Funding Opportunities
ArtsWestchester grants reach every part of the County and make possible an extraordinary array of cultural activities. Our grants help Westchester and Rockland-based cultural organizations grow and support individual artists in the creation of new work.
Grants are available in the following categories: Project Support; Arts Alive (Westchester & Rockland Counties); Arts initiative Target Grants; Westchester County Poet Laureate; Arts for People with Special Needs; Art$WChallenge; Basic Support; Voices for Change.
PROJECT SUPPORT
The 2025-26 cycle of project support is now CLOSED
Application deadline was Monday, April 7, 2025. Please check back for updates on future cycles.
In-Person Info Sessions:
Wednesday, March 5 @ 5:00pm – Yonkers Public Library – Grinton Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave
Note: The March 5 session will also include the Mt. Vernon & Yonkers Arts Initiative
Thursday, March 20 @ 5:00 – 6:30 pm – Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Ave., Ossining
Please email grants@artswestchester.org to rsvp for the in-person info sessions.
This funding opportunity is a competitive grant category intended for small to mid-sized nonprofit cultural organizations; organizations whose public programming is developed and funded by friends groups; and organizations that offer a season of arts programs/activities and/or education-based programs.
ArtsWestchester defines “project” broadly. Organizations may apply for support for a season of related events over a scheduled period of time – such as a film series, concert series, workshop series, or education series, or an individual program or event – such as an exhibition or performance; a special program – such as a festival; or a pilot project. Grants in the Project Support category are made possible with funds from Westchester County Government.
This funding opportunity is available for Westchester-based nonprofit arts & cultural organizations
Arts Alive – Westchester & Rockland Counties
Arts Alive 2025 Applications Now Closed.
The 2025 submission deadline was Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Please check back for updates on the 2026 cycle.
To view the PowerPoint Presentation from the Zoom Info Session click HERE.
Arts Initiative Target Grants
The 2025-26 cycle of Yonkers & Mount Vernon Arts Initiatives is now closed.
Application deadline for 2025-26 was Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Please check back for updates on future cycles.
Wednesday, March 5 @ 5:00 pm – Yonkers Public Library – Grinton Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave.
Tuesday, March 18 @ 5:00pm – Doles Center, 250 S. 6th Ave Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Please rsvp to grants@artswestchester.org for the in-person info sessions.
The Yonkers Arts Initiative and Mount Vernon Arts Initiative are designed to help community-based cultural organizations based in each city enhance the cultural programs and services they provide to city residents, while also enhancing and improving the neighborhood(s), facilities, and/or city parks where they occur. These awards are made possible with support from the County Executive and the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
Westchester County Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate Cycle is now Closed. Next Application: Late 2026
2024-26 Poet Laureate Announced! Westchester County Executive George Latimer today partnered with ArtsWestchester to announce that Westchester County’s new Poet Laureate will be Phylisha Villanueva of Yonkers. Villanueva was one of 14 applicants for the position and will succeed poet B.K. Fischer who served in this countywide role for 3 years. Phylisha Villanueva is slated to begin her three-year term this month and will receive a $10K honorarium for each year of the appointment made possible with funds from Westchester County. Complete Press Release available here.
Arts For People With Special Needs
Arts For People With Special Needs – 2024 Artist Residency is Closed. 2025 announcement soon to come!
This grant program was developed to increase accessibility of the arts to people with special needs. This opportunity is open to organizations that offer programs for individuals with special needs and human services agencies who apply to partner with artists on ArtsWestchester’s Directory of Teaching Artists for an artist residency.
Art$WChallenge Grant
The Art$WChallenge Grant is closed for 2024-2025. Check back again for information on the 2025-2026 grant.
Basic Program Support
Basic Program Support Cycle is now Closed
Funding is directed toward ongoing activities of eligible, Westchester-based arts organizations and historic sites. When considering the provision and level of Basic Program Support, the panel examines all aspects of your operation, including artistic merit, financial stability, the strength and involvement of the board, scope of programming, geographic area and number of people served, and inclusiveness at all levels of operation (including board, staff, audience).
Voices For Change
Voices For Change Cycle is now Closed
Voices for Change provides the creative community with an opportunity to develop and present new work that inspires and informs, and may be a catalyst for action. Different funding levels will be available and competitive projects will identify an organizational partner to work with.
Voices for Change is supported in part with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Become a Panelist
Panelists play a central role in reviewing applications for funding. We rely on panels composed of individuals who represent a broad range of artistic and cultural viewpoints, as well as wide geographic and ethnic diversity, to provide advice about the artistic excellence and artistic merit of proposals in a variety of funding categories. Our panels are composed of both arts professionals and knowledgeable laypersons. Most panelists are arts professionals who are qualified by their activities, training, skills, and/or experience in one or more art forms. Every panel also includes a layperson – someone knowledgeable about the arts but not engaged in the arts as a profession either full- or part-time.
Panelist Nomination
ArtsWestchester maintains a bank of potential panelists, and invites county residents, as well as colleagues in the field, to recommend panelists. For more information please contact grants@artswestchester.org
ArtsWestchester is committed to maintaining a balance of geographic, ethnic, and cultural diversity in its commitment to high standards of integrity and impartiality in its decision-making process. While every panelist nomination is considered, ArtsWestchester is not able to appoint every qualified nominee to a panel.
For more information please email grants@artswestchester.org
To schedule a time to speak with our grants staff one-on-one, click here to see our availability.
ArtsWestchester accepts applications through an electronic portal, Submittable.