New York State Council on the Arts

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 city 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

The 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 dollars 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 dollars 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 Board

Name	Occupation	County
Monica Angle	Artist, Educator	Erie
Lisa Baker	Art Director, Curator, Non-Profit Founder	Westchester/Fairfield
Lawrence H. Cook II	Senior Vice President of Programs, John R. Oishei Foundation	Erie
Carolee Fink	Principal, MSquared	New York
Aaron Flagg	Musician. Chair and Associate Director of Juilliard Jazz Studies	Westchester
Janet Kagan	Theater Producer	New York
Joan Hornig	Designer & entrepreneur	New York
Eric Latzky	Founder, Eric Latzky Culture Communications NY	New York
James Lemons	Executive Director, Lake Placid Center for the Arts	Essex
Laudelina Martinez	Gallery owner, Consultant, Professor	Rensselaer
David Alan Miller	Conductor, Albany Symphony Orchestra.	Albany
Mahnaz Moinian	Academic	New York
Katherine Nicholls	Publishing CEO, NYSCA Council Chairperson	Nassau
Catherine Schwoeffermann	Executive Director, Hoyt Foundation	Broome
Elsie McCabe Thompson	President, New York City Mission Society	New York
Adriana Trigiani	Author, Screenwriter, Filmmaker	New 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

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 Partners	County	Website
Adirondack Lakes Center for Arts	Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton	http://www.adirondackarts.org/
Arts Council for Wyoming County	Alleghany and Wyoming	http://artswyco.org/
Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes	Cattaraugus, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Tioga	http://www.earts.org/
Arts Mid-Hudson	Dutchess, Ulster and Orange	http://artsmidhudson.org/
Bronx Council on the Arts	Bronx	http://www.bronxarts.org/
Brooklyn Arts Council	Kings	http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/
Community Arts Partnership	Tompkins	http://www.artspartner.org/
Delaware Valley Arts Alliance	Sullivan	http://delawarevalleyartsalliance.org/
Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council	Genesee and Orleans	https://www.goart.org/
CREATE	Columbia, Greene, and Schoharie	http://www.greenearts.org/
Huntington Arts Council	Nassau and Suffolk	http://www.huntingtonarts.org/
Genesee Valley Council on the Arts	Serves Livingston and Monroe Counties	www.gvartscouncil.org
Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council	Warren and Washington	http://www.larac.org/
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council	New York	http://lmcc.net/
Putnam Arts Council	Putnam	http://putnamartscouncil.com/
Flushing Town Hall	Queens	https://www.flushingtownhall.org/
Roxbury Arts Group	Delaware	http://roxburyartsgroup.org/
Saratoga County Arts Council	Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery	http://www.saratoga-arts.org/
St. Lawrence County Arts Council	Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence	http://slcartscouncil.org/grants/
Council on the Arts for Staten Island	Richmond	https://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.

