PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
The National Endowment for the Arts provides national recognition and support to significant projects of artistic excellence in the visual, literary, media, design, and performing arts, thus preserving and enhancing our Nation's diverse cultural heritage. In fiscal year (FY) 2003, this mission will be accomplished through support for leadership projects identified by the Endowment which advance the arts significantly through their national, regional, or field-wide importance. Projects funded under this program also address the appropriate Endowment strategic goal, e.g., creativity, arts learning, organizational stability. The Endowment may either seek proposals from organizations for particular, discrete projects through program solicitations, or invite grant applications from organizations through broader, thematic guidelines. Two categories of honorific awards to individuals also are made under this program: National Heritage Fellowships (including the Bess Lomax Hawes Award), to excellent master folk and traditional artists who have contributed to the Nation's arts heritage; and American Jazz Masters, to distinguished jazz artists who have contributed significantly to the art form. Millennium project funding opportunities have ended.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. CULTURAL AFFAIRS;
- Promotion of the Arts;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Public nonprofit institution/organization;
- Federal;
- State;
- Local;

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);