Nearly $45 Million in Grants Awarded as Part of Unprecedented $340 Million in State Support for the Arts in FY 2023 Budget
Builds Upon Governor Hochul's Announcement of $32 Million in Grants Awarded Last Month
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $45 million in grant awards through the New York State Council on the Arts. Through a record level of state funding for the arts, these grants will support over 1,200 arts organizations and 426 artists as they return to pre-pandemic levels of capacity and creation.
"For hundreds of years, artists from around the world have called New York their home because of our culture, diversity, and creativity," Governor Hochul said. "Their innovations fuel our economy, our tourism industry and the health and well-being of our communities, and this year's historic commitment will spur our continuing recovery from the pandemic and set the course for a stronger future."
The Support for Organizations grants will provide $38,452,500 to 1,214 arts groups including museums, visual arts programs, arts education organizations, and music, dance, and theater companies. The Support for Artists grants will provide $4,260,000 to 426 artists. The Special Opportunities grants will provide $1,737,450 to support folk art apprentices for individual artists, rehearsal and studio spaces for the performing arts and performing arts residencies. Additional funding was provided to support State Community Regrant partners.
In 2021, NYSCA overhauled its funding strategies to allow greater access to art funding across the state and recommitted its support to artists. As a result, NYSCA increased its funding of artists by 400 percent and awarded grants to 83 percent of first-time applicants.
A full list of the artists and organizations who have been awarded grants is here.
In October, Governor Hochul announced $32 million in grants to 1,032 organizations, including state community regrant partners, arts partnerships, and arts organizations throughout the state. NYSCA's record grantmaking budget comprises $140 million for FY 2023, plus an additional $100 million in multi-year capital funding to facilitate large-scale capital projects that prioritize community development and placemaking. NYSCA is still accepting applications for the Capital Projects Fund through Jan. 12, 2023. The FY 2023 budget also includes a $100 million expansion of the New York City Musical Theater Tax Credit, administered by Empire State Development.
New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Mara Manus said, "We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and our State Legislature for their historic investment in the arts. This unprecedented level of funding and NYSCA's continued efforts to increase access to the arts have yielded a record number of grantees. These 1,200 statewide grants will bring crucial support to creative workers and arts organizations of all sizes. We know that, through this critical grantmaking, New Yorkers and our visitors will directly experience the measurable benefits of this investment in the arts sector for decades to come."
New York State Council on the Arts Chair Katherine Nicholls said, "On behalf of the Council and our staff, I want to express our gratitude to the Governor and the Legislature for this unprecedented level of arts funding. A powerful contributor to our economies and our well-being, arts organizations and artists are essential to our growth and our prosperity. I am delighted that we are able to support their creativity and innovation as part of our pandemic recovery for the arts."
State Senator Jose Serrano said, "Artists bring energy and inspiration to our communities. I applaud NYSCA's efforts to support more of these essential workers as well as a record number of our arts organizations across the state. One of New York's greatest resources, the arts will continue to thrive with this historic support."
Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell said, "This impressive new highwater mark for NYSCA confirms the power of the arts across New York. As Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development, I am grateful for the support of my colleagues in the legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul for working to increase funding for the arts in our State. I congratulate NYSCA on their success to bring this vital support to more applicants, furthering the reach of crucial funding into communities across our state."
About the New York State Council on the Arts
NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. The Council upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA is awarding record funding in Fiscal Year 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.
NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.