Applications are open for the 2027 Manhattan Arts Grant cycle!
This application serves two distinct grant programs: Creative Engagement and UMEZ Arts Engagement, each with its own eligibility requirements and funding partners. You only need to submit one application, and LMCC will determine which funding opportunities you are eligible for based on your responses.
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 Manhattan’s Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities to apply for funding.
About Creative Engagement
Creative Engagement is a Manhattan Arts Grants program that provides funding to artists and nonprofit organizations for public events that will take place in Manhattan between January-December 2027. Each year, the program supports hundreds of arts projects, including concerts, performances, public art, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, workshops, readings, and more. LMCC will fund projects that connect with Manhattan’s communities from Inwood to the Battery and amplify the cultural expressions of the borough’s diverse population.
Creative Engagement funding is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Greater New York Arts Development Fund (DCLA), the New York State Council on the Arts’ Statewide Community Regrants (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the Howard Gilman Foundation (HGF). Funding is intended for artists and organizations that cannot apply directly to these agencies. In general, this includes earlier career artists, collectives, and recently established organizations; and those with smaller operating budgets or less administrative infrastructure to create, fundraise, and distribute their work.
View and download Creative Engagement Program Guidelines:
FAQs are also available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish here.
About UMEZ Arts Engagement
UMEZ Arts Engagement is a grant program designed to support Upper Manhattan artists, arts groups, and arts nonprofit organizations in accessing Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ) funds for presentations that enhance the diversity and frequency of cultural presentations in Upper Manhattan. 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, and is defined here as north of 98th Street on the east side of Fifth Avenue; and north of 110th Street on the west side. Through UMEZ Arts Engagement, UMEZ invests in artists and cultural organizations as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen Upper Manhattan neighborhoods, expand access to arts and culture, and support the vitality of the community's creative economy.
UMEZ Arts Engagement invites proposals from artists and arts organizations of diverse disciplines, practices, cultural backgrounds, and career stages that are 1) based in Upper Manhattan and 2) presenting arts projects or programming in Upper Manhattan, making their work more widely available to the public. LMCC will provide funding to 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 installations, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, readings, and more. 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.
View and download UMEZ Arts Engagement Program Guidelines:
FAQs are also available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish here.
Thinking of applying?
Preview a copy of the application questions to see what information you’ll need to prepare here.
Attend a Virtual Information Session presented in English and ASL on Monday, September 28, 2026. These sessions are for those who want to get a deeper understanding of how to create this application. Recordings will be made available for those who cannot attend. Transcripts will be available in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- RSVP Here: Creative Engagement Information Session from 6-7pm EST
- RSVP Here: UMEZ Arts Engagement Information Session from 7:15-8:15pm EST
Ready to work on your application?
Utilize our suite of virtual and in-person applicant support offerings to help you build the strongest application possible!
Join us at an Applicant Lab in-person to get your questions answered, technical assistance, and help with creating any part of your application. These are informal drop-in sessions to connect with our team and work alongside fellow applicants.
- RSVP Here: ChaShaMa, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Abrons Arts Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: A.R.T./New York, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Belongó | Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5-8pm EST
Attend our Virtual Office Hours to receive live guidance from LMCC staff before the deadline. This is for applicants who are actively working on their materials.
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, October 27th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 29th, 2-4pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, November 5th, 4-6pm EST
- RSVP Here: Monday, November 9th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, November 10th, 2-4pm EST
Contact us by email. We want you to feel clear, confident, and supported as you move through the process. Email: creativeunrestricted@lmcc.net or umae@lmcc.net anytime and we’ll respond as quickly as possible in order of receipt.
Submission Deadline
Applications must be received by November 12, 2026 at 6 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applications are open for the 2027 Manhattan Arts Grant cycle!
About Creative Unrestricted
Creative Unrestricted is a Manhattan Arts Grants program that provides unrestricted funding to Manhattan-based individual artists, artist collectives, and small- to mid-sized arts organizations with annual operating budgets under $250,000. The program is designed to strengthen long-term sustainability for artists and cultural organizations that play vital roles in local creative ecosystems.
The program welcomes applications from organizations and artists working within the performing arts field, including all cultural traditions and creative practices in dance, music, theater, and multidisciplinary performance. Funding is intended for artists and small arts organizations with sustained bodies of work who often fall between early stage project grants and the relatively small number of large scale institutional funding opportunities available in the field. Funds may be applied towards building organizational capacity, administrative infrastructure, or the broader conditions required to develop high-quality artistic work.
Creative Unrestricted funding is provided in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation and an anonymous foundation.
Thinking of applying?
View and download Program Guidelines:
Preview a copy of the application questions to see what information you’ll need to prepare here.
Attend a Virtual Information Session presented in English and ASL. This session is for those who want to get a deeper understanding of how to create an application. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. Transcripts will be available in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- RSVP Here: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 6-7pm EST
Ready to work on your application?
Utilize our suite of virtual and in-person applicant support offerings to help you build the strongest application possible!
Join us at an Applicant Lab in-person to get your questions answered, technical assistance, and help with creating any part of your application. These are informal drop-in sessions to connect with our team and work alongside fellow applicants.
