NYSCA Encore Grant

NYSCA Encore Grant is sponsored by Staten Island Arts (funded by the New York State Council on the Arts). NYSCA Encore Grants support returning Staten Island-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that present programming of artistic and cultural significance in all art and artistic cultural disciplines, including digital/new media and music.

NYSCA Encore Grant - Staten Island Arts NYSCA Encore Grants support returning Staten Island based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

Grant Request Range: $500–$5,000 This grant category is for returning Staten Island based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that present programming of artistic and cultural significance in all art and artistic cultural disciplines including, but not limited to music, dance, digital/new media, film/video/animation, folk arts, humanities and cultural studies, interdisciplinary events/festivals, literature, public art, theatre, and performing and visual arts.

Applying organizations must have 501(c)3 status. These grants are not for fellowships, subsidies, or entitlements. Projects must be open to the public and take place on Staten Island during the calendar year they are awarded.

Each grant cycle, under-resourced disciplines are identified and then prioritized in the panel process. Under-resourced disciplines for 2025 are: Folk Arts, Classical Music/Opera, Photography The Encore grant is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency Statewide Community Regrant Program with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

To be eligible for a NYSCA Encore Grant, the applicant must meet ALL of the following criteria: Proposals must focus on artistic or creative expression and cultural significance. Clearly stated objectives. Clear and realistic plan for implementation.

Appropriate request level and realistic budget for stated proposal. Need and impact on the artistic discipline, geographic area, or local population: projects that address under-resourced communities or artistic disciplines will receive foremost attention. Under-resourced communities have low or limited access to the means of cultural production as well as art programming/activities.

Under-resourced disciplines are disciplines that have received low or limited funding from the arts council in the past. Demonstrated community interest or support of project. Applicant’s artistic experience, skill, and exhibition/performance history.

The project should be accessible to any member of the community who wishes to partake in the experience. Venues should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards . Virtual programs should provide captioning, subtitles, or ASL interpretation.

Organizations that submit a direct application the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in the same fiscal year their SIA grant would be issued, regardless of their application’s status. Organizations with operating income budgets over $300,000 for two of the last three fiscal years. Programs that are essentially religious, recreational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic.

Universities, colleges, primary and secondary schools and districts, school affiliates or components, in-school activities or programs/activities that exclusively serve a student audience with no public component. Programs serving only the applicant organization’s members. Operating expenses of privately-owned facilities (homes and studios).

Deficit budgets, capital improvements, equipment purchases *, fundraising events, scholarships, juror fees, prizes, lobbying expenses, entertainment, reception or food expenses, any non-arts related expenses or administrative costs unrelated to project. Applicants who cannot present a valid tax-exempt Federal ID number.

Applicants who are not in good standing with Staten Island Arts including failing to complete previous Staten Island Arts grant projects and/or failure to complete final reporting. * Virtual project exemption : equipment, software, subscriptions, and training needed to produce a virtual project. Individual items may not exceed $1,000.

Examples: cameras, lighting equipment, subscriptions associated with virtual programming, and training to utilize these tools. Project grant applications for the 2026 cycle will open November 17, 2025 and the deadline to submit is January 31st. 2026.

Applicants who have not applied for funding in the past 2 years should attend an information session to learn of any new changes to the program. The information session schedule can be found here . The following is the criteria used to decide on funding: Work Sample: Can applicant successfully create the project they propose from the work shown in the sample or have they demonstrated readiness for the proposed project through past work?

Does it have artistic merit/cultural significance? ​ Community Benefit: How will the project be available to the public? Is it accessible to the applicant’s intended audience?

Projects which address communities or artistic disciplines which are under-resourced should receive foremost attention. Narrative: Does the narrative leave too many unanswered questions or incomplete planning? Does it show that the applicant has experience creating this kind of work, or that they can successfully do what they propose?

Past work is taken into consideration. Budget: Is the budget and timeline realistic? Are artist fee realistic, materials fee, etc.?

Does adjusted budget allow for the proposal to be completed as stated? Artist fees, marketing and publicity expenses, direct administrative expenses, supplies and materials expenses are given priority. Applicants who have not received funding in the past 2 years should attend an information session to learn of any new changes to the program.

Once available, the information session schedule is posted on the Grants Overview page and can also be found here . During grants season, Grants Administrator Gena Mimozo offers 1:1 grant support Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm for prospective applicants who already have a proposal in mind or who have multiple proposals in mind and need guidance/feedback.

If you have attended a session and would like a consult, please fill out this form. If you have any additional questions, please contact Gena at gmimozo@statenislandarts. org .