BFF Omaha to Receive $25,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts

Omaha, NE —BFF Omaha is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25,000. This grant will support Benson First Friday art walks which empower communities through art with inclusive and accessible programming, galleries, and public projects within the Benson Creative District.. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants. 

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including Benson First Friday.”

BFF Omaha’s First Friday events serve as a year-round celebration of arts and community engagement in Omaha’s Benson Creative District, bringing together local businesses, artists, and attendees for free, walkable arts experiences each month. Programming includes gallery exhibitions, public art, artist markets, live performances, youth activities, workshops, and street closures featuring 75+ vendors and 3,500+ attendees during summer months.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

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BFF Omaha (BFF) is an Omaha-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building community through arts engagement. Composed of 85% volunteers and 93% artists, BFF believes that everyone has the right to create, experience, and cultivate the arts in our communities.