BY SERENA EDWARDS
For the first time in nearly two decades the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Artist Grant amount will double thanks to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. For many artists in New York this grant provides them external funding for their creativity.
The original grant amount was $5,000 which has now been moved to $10,000. Four out of five borough grants are open. Brooklyn’s grant closed on Oct 11. This year’s grant cycle will help support approximately 350 artists across the city.
DCLA provides funding to borough based art councils who then distribute the funding to artists, collectives, and small nonprofits.
“Artists are working New Yorkers with the same costs as everyone else. But while rent, grocery bills and child care costs have skyrocketed in New York City, the funding artists rely on has stayed flat,” said Mayor Mamdani in an October press release.
Artists are given monthly “shopping days”where they can receive free materials to help them with their creative endeavours.
“The monthly shopping for artists who have received local arts council support will provide them with additional support for their creative practice and engagement with New Yorkers. Artist grantees should book their appointments through their local arts council,” according to NYC Cultural Affairs.
There are different eligibility requirements which are separated by business and individuals.
For the Brooklyn Art Grant individuals had to be living in Brooklyn; however, if they are applying for their business, their business must be in Brooklyn.
A Brooklyn visuals artist who wished to stay anonymous expressed that she would’ve applied if she knew about it. “I just moved to New York about five years ago to pursue my dreams. This grant would’ve really helped. I wish they publicized this information better,” stated the artist.
For the 2026 cycle the Brooklyn artist grant rewarded 222 artists providing between $3,500 and $10,000 dollars per reward.
Many artists in New York struggle between choosing their passion and making bill payments.
Evan Sampson, a recent New York University (NYU) graduate and multidisciplinary artist, talked about wanting to apply and how it can help him in the future.
“Honestly I am in so much debt from college and I haven’t been able to create as much.I think this grant can help me with allocating my money towards my craft,” he said..
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) separated their grants into four sections based on the artists creative path; Sampson applied to the Creative Unrestricted grant.
“Creative Unrestricted provides unrestricted funding to Manhattan-based individual artists, artist collectives, and nonprofit organizations with budgets under $250,000 creating new work in the performing arts,” according to the LMCC.
This Lower Manhattan grant receives funding from individual donors, institutional donors, corporate sponsors, and in-kind partners. The grant money for this cycle is set to be disbursed in 2027.
Manhattan, The Bronx, and Queens grants have opened with 3 deadlines approaching during the end of October and early November. The last deadline for the artist grants is Jan. 31 for Staten Island.