Name of Grantees	Who the Group Supports	Link to Website
NYSCA/American Dance Asylum: NYS Choreographers Initiative	"Provides creative multi-week and process-oriented residency opportunities for 12-13 dance artists across 55 upstate counties (north of Rockland County)"	https://www.americandanceasylum.org/new-york-state-choreographer-s-initiative.html
NYSCA/Arts Council for Wyoming County: Rural & Traditional Arts Fellowships	"Provides support to 10 artists living and working within their rural communities and developing place-based work that demonstrates the connection between arts and land"	https://artswyco.org/rural-and-traditional-arts-fellowship.html
NYSCA/Architectural League of NY: Independent Projects Grants	"Supports individual artists in architecture and design for projects that advance work in their field"	https://archleague.org/competition/independent-projects-2022/
NYSCA/A.R.T. NY: Creative Opportunity Fund	"Supports organizational growth or the development of new work for theatres with budgets of $500,000 or less, and organizations that have limited administrative capacity"	https://www.art-newyork.org/2023-creative-opportunity-fund
NYSCA/CLMP: NYSCA NYTAP Regrant Program	"Serves as an interim step toward applying to NYSCA for organizations with budgets large enough to be eligible but without the capacity to apply, and for those publishers with budgets too small to be eligible to apply to NYSCA directly. All projects must focus on capacity building, not the routine costs of publishing. Examples of projects include software upgrades, design projects, accessibility initiatives, special marketing efforts, and development/fundraising efforts"	https://www.clmp.org/programs-opportunities/nytap/
NYSCA/CNY Arts: Museums Professional Development Grant	"Supports opportunities for museums and museum service organizations to attend conferences, workshops, conduct research, or learn from other museums within New York State"	https://cnyarts.org/grants/nysca-museums-professional-development/
NYSCA/GHHN: Conservation Treatment	"Supports the conservation needs related to artifacts typically found in art and history museums and historical societies throughout New York State"	https://www.greaterhudson.org/conservation-treatment-grant.html
NYSCA/Just Buffalo: LitNYS Literary Advancement Regrants	"Supports program development and capacity building opportunities for nonprofit literary publishers, presenters and service organizations"	http://www.littap.org/
NYSCA/New York Council on Nonprofits (NYCON)	"A NYSCA grant includes full NYCON membership and free access to NYCON’s trainings, organizational development tools and templates, reduced-cost group purchasing programs, employee benefits, and liability insurance along with direct hands-on technical assistance in the areas of legal services, capacity building, board development, and marketing"	https://www.nycon.org/
NYSCA/NY Folklore: Professional Development	"Folklife and traditional arts programming requires professional knowledge and technical skills in many areas. The Mentoring and Professional Development Program provides free technical assistance and opportunities for organizations and individuals engaged in or planning folklife and traditional arts programs in New York State. The Professional Development Program for Folk and Traditional Arts supports targeted workshops and convenings, including the annual New York State Folk Arts Roundtable and an annual graduate student internship in public folklore"	https://nyfolklore.org/services/mentoring/
NYSCA/NYFA: Artist Fellowship	"First launched in 1985, the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship has provided more than $30 million in unrestricted cash grants to artists in 15 disciplines at critical stages in their creative development. Funds are unrestricted, and can be used in any manner the artists deem necessary to further their careers. The extensive list of past awardees includes the winners of five Academy Awards, five Tony Awards, eight Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and 15 MacArthur ''Genius'' Fellowships"	https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/artist-fellowships/
NYSCA/NYFA: Professional Development Partnership Program	"This program offers free 2-3 four-day intensive trainings, networking events, and resource talks to New York State artists and arts groups in partnership with and hosted by a locally-based arts council or organization. The Program rotates annually across all NYS regions"	https://www.nyfa.org/professional-development/
NYSCA/NYS DanceForce (DF)	"DanceForce is a member consortium of 19 dance professionals across New York State committed to increasing the quantity and quality of dance activity statewide. DF annually develops and presents dance and movement-based projects, presentations, and residencies in their communities, connecting dancemakers and audiences"	https://www.danceforce.org/
NYSCA/Poets & Writers: Readings & Workshops	"Organizations that sponsor readings and workshops in New York State may apply for grants to be used for writers' fees"	https://www.pw.org/funding/funding_readingsworkshops
NYSCA/Preservation League of NYS: Preserve New York	"Supports grants for historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports, and cultural resource surveys"	https://www.preservenys.org/preserve-new-york
NYSCA/Preservation League of NYS: Technical Assistance Grants	"Support short-term projects that advance the preservation of historic sites, museums, arts facilities including opera houses and theaters, and other culturally important institutions that are located in historic buildings and structures that are open to the public"	https://www.preservenys.org/technical-assistance-grants
NYSCA/Wave Farm: Arts in Corrections NYS	"Supports arts programming inside approximately 10 Department of Corrections and Supervision (DOCCS) and participating Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) facilities across New York State. In partnership with teaching artists, non-profit organizations design and facilitate a series of 12-week, in-person workshops, providing system-impacted individuals with programming in a variety of disciplines including the visual arts, electronic media/film, music, and literature"	https://wavefarm.org/grants-services/nysca-regrants
NYSCA/Wave Farm: Media Arts Assistance Fund (MAAF)	"Supports electronic media and film organizations, as well as individual artists, in all regions of New York State. For organizations, MAAF provides funds to support technical strategies for online development as well as to hire outside consultants to support organizational and professional development. For individual artists, MAAF provides support for the completion and/or public presentation of new works in all genres of sound and moving image art, including emergent technology"	https://wavefarm.org/grants-services/nysca-regrants

Contact

New York State Council on the Arts

411 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10016

(212) 459-8800

External links

• New York State Council on the Arts official site