TourWest Grant

Creative West administers the TourWest grant program with support from the National Endowment for the Arts to expand access to performing arts across the Western United States and Pacific jurisdictions. The program provides funding to presenters and presenting organizations to bring touring performers and literary artists into their communities. It emphasizes regional touring, defined as either presenting out-of-state artists or supporting in-state artists traveling at least 50 miles from their home base. The program is designed to increase access to arts experiences, particularly in underserved communities, and encourages collaboration between presenters, artists, and community partners. The purpose of the TourWest grant is to strengthen community engagement with the performing arts by supporting live or virtual public performances. Applicants are encouraged to include educational outreach and community engagement activities as part of their programming to maximize local impact. Collaboration strategies such as block booking and working within presenter networks are also encouraged to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The program supports a range of artistic disciplines, including performing, literary, and musical arts. Funding for the 2026-2027 cycle follows a streamlined model in which all eligible applicants who meet program requirements receive the same flat award amount. The award is expected to fall between 2000 and 3000 dollars, depending on the number of qualified applicants. A one-to-one cash match using non-federal funds is required, although this requirement is waived for organizations located in specific Pacific jurisdictions. Funds are disbursed in advance upon execution of a grant agreement, and recipients must document both grant and matching expenditures in their final report. Eligible expenses include artist fees, travel, facility rentals, accessibility accommodations, marketing and promotion, and administrative costs directly related to the project. The program prohibits the use of funds for general operating support, construction, lobbying, alcohol purchases, and other restricted activities. Funds also cannot be used for costs already supported by federal funding or for activities outside the approved period of performance. Eligibility is limited to organizations located within the Creative West region, including Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, units of state or local government, federally recognized tribal governments, or nonprofit institutions of higher education. Applicants must have a valid Employer Identification Number and Unique Entity Identifier, be in good standing with Creative West, and have presented at least one paid professional performance within the past three years. Applications must be submitted through Creative West’s online grant portal, where applicants are required to create or log into an account and upload all required materials. Only one application per fiscal year is allowed, although separate campuses within a university system may apply independently. Applications are reviewed internally by Creative West staff to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements, federal regulations, and program guidelines. There is no panel review process, and awards are not competitive; all eligible applicants receive equal funding. For the 2026-2027 cycle, applications open on June 1, 2026 and close on June 30, 2026. Award notifications are expected in August 2026, and funds are distributed after required documentation is received. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Grantees must submit a final report within 30 days of project completion or by October 30, 2027, whichever comes first, and must retain records for three years following submission. Creative West provides ongoing support to applicants and grantees, including informational sessions, technical assistance, and required grant management workshops. Applicants can contact the program directly at tourwest@wearecreativewest.org for assistance. The program also requires compliance with federal regulations, including nondiscrimination, accessibility, and other requirements associated with National Endowment for the Arts funding. The TourWest program aims to strengthen regional touring networks and ensure equitable access to high-quality arts experiences across diverse communities.

Ensure project meets touring definition include community engagement demonstrate eligibility compliance and align expenses with allowed categories