Iowa (RI) — The National Endowment for the Arts has revised its grant guidelines for 2026 to reject applications for projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has eliminated its Challenge America grants for the upcoming year. Fairfield Arts and Convention Center Executive Director Lindsay Bauer is still waiting for the Challenge America funding it was awarded for this year
She is concerned about navigating the new guidelines.
The new guidelines also encourage projects tied to the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. The Iowa Arts Council says it’s still working to understand changes at the federal level.
(By Josie Fischels, Iowa Public Radio)
