To support facilitation and coordination of the 2026 NEA jazz masters fellowships events and associated activities

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts a $425,000 Project Grant (CFDA 45.024: Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals) on July 1, 2025, with a completion date of September 30, 2026. The Kennedy Center will provide facilitation and coordination services for the 2026 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships events and associated activities. This funding supports the organizational infrastructure, event planning, venue management, and logistical coordination necessary to execute the Jazz Masters Fellowships program, which recognizes and honors master jazz artists for extraordinary contributions to the art form.

The NEA's Promotion of the Arts Grants program supports a wide range of arts activities, with Jazz and Folk & Traditional Arts honorary fellowships awarded to master artists to recognize outstanding achievement. The Kennedy Center, as a prominent national cultural institution based in Washington, D.C., serves as the coordinating entity for these high-profile fellowship events. This award reflects the program's emphasis on celebrating America's artistic heritage and supporting prestigious arts recognition initiatives that benefit the nation's cultural landscape.