Local Arts Support Grant

Local Arts Support is a grant program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and administered to support high-quality local arts projects that focus on community engagement. The program is particularly aimed at nonprofit organizations and partnerships between individual artists and nonprofits operating within Brooklyn, New York. These partnerships are intended to foster a vibrant cultural ecosystem by facilitating performances, exhibitions, festivals, workshops, and other community-based art initiatives. The core objective of the grant is to empower Brooklyn-based artists and arts organizations to deliver creative programming that is responsive to the needs and interests of their communities. Funded activities span a wide range of disciplines including Dance, Film, Cultural Heritage, Interdisciplinary Arts, Literary Arts, Music/Opera, Theatre, Visual Arts/Crafts, and Multi-disciplinary projects. Applications are evaluated based on the extent to which they identify and engage their target communities and outline clear, thoughtful outcomes. For the 2026 grant cycle, applicants can request funding amounts ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. Funds may primarily be used to compensate people—artists, administrators, and other personnel involved in the project. A maximum of $1,000 may be allocated toward supplies, materials, software, training, or equipment. There is no match requirement for this grant. Proposals must include a project timeline showing completion within the 2026 calendar year, a promotional plan, artist statement or organizational mission, work samples, and documentation of experienced personnel involvement. Eligibility extends to Brooklyn-based nonprofit organizations and individual artists working with Brooklyn-based nonprofits or fiscal sponsors. Nonprofits must provide verification of status via specific documentation such as a 501(c)(3) IRS letter or NYC Charities Registration. NYC-based artists are also eligible if partnered with a qualified Brooklyn nonprofit. Fiscal sponsors or partner organizations must not be applying to NYSCA or LAS directly for the same funding year. Applications for the 2026 cycle open on September 4, 2025, and close on November 7, 2025. Awards will be made in early 2026 for projects conducted within the calendar year. The program does not penalize adaptations due to impacts from 2020–2023 disruptions, such as those related to COVID-19. Recipients are selected based on community relevance, quality of proposed programming, and alignment with the funder’s community engagement priorities.

Best proposals identify and engage the community clearly and provide thoughtful anticipated outcomes.