NEA Arts and Artifacts International Indemnity Program 2, FY2027 (3/27)

The Arts and Artifacts International Indemnity Program is administered by the National Endowment for the Arts on behalf of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, a governing body established by Congress to support access to culturally and historically significant works. The program was originally created to reduce the financial burden of insuring high value artworks and artifacts for exhibition, thereby enabling museums and cultural institutions to organize exhibitions that might otherwise be cost prohibitive. Through this program, the federal government provides indemnity coverage backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, ensuring protection against loss or damage to eligible objects during exhibition periods. The purpose of the International Indemnity Program is to facilitate temporary exhibitions that involve the exchange of artworks and artifacts across national borders. Eligible exhibitions may include objects brought into the United States from abroad or works sent from the United States to international venues. In certain cases, the program may also cover United States owned objects included in exhibitions that feature both domestic and international items. The program emphasizes cultural exchange and public access to significant artistic and historical materials, supporting exhibitions that have clear educational, cultural, or scientific value. Funding under this program does not operate as a traditional cash grant but instead provides indemnity coverage, which effectively reduces insurance costs for participating institutions. Coverage limits are substantial, with international indemnity allowing up to one billion eight hundred million dollars per exhibition and an aggregate cap across all agreements. However, the funding opportunity listed includes a defined award ceiling and floor for administrative purposes. The program includes strict conditions regarding object handling, transportation, and security, including requirements for courier accompaniment, controlled environments, and limitations on object types that are considered too fragile or high risk. Eligibility for the program is broad and includes nonprofit organizations with federal tax exempt status, as well as various levels of government entities and educational institutions. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience organizing exhibitions involving borrowed objects and must meet operational requirements such as maintaining continuous security presence and adhering to transportation protocols. Only one application may be submitted per exhibition, and applicants may not apply to both the international and domestic programs for the same project. The application process is multi step and requires submission through Grants.gov followed by additional materials uploaded through the NEA Applicant Portal. Applicants must complete registrations with federal systems including Login.gov and SAM.gov prior to submission. Applications are first reviewed by NEA staff for completeness and eligibility, then evaluated by advisory panels composed of museum professionals. Final decisions are made by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, which meets several months after submission deadlines to approve or deny indemnity coverage and establish any required conditions. The timeline for this opportunity includes a posted date in June 2026 and a final application deadline of March 8, 2027. Following submission, review and decision making may take three to six months, with conditional approvals or rejections issued thereafter. Applicants must satisfy any imposed conditions before receiving final certification. The program operates on a recurring basis with multiple deadlines annually, and applicants are encouraged to plan submissions well in advance of exhibition start dates. For assistance, applicants may contact the National Endowment for the Arts through the provided program email address.