The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with Arts Midwest, created NEA Big Read to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. In 2006, the first ten grantee organizations dotted the United States. Since then, NEA Big Read has awarded over 1,600 grants to reach communities in all 50 states along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reaching more than 5.7 million people.
Map of current participating organizations
Using the map below, click on a pin to bring up details about an organization and their grant award.
List of current grantee organizations
Past grantee organizations by program year
- September 2019 – June 2020 grantees
- September 2018 – June 2019 grantees
- September 2017 – June 2018 grantees
- September 2016 – June 2017 grantees
- September 2015 – June 2016 grantees
- September 2014 – June 2015 grantees
- September 2013 – June 2014 grantees
- September 2012 – June 2013 grantees
- September 2011 – June 2012 grantees
- September 2010 – June 2011 grantees
- September 2009 – June 2010 grantees
- September 2008 – June 2009 grantees
- January – June 2008 grantees
- September – December 2007 grantees
- January – June 2007 grantees
- Pilot 2006 grantees