Queens Arts Fund: Arts Access Grant Program

The Queens Arts Fund: Arts Access Grant Program provides financial support to Queens-based nonprofits and artist collectives for public arts and cultural projects. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000, encouraging accessible events that enhance community engagement. Eligible applicants must be small-budget 501(c)3 organizations or unincorporated collectives, demonstrating a commitment to cultural vibrancy in Queens. Projects should be inclusive and cater to local audiences, ensuring artistic opportunities are available to all community members.

NOTE: All QAF applicants are required to attend a live info session or watch a recorded info session. Any one member of an organization or artist collective may attend or watch an info session on behalf of their group. Attend or view an info session here.
The Arts Access Grant supports community-based organizations and collectives in their efforts to produce public arts and cultural programs that bolster the cultural vibrancy of the Queens communities and neighborhoods where they are located and operate.
Project Eligibility
Proposed projects must include a public component that takes place in Queens within the upcoming calendar year and provides Queens community members with the opportunity to experience dynamic, easily accessible arts and cultural events.
Public Components can include, but are not limited to:
exhibitions, performances, festivals, screenings, readings, and workshops.
Projects may be in any artistic discipline.
Public components may be held in-person, virtually, or combination of both. All presentations and events taking place virtually must include some type of live component (i.e. an artist talk, Q&A, listening, or viewing event) and must be targeted towards local Queens audiences or participants. Uploaded videos/media or online galleries alone are not sufficient. Applicants proposing virtual public components still must be based in Queens.
Funding
Applicants may submit grant requests for $1,000 to $5,000.

Eligibility

Arts Access Grants offer project-based financial support for Queens-based small-budget 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or unincorporated artist collectives. Organizations that apply must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and must provide proof of nonprofit status with a 501(c)3 determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service. Collectives that apply must be unincorporated artist collectives. The organization or collective applying must have existed for at least one year. Applicants must have an operating budget of less than $100,000 in at least two of the last three years. Applicants must be located/based in Queens and show proof of a Queens address in the application. Applicants can make only one project request per year that does not exceed $5,000. Applicants must designate a “Lead Applicant” to complete the Arts Access application and act as the point person throughout the selection process. Lead applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the specified date.Eligible Grant Expenses:Artists’ Fees and compensation Please note: QAF encourages all of its applicants to include artist fees for themselves and their collaborators within their submitted project budget! Technical Assistance fees (i.e. videographer, audio editor, translators and interpreters, etc.) Planning and preparation expenses for a proposed event Supplies and materials needed to execute the proposed project (individual items may not exceed $1,000)This can include but is not limited to: art supplies, sheet music, hardware, and memory cardsEquipment, software, subscriptions, and training related to the creation and promotion of virtual programming (individual items may not exceed $1,000) This can include: cameras, lighting equipment, subscriptions associated with virtual programming, and training to utilize these tools Venue rental for the project (general home/studio rent is not eligible)

Ineligibility

Who can't apply:Past recipients of any QAF grant who failed to submit a final report or are otherwise out of compliance with their QAF Cultural Contract. Applicants that received an Arts Access Grant consecutively for the past three years. Applicants applying for DCLA funds in another county/borough for the upcoming fiscal year.Organizations that have applied for direct funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for the upcoming Fiscal Year. NYC public school district, public, private or parochial schools, including public colleges or universities. For-profit organizations (such as corporations, limited liability companies, etc.) or New York City agencies, even with the use of a fiscal conduit/sponsor organization that is a 501(c)3. Lead applicants cannot be students, full or part-time, either currently enrolled at the time of application or who will be enrolled in the upcoming year. This includes degree programs and certificate programs. Organizations that directly apply for the upcoming Arts Access Grant cannot also fiscally sponsor a different applicant in the same year. Applicants of a current QAF New Work Grant are not eligible for the upcoming Arts Access Grant.Ineligible Grant Expenses:Public programs that exclude the general public, including members-only access workshops or programs Recreational, religious, or therapeutic art programs or commercial art or entertainment– this includes clowning, magic, culinary arts, and cosmetology Start-up costs for new collectives/organizations In-school arts education activities and programs exclusively serving a school’s student body (after school activities that are open to the general public are eligible) Direct living or general operating expenses (residential or studio rent) Acquisitions Entertainment costs including openings, receptions, catering (food and drink), fundraising