The Grants for Arts Programs grant is for exemplary arts programming in Tompkins County, open to the Tompkins County general public.
Donor Name: New York State Council on the Arts
State: New York
County: Tompkins County (NY)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/04/2026
Size of the Grant: Less than $1000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The GAP grant funds public arts events in Tompkins County:
- GAP support enables artists and organizations to enhance the artistic cultural climate in the communities and neighborhoods through public arts events.
- GAP supports events involving local artists that are open to the general public. The presentation of local art by local active artist(s) must be the core activity.
- Grants are available for arts programs of high artistic merit and quality.
The GAP grant funds local active and professional artists (with some exceptions):
- The qualifications and caliber of participating artists is a part of the evaluation process.
- A GAP grant priority is that requested artistic fees are geared primarily to Tompkins County resident artists. The exception is bringing in artists that represent art, art forms, or culturally related work not currently represented in Tompkins County.
- The grant cannot pay fees to students of universities, high schools, middle or elementary schools. (They can be part of the event, but not part of what this grant can fund.)
Type of Artistic Projects
- Funded projects must have at their core an activity that is fundamentally arts related and in-line with art forms funded by NYSCA that can include visual art exhibitions and public art; performances of theatre, music, dance; literary events such as readings; along with locally produced film screenings.
- The grant cannot fund activities the outcome of which is primarily rehabilitative, spiritual or religious, educational, therapeutic, or recreational.
Funding Information
GAP can fund supplies and materials that are used up during the event such as art supplies. Supply cost expenses cannot exceed $1,000.
Grant Period
January 1st, 2026 and January 31, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
- Not for Profits
- The applicant must be a Tompkins County based not-for-profit organization (a 501(c)(3) or NYS State not-for-profit organization either incorporated in NY State or registered to do business in NY State with a NYS Charities Registration) or a Tompkins County government agency, municipality, or Tribal Nation.
- The Applicant must be: located in Tompkins County with a Tompkins County mailing address, have as their primary mission providing services to residents of Tompkins County, and have an active Tompkins County board of directors which meets at least 6 times per year.
- Individuals or Groups with a fiscal sponsor or community partner
- Individual artists, groups, and unincorporated entities can apply through a not-for-profit “Fiscal Sponsor Applicant” (FSA) that becomes the official applicant for the grant. The FSA appears on the application as “Applicant” and they are sent grant payments. The FSA is responsible for financial IRS requirements such as collecting W-9’s and issuing 1099’s. The FSA must meet the requirements for not for profits above. Ask Robin for a PDF outlining the responsibilities and requirements of the FSA.
- There is another option for individuals, groups, or unincorporated entities called “Community Partners”.
- Please contact Robin if you need advice for finding a Fiscal Sponsor Applicant or to discuss a community partner.
- Individuals being fiscally sponsored for funding must be 18 years of age at the date of submission, be a current Tompkins County resident (driver’s license proof may be required), and must not be enrolled in a full-time degree program in 2026.
For more information, visit NYSCA .
