The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) serves to foster and advance the arts, culture, and creativity throughout New York State, according to its website. The goal of the council is to allow all New Yorkers to benefit from the contributions the arts give to the state of New York through its communities, education, economic growth, and daily life. Its funding encompasses various artistic fields, such as literary, visual, media, performing arts, specifically focusing on art education and the underserved communities.

The NYSCA prioritizes diverse communities, providing inclusive and fair participation in the arts for people of all ages and backgrounds, opportunities for those who want to experience the arts and cultural offerings, the impacts of arts and culture on all aspects of life, the transformation of art and its creative practices, and creativity as an asset.

It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell (1905–1996), with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961. It awards more than 1,600 grants annually to arts, culture, and heritage non-profits and artists throughout the state. Its headquarters are in Manhattan, New York City.

Values

The diversity within New York's communities Equitable participation for people of all ages and backgrounds The ability for everyone to access the arts and culture Valuing the arts and the culture as they play a crucial role in the economy and health of the people The progression and growth of the arts and creativity. Treating creativity as a shared, beneficial asset within the community

Budget system The New York State's annual budget accounts for NYSCA's funding, and operates on a fiscal year of April - March. In the fiscal year of 2023 (FY2023) was a total of $222.50 million in funding, with $90 million grants towards organizations and artists. These grants cover general operating costs for creative projects, performances, activities, programs, and artist's individual work. The remaining amount, $132.5 million, is funded towards capital projects for long-term assets such as physical infrastructures that involve supporting and sustaining related organizations and programs. In FY2025, a total of $162 million in grants were awarded, with $82 million towards organizations and artists, and $80 million towards capital project funds.

+New York State Council on the Arts BoardNameOccupationCountyMonica AngleArtist, EducatorErieLisa BakerArt Director, Curator, Non-Profit FounderWestchester/FairfieldLawrence H. Cook IISenior Vice President of Programs, John R. Oishei FoundationErieCarolee FinkPrincipal, MSquaredNew YorkAaron FlaggMusician. Chair and Associate Director of Juilliard Jazz StudiesWestchesterJanet KaganTheater ProducerNew YorkJoan HornigDesigner & entrepreneurNew YorkEric LatzkyFounder, Eric Latzky Culture Communications NYNew YorkJames LemonsExecutive Director, Lake Placid Center for the ArtsEssexLaudelina Martinez Gallery owner, Consultant, ProfessorRensselaerDavid Alan MillerConductor, Albany Symphony Orchestra.AlbanyMahnaz MoinianAcademicNew YorkKatherine NichollsPublishing CEO, NYSCA Council ChairpersonNassauCatherine SchwoeffermannExecutive Director, Hoyt FoundationBroomeElsie McCabe ThompsonPresident, New York City Mission SocietyNew YorkAdriana TrigianiAuthor, Screenwriter, FilmmakerNew York

NYSCA Guidelines for Grant Opportunities

Small scale and midsized grants These grants fund organizations of any size, with up to $2 million in funding. These fundings are used towards structural and historical improvements, cultural development, health and safety, sustainability, accessibility, and artistry.

Guideline and Application Manual: https://nysca.org/downloads/files/FY2025_NYSCA_CapSmallMidGuidelines.pdf

Large scale grants These grants ranging from $2–10 million for projects that cost a total of $4 million or more, support large-scale capital improvements. Large scale fundings are used to expand cultural programming, increase accessibility, economic development, equity, and diversity.

Guideline and Application Manual: https://nysca.org/downloads/files/FY2025_NYSCA_CapLargeGuidelines.pdf

Staff Executive Staff

Executive Director: Erika Mallin Deputy Director of Operations: Karen Welch, (212) 459-8812 Deputy Director of Programs: Megan White, (212) 459-8806

Staff

Chief of Staff: Abby Adler, (212) 459-8808 Program Officer | Arts Education | Multidisciplinary: Kavie Barnes, (212) 459-8858 Program Director | Individual Artists | Multidisciplinary: Arian Blanco, (212) 459-8815 Director of Agency Operations/HR Liaison: Brenda K. Brown, (212) 459-8827 Operations Team Associate: Ian Byrne, (212) 459-8821 Program Team Associate: Kimalea Campbell, (212)-459-8832 Program Officer | Individual Artists | Theatre: Orin Chait, (212) 459-8835 Program Director | Electronic Media & Film | Folk Arts: Fabiana Chiu-Rinaldi, (212) 459-8828 Director of Grants Management and Information Technology: Lenn Savoca Ditman, (212) 459-8810 Operations Team Associate: Omar Estrada, (212) 459-8852 Operations Team Associate: Marnee Geller, (212) 459-8819 Program Director | Architecture + Design | Museum: Kristin Herron, (212) 459-8825 Program Director | Theatre and Visual Arts: David Huff, (212) 459-8831 Program Director | Arts Education | Literature: Christine Leahy, (212) 459-8818 Program Associate, Grants Management & Compliance: Claudine Lee, (212) 459-8829 Auditor: Totlyn Lewis, (212) 459-8822 Program Officer | Dance | Theatre: Deborah Lim, (212) 459-8820 Director of Financial and Grant Systems: William McDermott, (212) 459-8855 Program Director | Music and Presenting: Zatara McIntyre, (212) 459-8826 Operations Team Associate: Gabi Nail, (212) 459-8811 Facilities Manager: Jerry Pecchia, (212) 459-8814 Program Officer | Music | Visual Arts: Rita Putnam, (212) 459-8830 Communications Director: Ann Marie Sekeres, (212) 459-8859 Program Director | Capital Projects: Katie Steger, (212) 459-8851 Program Director | Dance | State & Local Partnership: Leanne Tintori, (212) 459-8816 Program Officer | Capital Projects: Lindsay Turley, (212) 459-8854

