechanisms are shifting, we are already looking forward to future partnerships with the Mellon Foundation, which will continue to strengthen our shared vision of a more just and equitable future.

NEFA will continue to play a crucial role in supporting the work of performing artists and arts presenters across the nation. However, the upcoming grant cycles (2024 and 2025 respectively) are the last for these programs in their current form. We encourage you to apply and to be mindful of the following dates:

• The preliminary application for the final NTP grant cycle in its current form opens on September 6, 2024, and closes on October 10, 2024.
• The preliminary application for the final NDP grant cycle in its current form will open in January 2025.

Program director for the Arts and Culture program at the Mellon Foundation, Emil Kang, shares, “Even as this legacy funding arc comes to a close, we are so excited to continue standing shoulder to shoulder with Harold and invest in his vision and leadership for NEFA and the performing arts ecosystem at large.”

NEFA recognizes that financial support is critical. We want to emphasize that NEFA’s programs are more than just a source of funding. We will continue to provide guidance, connections, and opportunities, and are working to develop further opportunities for support. We encourage you to take advantage of these resources as our organization, partnerships, and programs evolve.                                                                                                                         

Thank you for being part of the NEFA community and for your ongoing dedication to the arts. Together, we will continue to build a resilient, creative future. We welcome your thoughts via feedback@nefa.org.

With care and solidarity,

Harold Steward
Executive Director
New England Foundation for the Arts