Manhattan Arts Grants: Creative Engagement

Manhattan Arts Grants: Creative Engagement

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Amount: US $4,000 - US $12,000
Last Updated: July 23, 2025

Summary

The Manhattan Arts Grants: Creative Engagement, offered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), supports artists and community-focused organizations in accessing public funds to present rich arts activities. Since 1983, these grants have been vital in fostering cultural vibrancy across Manhattan. With funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and other partners, LMCC helps artists connect with communities from Inwood to The Battery, enhancing public spaces through various artistic disciplines.

Overview

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Founded as  LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community. Since 1973, LMCC has been the champion for independent artists in New York City and the cultural life force of Lower Manhattan. We envision New York City as a place in which artists and community in dialogue are creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. Our Mission: To create a fertile and nurturing environment for artists and arts groups, enlivening public spaces with free programs in the visual, performing, and new media arts, and to provide leadership in cultural planning and advocacy. Manhattan Arts Grants: Creative Engagement Since 1983, LMCC’s Manhattan Arts Grants have supported Manhattan-based artists, arts groups and community-focused organizations in accessing public funds for the presentation of rich arts activities with the public. These projects have been integral to the cultural vibrancy and arts-driven resiliency of Manhattan With support from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation, LMCC’s Creative Engagement, Creative Learning and UMEZ Arts Engagement programs provide technical support to applicants and awards grants to enable hundreds of arts projects in all disciplines, serving Manhattan communities from Inwood to The Battery. Our grants are often among the first awards an artist or group receives and can help recipients to leverage additional support from other sources. Creative Engagement is designed to support Manhattan-based artists, arts groups and community-focused organizations in accessing public and private funds to share arts activities with the public. The program is comprised of three funds: City funds, provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Greater New York Arts Development Fund, State funds, provided by the New York State Council on the Arts’ (NYSCA) Statewide Community Regrants program, and funds provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation. Funding is intended for artists and organizations that are not able to apply directly to these agencies for arts funding.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Funding is intended for artists and organizations that are not able to apply directly to the agencies above for arts funding.