UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant Program in New York

UMEZ Arts Engagement invites proposals from artists and arts organizations that are based in Upper Manhattan and presenting arts projects or programming serving Upper Manhattan.

Donor Name: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council

State: New York

Borough: Manhattan

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 09/10/2024

Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000

Grant Duration: 1 Year

Details:

Upper Manhattan is home to a remarkable concentration of artists and arts organizations including one of the largest concentrations of culturally-specific groups in the country. With this in mind, UMEZ

UMEZ Arts Engagement supports individual artists, arts groups and arts nonprofit organizations to implement projects that provide audiences with opportunities to attend and/or participate in arts events and programming in Upper Manhattan. This area is defined as north of 98th Street on the east side of Fifth Avenue; and north of 110th Street on the west side.

Funding is available 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, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, readings, and more.

The program encourages artistic presentations that respond to the current needs of the local communities and amplify the cultural breadth and identity of Upper Manhattan. Funding priority will be given to projects that engage artists with deep connections to the community in which they are presented and elevate the cultural activity and aspirations of the community involved as well as applicants whose work is rooted in the lived experience of Upper Manhattan’s Black, Latinx, Indigenous and immigrant communities.

Funding Information

• UMEZ Arts Engagement awards grants between $1,000 and $5,000.
• The project will take place between January 1 – December 31, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria 

Nonprofit Organizations:

• UMEZ Arts Engagement supports nonprofit arts organizations that meet ALL of the following Eligibility Requirements:
  • Organizations must be based in Upper Manhattan, defined as north of 98th Street on the east side of Fifth Avenue; and north of 110th Street on the west side.
  • Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with proof of nonprofit status.
  • Organizations must have a principal mission of production and/or presentation of arts and culture for public audiences.
  • Organizations must have carried out or participated in publicly accessible arts programming in 2 of the last 5 calendar years (2020-2024).
  • Organizations must have operating budgets under $750,000 for two of the last three completed fiscal years.
  • Organizations may not have received funds from or have a pending application with UMEZ directly for a grant for the same fiscal year, with the exception of UMEZ’s regrant program UMEZ Mertz Gilmore Seed Fund for Dance.
  • First-time applicants are required to attend an information session webinar for UMEZ Arts Engagement before applying. Returning applicants are required to attend an information session webinar OR watch a recorded information session webinar for UMEZ Arts Engagement before applying.

Individual Artists and Collectives:

• UMEZ Arts Engagement supports individual artists, as well as collectives, project based collaborations, and unincorporated groups that meet ALL of the following Eligibility Requirements:
  • Individual artists must reside in Upper Manhattan, defined as north of 98th
  • Street on the east side of Fifth Avenue; and north of 110th Street on the west side.
  • Individual artists must be fiscally sponsored by an organization with a formal fiscal sponsorship program or by LMCC
  • Individual artists must have carried out or participated in publicly accessible arts programming in 2 of the last 5 calendar years (2020-2024).
  • Collectives must designate a lead artist (director, or equivalent), who meets all eligibility requirements for individual artists, to apply as an individual on its behalf.
  • Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of submission and may not be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program.
  • Individual artists may not apply or receive funds on behalf of any organization.
  • First-time applicants are required to attend an information session webinar for UMEZ Arts Engagement before applying. Returning applicants are required to attend an information session webinar OR watch a recorded information session webinar for UMEZ Arts Engagement before applying.

For more information, visit LMCC.