The CREATIVE Act of 2025 creates a new federal grant program to support artists and arts organizations across the country. The program, run by the Secretary of Commerce, will distribute up to $700 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to help local arts agencies, museums, and nonprofit arts organizations hire artists, build new performance spaces, or fix up existing ones.

There are three types of grants available. Organizations can apply for up to $5 million to pay artists and support staff for performances, exhibitions, and programs. They can get up to $3 million to build or buy a facility for arts activities, or up to $3 million to repair and improve existing arts buildings. The money can be used over a 3 to 5 year period depending on the grant type. However, each organization can only receive one grant.

To get a grant, organizations must show they serve communities with limited access to quality arts programming, involve underrepresented artists and cultures, demonstrate financial need, or serve rural areas. They also must promise to hire artists at fair wages, maintain safe working conditions, respect union agreements, and keep their facilities operating after the grant money runs out. The bill prioritizes funding for communities that lack arts facilities, have struggling arts venues, or serve people with disabilities and diverse populations whose art isn't well represented in mainstream culture.

Organizations receiving grants must report annually on how the money was spent and what impact it had on local arts access and artist employment. The program sets aside 25 percent of funding specifically for rural communities and reserves money for technical assistance and program administration.