Kathleen Masterson, Senior Program Officer
(212) 741-3993

K-12 In-School Programs

Arian Blanco, Program Officer (212) 741-6226

Community-based Learning

Kara Yeargans, Program Officer (212) 620-7074

Arts Education Steering Committee:

Robert Baron, Senior Program Officer (212) 627-4884
Leanne Tintori Wells, Senior Program Officer
(212) 741-7013
Robert Zukerman, Senior Program Officer (212) 741-7077

NYSCA is committed to helping New York State nurture the creative skills of all its citizens, especially its youth. NYSCA believes that the arts are intrinsically educational and play a vital role in teaching and learning both in school and in community settings. The Council supports programs that incorporate arts into the K-12 core curriculum and those that provide community-based learning opportunities in all the arts disciplines funded by NYSCA. NYSCA accepts applications in the following categories:

K-12 In-School Programs

In this category, NYSCA supports school-based arts education. NYSCA's goal is to ensure that the arts are integral to the learning and school experience of every New York student. Arts organizations may apply for support for planning and implementation for a wide variety of partnerships between organizations, artists, and schools. All projects should relate to one or more of the statewide Standards for Arts Education. Projects must be offered during regular school hours or as part of an extended day program. Applicants may apply in this category for projects taking place in one or more schools.

Community-based Learning

NYSCA supports ongoing arts learning activities for children, adults, and/or families, emphasizing life-long learning in settings such as community based arts organizations, social service, or educational and cultural institutions, and/or various recreational settings. Support for projects taking place in rural and underserved communities with limited access to arts programming is a priority. Activities may include workshops, formal classes, and training in the arts. Eligible projects may be undertaken by arts organizations or by other community-based organizations with established arts programs in partnership with artists and arts groups. Workshops and training programs for professional artists and programs whose primary goal is therapeutic in nature are not eligible for Community-based Learning support.

General Operating Support (GOS) and General Program Support (GPS)

NYSCA offers unrestricted support for qualifying organizations that demonstrate a consistent track record of artistic achievement, public service, and managerial competence, as well as innovation and leadership in the arts education field.

GOS is targeted to organizations whose primary activity is arts education.

GPS is available to arts and cultural organizations that are operated as independent entities within other institutions. For example, a performing arts center that is operated as a separate entity within a college or university or a multi-arts center that umbrellas a theatre company.

Organizations may request either GOS or GPS and are not eligible for additional project support in Arts Education.

Services to the Field

The Services to the Field category is designed to support innovative projects that support the development of the arts education field. Projects must be of statewide or regional scope, and must provide tangible services to multiple organizations. Eligible projects must focus on 1) building the capacity of cultural organizations and the field in general to engage in arts education and lifelong learning partnerships; or 2) improving the practice and knowledge base of the field at large. Research projects are ineligible for support.

Evaluative Criteria

Grant requests are evaluated in accordance with agency-wide criteria.