The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has allocated $20 million to fund 116 capital project grants in the agency’s final funding round of Fiscal Year 2022.
This brings the NYSCA grant making total for the year to an historic $100 million for the year, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office says in a March 31 statement.
Capital projects range from construction renovations to critical equipment updates that prioritize health and safety upgrades.
“Capital projects create safer, healthier, and more accessible spaces across New York State,” Hochul said. From our vibrant cultural anchors, to celebrated historical sites, our arts and cultural spaces represent the ingenuity of New York and preserve our state’s rich history and character. Congratulations to all grantees embarking on these transformative projects that will demonstrate the arts are both back and thriving.”
In this round, NYSCA prioritized small and medium sized organizations as well as first-time capital projects applicants. In addition to the 70 awards in the $50,000 to $1 million range, NYSCA provided additional support for capital projects through its local funding, awarding 46 organizations with $10,000 grants for equipment upgrades and facilities improvements.
All $10,000 grants support organizations with operating budgets under $1 million, bringing the total number of capital awards to 116. The majority of grants in the $50,000 to $1 million category will support organizations outside of New York City.
Grantees include:
Bushwick Starr (New York City) — The grant will fund construction of a new 5,000-sq. ft. performance venue in Brooklyn and provide the Bushwick Starr with a permanent home for its artists and audiences.
Chenango County Historical Society and Museum (Southern Tier) — Funding will support masonry restoration and architectural preservation on the historic Ward School No. 2 building where the museum operates public spaces for programming about its community’s rich cultural history.
The Hochstein School (Finger Lakes) — Grant dollars will support the renovation of Hochstein’s Performance Hall, an historic public arts space serving thousands in the greater Rochester community.
Women’s Studio Workshop (Mid-Hudson) — Funding will support the restoration and redevelopment of a historic 1800s era brick arched oil house into a new ceramics studio, artist book editions studio, and five rental studio spaces for local artists.
A full list of grantees can be found here.
NYSCA capital funding invested to date totals $50 million, which has been awarded across three funding rounds. Of the 88 projects across the state that NYSCA supported in previous funding years, approximately 50 percent are near completion.
