Creative Engagement is an arts funding program that provides grants to individual artists and nonprofit organizations for projects and activities that offer Manhattan communities diverse artistic experiences.
Donor Name: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
State: New York
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/16/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Creative Engagement supports individual artists, arts groups and organizations of diverse disciplines, practices, cultural backgrounds, and career stages to implement arts projects that provide audiences opportunities to attend and/or participate in arts events and programming in Manhattan neighborhoods from Inwood to the Battery.
Funding is provided for projects in the performing, literary, media, and visual arts, ranging from folk/traditional forms to contemporary and socially-engaged artistic practices. Supported activities include concerts, performances, public art installations, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more.
Funding Information
Through this grant program, LMCC will award over $500,000 for projects serving Manhattan communities from Inwood to the Battery, taking place between January 1–December 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profit Organizations:
- Creative Engagement supports non-profit organizations that meet the following Core Eligibility Requirements:
- Organizations must be based and legally registered in Manhattan.
- Organizations must have proof of non-profit status.
- Organizations must have a core artistic mission and/or history of arts programming.
- Applicants may not be directly applying to LMCC’s Creative Learning program for the same fiscal year.
- Applicants may not be directly applying for DCLA (GNYADF) or NYSCA (Statewide Community Regrants) funds in another county/borough for the same fiscal year.
- Creative Engagement supports non-profit organizations that meet the following Core Eligibility Requirements:
- Individual Artists and Collectives:
- Creative Engagement supports individual artists, as well as collectives, project-based collaborations, and unincorporated groups that meet the following Core Eligibility Requirements:
- Individual artists must be based in Manhattan.
- Individual artists may not apply or receive funds on behalf of any organization.
- Collectives must designate a lead artist (director, or equivalent), who meets all eligibility requirements for individual artists to apply as an individual on their behalf.
- Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of submission and may not be enrolled in a full-time degree program.
- Applicants may not be directly applying to LMCC’s Creative Learning program for the same fiscal year.
- Applicants may not be directly applying for DCLA (GNYADF) or NYSCA (Statewide Community Regrants) funds in another county/borough for the same fiscal year.
- Creative Engagement supports individual artists, as well as collectives, project-based collaborations, and unincorporated groups that meet the following Core Eligibility Requirements:
For more information, visit LMCC.
