1. Has NYSCA announced their FY2026 Grant Opportunities and how do I apply?
2. I am new to NYSCA: How can I prequalify my organization?
3. Are you planning any events or information sessions for the FY2026 application process?
4. I am an arts organization with a public university affiliation; can I apply for NYSCA funding?
5. My organization is a university applying for different arts organizations. Am I allowed more than one application?
6. If we have a multiyear grant, do we have to reapply?
7. I am an individual artist and wish to apply for Support for Artists. Do I need to prequalify?
8. Does NYSCA fund for-profit organizations, businesses or galleries?
1. Has NYSCA announced their FY2026 Grant Opportunities and how do I apply?
PLEASE NOTE Our FY2026 guidelines for Support for Organizations, Support for Artists, Support for Targeted Opportunities, and Support for Regrants and Services is now available here. You can subscribe to our mailing list for important NYSCA updates.
2. I am new to NYSCA: How can I prequalify my organization?
Applicants to NYSCA must submit a prequalification application in the New York Statewide Financial System (SFS). Applicants need to be “prequalified” in order to apply for a NYS grant. Follow instructions on our START HERE page.
Please note this process is separate and apart from the NYSCA application. You must first prequalify with State Financial System (SFS.)
Your prequalification expires annually. You are required to update your application and upload new documents to maintain prequalified status in order for your application to be considered.
3. Are you planning to hold any office hours and webinars for the FY2026 application process?
Yes. All FY 2026 webinars are prerecorded and available here. iOffice hours are not recorded. You can review our Webinars and Office Hour schedule here.
Please note: Attending webinars, office hours and contacting NYSCA staff is optional. It has no bearing on the review of an application.
4. I am an arts organization with a public university affiliation; can I apply for NYSCA funding?
Please read the eligibility requirements under the applicable Guidelines. As stated in such Guidelines, additional information is required to determine your eligibility. You should to submit information in accordance with this form as soon as possible prior to the application deadline.
5. My organization is a university applying for different arts organizations. Am I allowed more than one application?
Yes, you are allowed to sponsor more than one organization. Universities must apply as fiscal sponsors for arts organizations that are open to the public but legally part of the university.
6. If we have a multiyear grant, do we have to reapply?
If you were previously awarded a multi-year grant for FY2026:
You do not need to reapply for the FY2026 grant period. NYSCA will send acceptance and contract instructions in May 2025.
You must have prequalified status in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) at the time of payment of a multi-year grant.
Applications with prequalification status of “require more information,” “in agency review” or “in progress” are not considered prequalified. Units of government and Native nations are exempt from the prequalification requirement.
You must submit any overdue NYSCA final reports. Organizations will be ineligible for FY2026 funding if, at the time of the application deadline, the organization has not submitted final reports for non-capital grants made in FY2023 and prior.
If you already have a multi-year award for FY2026, to be eligible for a new FY2026 Support for Organizations grant, you must decline your previous award for the FY2026 grant period before the new application deadline. If you have a previously awarded grant, such as Support for Organizations for FY2026, that you want to decline in order to apply for a new FY2026 NYSCA Support for Organizations, please follow the instructions on your award letter.
Past funding is no guarantee of future funding.
If you do not decline previously awarded Support for Organizations and/or Project Support grants by the application deadline, you will not be eligible to submit a new FY2026 Support for Organizations application, and your application for FY2026 Support for Organizations will not be reviewed.
The other eligibility requirements in the FY2026 NYSCA Support for Organizations guidelines are available at arts.ny.gov.
Having an ongoing multi-year grant or being awarded an FY2026 grant does not disqualify an organization from applying for capital support.
7. I am an individual artist and wish to apply for Support for Artists. Do I need to prequalify?
Individuals do not need to prequalify through The New York Statewide Financial System (SFS). Applications for Support for Artists must be made through a Fiscal Sponsor and the Fiscal Sponsor must be prequalified.
8. Do you fund for-profit organizations, businesses or galleries?
No. Your organization may be eligible to receive NYSCA funding if it is:
- A nonprofit organization either incorporated in or registered to do business in New York State, with a location in New York State, and recognized as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code section as a 501(c)3
- A State- or Federally-recognized Native American nation
- A unit of local or federal government in New York State