We are pleased to announce that Docs In Progress will receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to support artist services in 2018.

Funding from the NEA's ArtWorks program has allowed us this year to deepen our artist services, including incorporating more professional development (master classes and attendance at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival) for our Fellows, welcoming a Filmmaker-in-Residence, and expanding our Peer Pitch program from the east and west coast to the midwest. More than 50 filmmakers will move forward with their projects as a result of this program.

A separate exhibition grant from the NEA is  supporting our Docs In the City screening series which pairs experienced and emerging documentary filmmakers for a public screening. 

“The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America’s artists and arts organizations,” notes NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as Docs In Progress, in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences.”

"While Docs In Progress is well known for piloting programs to foster documentary filmmaking," said Docs In Progress Executive Director Erica Ginsberg, "having NEA support allows us to take these programs to the next level." She cited the example of being able to expand Peer Pitch to the Midwest this year, and plans to incorporate a fourth Peer Pitch in 2018, as well as a Pitching Forum where the top pitches from the peer-to-peer event will go on to pitch in front of industry. "This funding allows us to innovate in ways which are so valuable for the documentary community, particularly for those who are based outside of New York and Los Angeles."

Docs In Progress is one of 1,029 grant recipients of NEA ArtWorks funding which is the only funding source which reaches every state in the country. Small sized organizations like Docs In Progress receive 30% of the NEA’s direct grants. While there was some question as to whether funding would even be available for this round due to the administration's proposal to cut back the current fiscal year's funding, Congress voted instead to increase funding. The NEA's annual budget represents less than .004% of the total federal budget.