$80 million available to support nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across NYS

NYSCA Capital Project Fund includes 3 grant categories, including first-time opportunity for capital design grants for arts & culture

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced up to $80 million in capital funding is now available to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations through the New York State Council on the Arts Capital Projects Fund.

Hochul announced the new funding at the groundbreaking of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare expansion project, which includes a LEED certified theater and ecological land restoration.

The expansion is supported by a $13.25 million investment from NYSCA, Empire State Development as recommended by the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

“Arts and cultural organizations like Hudson Valley Shakespeare are central to communities across New York state – boosting local economies and driving our vibrant tourism industry,” Hochul said. “As we celebrate the groundbreaking for Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s expansion, we’re also making $80 million available to help even more organizations across the state have the opportunity to grow, thrive and inspire the next generation of New Yorkers.”

The $80 million funding opportunity builds on the $32 million in capital awards made by NYSCA earlier this year, including multi-year funding to facilitate large-scale capital projects that prioritize community development and placemaking.

NYSCA's Capital Projects Fund will support arts and cultural nonprofits seeking state funding for investments in capital improvements that allow organizations to sustain and expand cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs, and ultimately contribute to the growth of New York's dynamic arts and tourism sectors.

The three opportunities are:

•Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture: This opportunity funds projects initiated by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of any size, with grants of up to $2 million that prioritize accessibility, artistry, cultural development, sustainability, health and safety, and structural and historical improvements. No-match grants of $10,000-$25,000 and $50,000-$99,000 are available for organizations with operating budgets under $2 million. Strong projects combine excellence in design with informed decisions about organizational capacity and community needs that will positively affect the future of arts and cultural organizations across New York.

•Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture: This opportunity will support arts and cultural nonprofits across the state that are undertaking impactful, large-scale capital improvements. Grants will range from $2 million to $10 million for projects that have a total cost of $4 million or more. This funding will support investments that allow organizations to thrive by expanding cultural programming, reaching new and diverse audiences, and promoting accessibility. These grants will also help advance the state's goals around economic development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and will require all applicants to commit to social equity initiatives and access plans that serve all New Yorkers.

•Capital Design Grants for Arts and Culture: This new opportunity will support the development of mid-stage and advanced design documents for arts and cultural nonprofits with operating budgets of $10 million or less across the state that are planning eligible capital improvements and are currently in the early stages of design. Grants will range from $50,000-$500,000, for a maximum of 50% of the design phase’s total cost. No-match grants of $50,000 to $99,000 will also be available for organizations with budgets under $2 million.

The application portal and guidelines for these opportunities are now open, and can be accessed on NYSCA's website, arts.ny.gov. The deadline to submit completed applications is Jan. 14, 2025. All eligible New York state nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are encouraged to apply for NYSCA's Capital Projects Fund. NYSCA will also conduct webinars about the application process and host multiple virtual office sessions for applicants to receive one-on-one assistance before the Jan. 14 deadline. Prospective applicants that are interested in large capital support should consult with NYSCA capital projects staff to make sure their projects are aligned with program priorities before applying. Grant awards are expected to be announced in spring 2025.

Hochul made the announcement while celebrating the groundbreaking for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare expansion, which is supported by a $13.25 million state investment from NYSCA, ESD and OPRHP. This project was one of the first to receive $10 million through NYSCA’s Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture, which was first announced in 2022. With this support, Hudson Valley Shakespeare will transform its recently acquired 98-plus acres into a year-round destination that will offer outstanding artistic programming, stunning scenery, outdoor recreation, and free community engagement activities, all in one place. Once complete, this new campus will attract visitors from the Hudson Valley and beyond, and serve as a powerful economic driver for the entire region.

Since the NYSCA Capital Projects Fund began in 2018, the agency has awarded 473 capital grants, totaling $216 million, across all 10 state regions through the support of the governor and Legislature. In FY24, 69% of the awards went to organizations with budgets under $3 million.

Hochul continues to make record investments to grow New York’s national-leading arts and cultural sector. The FY 2025 enacted budget also includes over $80 million for NYSCA general operating support to nonprofit organizations and individual artists. These grants will be awarded at the end of the calendar year.

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “These critical projects create pathways forward for our cultural facilities, and galvanize their communities with economic and social benefits that far surpass their investment. Arts and culture projects exponentially improve their communities with powerful boosts to tourism, small businesses, personal prosperity and health. When we provide this kind of support, we are giving organizations the opportunity to dream big and to serve more and more New Yorkers and visitors alike.”

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Hudson Valley Shakespeare, one of New York state’s most popular regional venues, draws visitors from every corner of the country and is an important economic driver in the Mid-Hudson Region. ESD is proud to support the Hudson Valley Shakespeare expansion so that even more residents and visitors can experience live theater for many years to come."

ESD Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “The arts are a vital tourism generator for New York, and I LOVE NY continues to promote the state's unparalleled cultural offerings. Under Gov. Hochul, these investments will help improve and create new opportunities for guests to experience the arts for themselves and find out how easy it is to love New York."

Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s Artistic Director Davis McCallum said, “Receiving one of the Large Capital Grants in 2022 was critical to our breaking ground today on the country's first purpose-built LEED Platinum theater, on a 98-acre eco-campus overlooking the Hudson River. We are deeply grateful to NYSCA for their early support for a transformational project that brings together the arts, environmental sustainability, and economic development. NYSCA's support of arts and culture organizations like HVS is incredibly impactful not only in communities like ours in the Mid Hudson Valley, but across the entire New York state.”

More 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. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million in FY2025, 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 Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Hochul and the Legislature, the council is an agency that is part of the executive branch. For more information on NYSCA, visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.