Instructions for preparing and submitting your application materials and work samples are on the Arts Endowment's website. See below for more information:

Technical Notes

  • The User Name and Password can only be used by one person at a time in the Applicant Portal. If multiple people use the User Name and Password at the same time to work on an application, data will be lost.
  • The Applicant Portal is best viewed in the following browsers: Chrome 58+, Firefox 54+, Internet Explorer 11+, or Microsoft Edge 44+. You should only open the Applicant Portal in one browser at a time to enter information. Cookies and JavaScript may need to be enabled for you to successfully view the site. You might also need to disable AdBlocker and/or similar software.
  • Most problems can be solved by changing your browser. In Internet Explorer, you may need to do the following:
    • Press the Alt key.
    • Select Tools from the menu bar.
    • Select Compatibility View Setting.
    • Type in "arts.gov" and uncheck all check marks and close.
  • Be sure to first copy and paste any text into Notepad (if you’re using a PC) or TextEdit (if you’re using a Mac) before copying it into the Applicant Portal. This will strip away any HTML Coding that may add unwanted additional characters to text (however, any formatting you had will be deleted). These additional characters can be added due to some special characters such as ampersands, quotation marks, apostrophes, and angle brackets.
  • Limit character counts by using a solution other than special characters (e.g., instead of using quotation marks for titles of works, put them in italics), using only one space at the end of sentences, and limiting the use of tabs.
  • Hit "Save" and log off if you plan to leave the Applicant Portal with work in progress. Your session will deactivate after a period of time and you could lose content.
  • To finalize your application, you must click "Save" and then "Submit." If you do not hit the "Submit" button, your application will not be received. The "Submit" button is only visible when you are on Tab 8: Organization & Project Data.
  • After submitting your application, you may log back into the Applicant Portal and make changes to your submission up until the system closes at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the day of the deadline. You must click "Save" and "Submit" when you are finished.
  • Ensure that your application was received by logging in to the Applicant Portal. On the first screen it will say "Submitted" if your application has been received. If your application has not yet been received, it will say "In Progress." Maintain documentation of your successful submission by taking a screenshot.
  • Print a copy of your application at any time, whether in draft or final form, for your records by hitting the “Print” button throughout the form. Copy and paste the text into another file to save it as an electronic copy.

Validation

  • To submit your application, you must provide a response to every item denoted with a red asterisk (*).
  • When the Validate button is clicked, the application will go through a validation process to search for technical errors. This feature does NOT check to be sure that your application is complete. Carefully review the application guidelines to be sure you have submitted each required item.
  • Click the 'Validate' link found at the top right corner of the page.
  • Click either 'Validate All' to validate all the tabs or select each link to validate separately.
  • If there are no errors, the 'Validate' link will change to green and each tab will have a check mark by it.
  • To clear validation messages, press the Esc key.

Short keys to be used throughout the application when necessary.

Arrow keys:
  • Alt + Up – Scroll up.
  • Alt + Down – Scroll down.
  • Alt + Left – Scroll tab left.
  • Alt + Right – Scroll tab right.
  • Alt + '+/-' – Expand/Collapse navigation Notes.
Navigation Keys:
  • Alt + B – About
  • Alt + L – Log Off
Application Form Action Keys:
  • Alt + S – Save the Application.
  • Alt + P – Print the Application.
  • Alt + U – Submit the Application.
  • Alt + C – Cancel/Refresh the page.
  • Alt + N – Skip to the next tab.
  • Alt + R – Skip to the previous tab.
  • Ctrl + K – Add New Key Org/Individual.
  • Ctrl + F – Add new File/Work Sample.
NOTE: All red asterisked (*) items on this form are required and must be completed before you will be able to submit the form.