About NYSCA

Our Mission

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York's citizens.

Our Process

NYSCA 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. Through our core grantmaking activity, NYSCA awarded more than $100 million in FY2022 statewide. NYSCA funding supports the visual, literary, media and performing arts and includes dedicated support for arts education and underserved communities. NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by hosting convenings with leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

 

Doug Varone and Dancers
More than $90 million so far

NYSCA has already awarded $90 million in FY 2023 to support artistic excellence and public service. Capital Projects Fund awards to be announced late Spring 2023.

Over 1,600 Organizations

For FY2023, NYSCA awarded 1,614 direct grants, 100 more than FY22 and 400 more than FY21. Regrants for artists and organizations, awarded through regional arts organizations, will be announced throughout the year.

15 Funding Areas

NYSCA supports visual, literary, performing, and media arts, arts education, and individual artists.

Institute for Electronic Arts
Architectural League of New York

Our Values

At NYSCA, our efforts are guided by our belief in the fundamental importance of arts and cultural expression in people's lives and a commitment to serving our three constituencies: artists, arts and cultural organizations, and the public. We believe that:

Artists are at the center of creative endeavor. Therefore, we are committed to providing artists with opportunities for artistic development and the public presentation of their work. 

Strong arts and cultural organizations are vital to connecting the arts to people's lives. We are committed to assisting a wide range of arts and cultural organizations – small and large, new and established – to achieve their artistic, programmatic, educational, community, and organizational goals.

Every citizen of New York State can have a meaningful connection to creativity and every community has a right to cultural self-determination. The Council is also committed to making the arts accessible to all the citizens of New York State. We aim to support worthy artistic and cultural activities that serve traditionally underserved communities or populations. These are the economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, rural populations, and those who may experience discrimination on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, culture, or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering public understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture through support of arts education, public participation, and lifelong learning programs in schools and community settings for children and adults.

426 Artists

Through our Support for Artists Program, NYSCA awarded 426 artists for FY2023.

MM Serra New American Cinema Group
National Guild artist
MCC Students
130 New Jobs

For 2020, NYSCA created and expanded 130 jobs and workforce training programs.

$50M in Capital Funding

Since 2018, NYSCA has awarded 204 capital grants, totaling $50 million.