- RSVP Here: ChaShaMa, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Abrons Arts Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: A.R.T./New York, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Belongó | Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5-8pm EST
Attend our Virtual Office Hours to receive live guidance from LMCC staff before the deadline. This is for applicants who are actively working on their materials.
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, October 27th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 29th, 2-4pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, November 5th, 4-6pm EST
- RSVP Here: Monday, November 9th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, November 10th, 2-4pm EST
Contact us by email. We want you to feel clear, confident, and supported as you move through the process. Email: creativeunrestricted@lmcc.net anytime and we’ll respond as quickly as possible in order of receipt.
FAQs are also available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish here.
Submission Deadline
Applications must be received by November 12, 2026 at 6 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applications are open for the 2027 Manhattan Arts Grant cycle!
About Creative Learning
Creative Learning is a Manhattan Arts Grants program that provides funding to artists and non-profit organizations for the creation and delivery of sequential participatory arts learning projects and programming for older adults in Manhattan between January and December 2027.
Creative Learning funds programs of all artistic disciplines that draw on arts education practices to engage older adults in arts learning and the hands-on creation of artistic works. Programs should take place in accessible community-based settings such as older adult centers, recreation centers, public libraries, and community centers in Manhattan neighborhoods from Inwood to the Battery.
Creative Learning prioritizes programs that emphasize the quality and depth of the artistic learning experience. Competitive proposals will demonstrate a clear skill-building curriculum, thoughtful project and lesson planning, and meaningful opportunities for participants to develop artistic knowledge, experiment creatively, and engage deeply with the arts.
LMCC encourages programs that serve older adult communities that may have limited access to arts programs, services, or resources due to location, race, language, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, and disability to apply. LMCC also encourages individuals and organizations whose work is rooted in the lived experience of Manhattan’s Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities to apply for funding.
Creative Learning funding is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Greater New York Arts Development Fund (DCLA), and the New York State Council on the Arts’ Statewide Community Regrants (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Funding is intended for artists and organizations that cannot apply directly to these agencies.
Thinking of applying?
View and download Program Guidelines:
Preview a copy of the application questions to see what information you’ll need to prepare here.
Attend a Virtual Information Session presented in English and ASL. This session is for those who want to get a deeper understanding of how to create an application for both Creative Learning and SU-CASA programs. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. Transcripts will be available in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 6-7pm EST
Ready to work on your application?
Utilize our suite of virtual and in-person applicant support offerings to help you build the strongest application possible!
Join us at an Applicant Lab in-person to get your questions answered, technical assistance, and help with creating any part of your application. These are informal drop-in sessions to connect with our team and work alongside fellow applicants.
- RSVP Here: ChaShaMa, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Abrons Arts Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: A.R.T./New York, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Belongó | Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5-8pm EST
Attend our Virtual Office Hours to receive live guidance from LMCC staff before the deadline. This is for applicants who are actively working on their materials.
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, October 27th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 29th, 2-4pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, November 5th, 4-6pm EST
- RSVP Here: Monday, November 9th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, November 10th, 2-4pm EST
Contact us by email. We want you to feel clear, confident, and supported as you move through the process. Email: creativelearning@lmcc.net anytime and we’ll respond as quickly as possible in order of receipt.
FAQs are also available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish here.
Submission Deadline
Applications must be received by November 12, 2026 at 6 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applications are open for 2027 Creative Aging Residencies!
About SU-CASA
SU-CASA is a community arts engagement program that places artists and organizations for collaborative residencies at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. Individual artists may apply to SU-CASA for placements at participating senior centers through their local arts council; organizations must apply for a SU-CASA designation directly through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The program is designed to positively impact the well-being of older adults through arts-based, process-oriented activities, culminating in a public program component open to the center’s surrounding community that showcases the participants’ progress and creative expression.
LMCC anticipates administering 30 residencies for individual artists on behalf of the borough of Manhattan.
Thinking of applying?
View and download Program Guidelines:
Preview a copy of the application questions to see what information you’ll need to prepare here.
Attend a Virtual Information Session presented in English and ASL. This session is for those who want to get a deeper understanding of how to create an application for both SU-CASA and Creative Learning programs. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. Transcripts will be available in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 6-7pm EST
Ready to work on your application?
Utilize our suite of virtual and in-person applicant support offerings to help you build the strongest application possible!
Join us at an Applicant Lab in-person to get your questions answered, technical assistance, and help with creating any part of your application. These are informal drop-in sessions to connect with our team and work alongside fellow applicants.
- RSVP Here: ChaShaMa, Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Abrons Arts Center, Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: A.R.T./New York, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5-8pm EST
- RSVP Here: Belongó | Afro Latin Jazz Alliance of NY, Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 5-8pm EST
Attend our Virtual Office Hours to receive live guidance from LMCC staff before the deadline. This is for applicants who are actively working on their materials.
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, October 27th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, October 29th, 2-4pm EST
- RSVP Here: Thursday, November 5th, 4-6pm EST
- RSVP Here: Monday, November 9th, 12-2pm EST
- RSVP Here: Tuesday, November 10th, 2-4pm EST
Contact us by email. We want you to feel clear, confident, and supported as you move through the process. Email: su_casa@lmcc.net anytime and we’ll respond as quickly as possible in order of receipt.
FAQs are also available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish here.
Submission Deadline
Applications must be received by November 12, 2026 at 6 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted.