State of the Arts Fellowship Program
In 2026 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) launched the first "State of the Arts" Fellowship Program, embedding an Artist Fellow within three participating New York State agencies. The State of the Arts inaugural program placements are Eto Otitigbe at the Office of General Services (OGS), Cara Hanley at the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and sTo Len at the Office of Victim Services (OVS). More information on each artist can be found below.
The State of the Arts Fellows work with their respective agencies to bring positive focus to the State’s priorities and resources. The program is a fruitful collaboration between Artist Fellows and agencies, bringing creative vision to New York State’s breadth of programs and resources. As a cornerstone of the Governor’s arts policy, the initiative meaningfully impacts the agencies employees and the people it serves.
APPLY FOR YEAR 2
In its second year, the State of the Arts Fellowship seeks to place artists at 4 agencies for the 2026-27 program year.
PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is separate from the NYSCA FY2027 Support for Artists opportunity. For more information on any FY2027 grant opportunities, please click here: https://arts.ny.gov/OpportunityGuidelines
State of the Arts Fellowship Guidelines: 2026-2027 State of the Arts Fellowship Guidelines
State of the Arts Fellowship Application: 2026-2027 State of the Arts Fellowship Application Portal
For questions about the State of the Arts Fellowships, contact: [email protected]
NYSCA 2026 State of the Arts Fellowship Webinar
The webinar will be held on Oct 1, 2026 11:00 AM . Register here for the webinar. After the live webinar, a recording will be available on this webpage.
See Artist Fellowship Webinar PowerPoint Slides Here: https://itswebny.widen.net/s/vfgrm7p8jq/webinar-2026---artists
Program Overview:
NYSCA will place one (1) artist fellow at each of four (4) host agencies to address important solve-for questions at the core each agency’s public service mission:
- NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION: interpret and share the ingenuity and innovation of Canal Craft to honor and uplift the generations of canal workers and canal towns to shape the future of the Canal system. (Sites throughout New York State; Staff offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany)
- NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (DHR): give meaningful expression to important dialogues around rights, identity, and belonging while also connecting these big ideas to the everyday lives of New Yorkers (New York City/Bronx)
- NEW YORK STATE HOMES & COMMUNITY RENEWAL (NYSHCR) — STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY (SONYMA): help bridge gaps in awareness and perception around homeownership and connect SONYMA’s opportunities with the diverse populations and communities it serves across New York State. (sites throughout New York State; main offices in Albany and Manhattan)
- NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (OPWDD): collect, share, and interpret the collective memory, lived experience, and archival materials of the Willowbrook State School’s former residents and their family members, other stakeholders in the disability rights community, and the public in ways that will engage and resonate with neighbors, students, and visitors of the present and future. Timed with the construction and opening of the new Willowbrook Center for Learning. (Albany and Staten Island)
Through a collaborative process, fellows will work closely with state agencies to address pressing issues and implement projects that leave a lasting impact on communities across New York. Fellows will be chosen by the host agency and NYSCA. Award amount per artist fellow is $60,000, inclusive of all project expenses.
Artists from all disciplines are invited to apply for this unique opportunity.
Timeline:
- Application Opens: Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5:00pm. Applications are submitted online.
- Application Review/Artist Finalist Interviews: December. Interviews will be conducted virtually; selected artists will be notified shortly thereafter.
- Fellowship Start Date: February 2027
- Research Phase: February – August 2027
- Implementation Phase: August 2027 – February 2028
- End Date: Spring 2028
For questions about the State of the Arts Fellowships, contact: [email protected]
YEAR 1 COHORT
Meet the First State of the Arts Fellows: The New York State Council on the Arts Announces the Three Artists to Collaborate with State Agencies
Governor’s Initiative Places Artists to Work Alongside State Agencies for Creative Problem Solving
The New York State Council on the Arts has announced the three inaugural fellows for the State of the Arts Fellowship Program. A new initiative from Governor Kathy Hochul, the State of the Arts Fellowship Program embeds NYS artists into state agencies to collaborate and develop creative solutions to specific agency challenges.
Read the full press release here! NYSCA_Artist_Fellowship_Announcement.pdf
The inaugural placements are:
- Polymedia artist Eto Otitigbe (Brooklyn) will work alongside the Office of General Services (OGS) to revitalize Empire State Plaza in Albany with creative, community focused programming. Learn more about Eto Otitigbe here!
- Cara Hanley (Albany), a community-based artist and licensed social worker, will partner with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) to destigmatize mental health issues and promote access to OMH services. Learn more about Cara Hanley here!
- Interdisciplinary artist sTo Len (Glendale) and the Office of Victim Services (OVS) will increase awareness among underserved populations of the Fair Access to Victim Compensation Act. Learn more about sTo Len here!
Follow NYSCA social media for updates on the artists and their projects at NYSCA's Facebook page, on LinkedIn and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts
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