The mission of the Nebraska Arts Council is to promote, cultivate, and sustain the arts for the people of Nebraska. The Council endeavors to build creative leadership in the arts, forge partnerships to expand arts opportunities, cultivate resources needed to sustain the arts, establish the arts as fundamental to education and lifelong learning, use the arts as a catalyst for understanding among cultures, and advocate for increased awareness and access to the arts.
The grant program supports Nebraska nonprofit organizations and accredited schools in hosting events featuring the Nebraska State Poet, either virtually or outdoors. It covers part of the cost for these events, with a particular emphasis on making them accessible and in compliance with health guidelines. Financial assistance includes covering fees for State Poet readings and workshops, with organizations responsible for a portion of the cost. The program emphasizes the importance of arts in education and cultural understanding, aligning with the broader goals of increasing awareness and access to the arts within Nebraska.