CNY Arts and New York State Council on the Arts Announce $228,089 in Arts and Culture Grants to Support Central New York Artists, Educators, Cultural Organizations, & Heritage Sites in 2027

SYRACUSE, NY—CNY Arts is pleased to announce $228,089 in available grant funding for eligible arts, culture, and heritage projects in Central New York. Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) through the Statewide Community Regrant (SCR) program, these funds are open to individual artists, nonprofit organizations, and arts educators located in Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.

“CNY Arts is deeply grateful to NYSCA for entrusting us to administer these crucial funds to our regional creative community,” said Alexander Korman, Executive Director of CNY Arts. “The arts do not exist in a vacuum; they play a vital role in sustaining the vibrancy, quality of life, and economic prosperity of our region, distinguishing Central New York as a dynamic place to live, work, and visit.”

Awards range from $500 to $5,000 and may be used for project-related expenses such as artist fees, equipment and space rental, marketing and promotion, expendable arts supplies, and more. Funding will be distributed across two cycles: Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.

The first cycle is now open and accepting applications. This cycle supports community-focused arts projects and the development of new artistic work by individual artists across a range of disciplines. The deadline to apply is October 25 at 11:59 PM. Full guidelines can be found at cnyarts.org/grants, and CNY Arts Regrants Staff are on hand to provide application assistance.

The second cycle is dedicated entirely to arts education projects, aimed toward learners in either public schools or community settings. It will open in mid-March 2026 with a mid-July deadline.

“The New York State Council on the Arts is proud to work with CNY Arts and offer this critical funding to artists and arts organizations across Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of NYSCA. “We encourage all eligible artists and arts organizations to apply for this opportunity and look forward to learning more about your upcoming projects for the coming year.”

All submissions to SCR are reviewed by an independent panel of creative peers, arts administrators, and community leaders, who evaluate proposals based on feasibility, creative merit, and community impact. For eligibility guidelines and more information, visit cnyarts.org/grants, email [email protected], or call (315) 435-2155.

CNY Arts’ mission is to promote, support, and celebrate arts and culture in Central New York.

CNY Arts’ Statewide Community Regrants Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. For FY2027, the Council on the Arts will award $161 million, serving organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X, formerly known as Twitter, @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program (SCR), a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

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