UMEZ Arts Engagement is a grant program designed to enhance the diversity and frequency of arts and cultural presentations in Upper Manhattan.
Donor Name: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
State: New York
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/16/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The program encourages artistic presentations that respond to the current needs of Upper Manhattan’s local communities and amplify the cultural expressions of its diverse population. Competitive projects will demonstrate a strong artistic vision for the audience experience, thoughtful project planning, and clear plans to reach the public. LMCC encourages projects that are generated within and serve communities that may have limited access to art programs, services, or resources due to location, race, language, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion and disability to apply. LMCC also highly encourages individuals and organizations whose work is rooted in the lived experience of Upper Manhattan’s Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities to apply for funding.
Funding Information
UMEZ Arts Engagement awards grants between $1,000 and $10,000.
Grant Period
January 1–December 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-profit Organizations:
- UMEZ Arts Engagement supports non-profit arts organizations that meet ALL of the following Eligibility Requirements:
- Organizations must be based and legally registered 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) non-profit with proof of non-profit 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 (2021-2025).
- 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.
- UMEZ Arts Engagement supports non-profit arts organizations that meet ALL of the following Eligibility Requirements:
- 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 (2021-2025).
- 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.
- Individual artists may not apply or receive funds on behalf of any organization.
- First-time applicants are required to attend an information session OR watch a recorded information session before applying.
- UMEZ Arts Engagement supports individual artists, as well as collectives, project-based collaborations, and unincorporated groups that meet ALL of the following Eligibility Requirements:
For more information, visit LMCC.