NYSCA Community Regrant Partners Source:

NYSCA's local grant making organization, Statewide Community Regrant Partners (SCR), is a partnership between the state council and regional arts councils and organizations. The partnership enables funding through all 10 regions across New York, to provide support through various art sectors. Statewide Community Regrant PartnersCountyWebsiteAdirondack Lakes Center for ArtsClinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamiltonhttp://www.adirondackarts.org/Arts Council for Wyoming CountyAlleghany and Wyominghttp://artswyco.org/Arts Council of the Southern Finger LakesCattaraugus, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Tiogahttp://www.earts.org/Arts Mid-HudsonDutchess, Ulster and Orangehttp://artsmidhudson.org/Bronx Council on the ArtsBronxhttp://www.bronxarts.org/Brooklyn Arts CouncilKingshttp://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/Community Arts PartnershipTompkinshttp://www.artspartner.org/Delaware Valley Arts AllianceSullivanhttp://delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts CouncilGenesee and Orleanshttps://www.goart.org/CREATEColumbia, Greene, and Schohariehttp://www.greenearts.org/Huntington Arts CouncilNassau and Suffolkhttp://www.huntingtonarts.org/Genesee Valley Council on the ArtsServes Livingston and Monroe Countieswww.gvartscouncil.orgLower Adirondack Regional Arts CouncilWarren and Washingtonhttp://www.larac.org/Lower Manhattan Cultural CouncilNew Yorkhttp://lmcc.net/Putnam Arts CouncilPutnamhttp://putnamartscouncil.com/Flushing Town HallQueenshttps://www.flushingtownhall.org/Roxbury Arts GroupDelawarehttp://roxburyartsgroup.org/Saratoga County Arts CouncilSaratoga, Fulton, and Montgomeryhttp://www.saratoga-arts.org/St. Lawrence County Arts CouncilJefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrencehttp://slcartscouncil.org/grants/Council on the Arts for Staten IslandRichmondhttps://statenislandarts.org

Regrant partners The list below are grantees that NYSCA partners with to administer funding in the form of regrants. These fundings aid artists, media art practitioners, theatres, museums, organizations, historic sites, historic preservation, and the development and creation of the arts.

GranteesWebsiteNYSCA/American Dance Asylum: NYS Choreographers Initiativehttps://www.americandanceasylum.org/new-york-state-choreographer-s-initiative.htmlNYSCA/Arts Council for Wyoming County: Rural & Traditional Arts Fellowshipshttps://artswyco.org/rural-and-traditional-arts-fellowship.htmlNYSCA/Architectural League of NY: Independent Projects Grantshttps://archleague.org/competition/independent-projects-2022/NYSCA/A.R.T. NY: Creative Opportunity Fundhttps://www.art-newyork.org/2023-creative-opportunity-fundNYSCA/CLMP: NYSCA NYTAP Regrant Programhttps://www.clmp.org/programs-opportunities/nytap/NYSCA/CNY Arts: Museums Professional Development Granthttps://cnyarts.org/grants/nysca-museums-professional-development/NYSCA/GHHN: Conservation Treatmenthttps://www.greaterhudson.org/conservation-treatment-grant.htmlNYSCA/Just Buffalo: LitNYS Literary Advancement Regrantshttp://www.littap.org/NYSCA/New York Council on Nonprofits (NYCON)https://www.nycon.org/NYSCA/NY Folklore: Professional Developmenthttps://nyfolklore.org/services/mentoring/NYSCA/NYFA: Artist Fellowshiphttps://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/artist-fellowships/NYSCA/NYFA: Professional Development Partnership Programhttps://www.nyfa.org/professional-development/NYSCA/NYS DanceForce (DF)https://www.danceforce.org/NYSCA/Poets & Writers: Readings & Workshopshttps://www.pw.org/funding/funding_readingsworkshopsNYSCA/Preservation League of NYS: Preserve New Yorkhttps://www.preservenys.org/preserve-new-yorkNYSCA/Preservation League of NYS: Technical Assistance Grantshttps://www.preservenys.org/technical-assistance-grantsNYSCA/Wave Farm: Arts in Corrections NYShttps://wavefarm.org/grants-services/nysca-regrantsNYSCA/Wave Farm: Media Arts Assistance Fund (MAAF)https://wavefarm.org/grants-services/nysca-regrants

References

External links