The National Endowment for the Arts, an independent agency of the federal government, was created in 1965 to encourage and support U.S. arts and artists. It fulfills its mission by awarding grants and through its leadership and advocacy activities. This booklet is designed to help individuals and organizations become familiar with the Endowment and help them decide if their artistic projects are eligible for grants. The guide describes the overall purpose of each of the Endowment's Programs and outlines the types of support available in each of the following categories: Dance, Design Arts, Expansion Arts, Folk Arts, Inter-Arts, Literature, Media Arts, Museums, Music, Opera-Musical Theater, Theater, Visual Arts, and International. (BZ)