The Independent Projects grant program is a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and The Architectural League of New York, awarding grants for New York State-based individuals and teams to explore a design topic through creation or research.
Donor Name: The Architectural League of New York
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/22/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
For many years, both NYSCA and the League have supported diverse and creative explorations in design. Recognizing design as an art form that can enhance the quality of life, Independent Projects seeks proposals that emphasize artistry, that advance a design discipline, and that may contribute to a broader understanding of design. Imperatively, design must be at the core of any proposal, and the outcome must be accessible to the public. Projects might create a design prototype, develop new strategies of community-based design, research a topic in design history, or engage in critical or theoretical analysis, to name just some of the many possible approaches.
Funding Information
$10,000.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Independent Projects support, the applying individual or team must meet the following criteria:
- Independent Projects is open to individuals and groups of individuals only. Organizations and their representatives, including schools and universities, 501(c)(3) organizations, neighborhood and business districts, and parks, are not eligible to apply. However, applicants may propose work that involves collaboration with these entities in an independent capacity.
- The applicant(s) must be current residents of New York State and must remain so throughout the award period. They must be prepared to show proof of residency upon request if selected for an award. For more information on this requirement see the following section, Proof of New York State residency.
- The proposed work must be carried out within New York State, and the resulting outcome or product must be accessible to audiences in New York State. Activities occurring out of state are not eligible for support, with limited exceptions for specialized services that cannot be procured in state.
- The applicant(s) must be a professional in their related design field. Design fields include, but are not limited to, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, biodesign, community-centered design, graphic design, fashion design, industrial design and interior design. Architectural and design historians, journalists, and critics qualify. Visual artists proposing work that references the built environment are not eligible for support through this program.
- The project must emphasize design and the ways that the creative process can make an impact on the topic or problem the applicant seeks to explore.
- Proposals must represent the truly independent and self-generated work of the applicant(s). Activities that are initiated by, or credited to, an organization or academic institution are not eligible for support. This category does not support past work or current commissioned work for a client.
- Applicants may be associated with only one project request per year. If individuals appear on more than one request, both requests will be deemed ineligible for support.
- Faculty in architecture or design schools are welcome to apply. However, their proposed projects must not be part of a course curriculum including undergraduate or graduate studios.
- Student projects are ineligible for support. Currently matriculated students must demonstrate that their project is not related to the completion of a degree.
- Individuals who have been employed by NYSCA or The Architectural League within two years of the grant deadline are not eligible for this program.
- Individuals who currently serve on the Board of Directors of The Architectural League or have served on the Board within two years of the grant deadline are not eligible for this program.
- Individuals who are currently part of an in-progress Independent Projects grant are not eligible to apply in 2026, alone or as part of a team. Past recipients must have submitted an approved final report to qualify for support again in 2026.
- Individuals who applied in a previous cycle and were not selected for funding are welcome to reapply, either with a new proposal or a revision to an earlier concept (provided the concept was not previously deemed ineligible for support).
For more information, visit The Architectural League of New York.
