Karen Helmerson, Senior Program Officer (212) 741-3003
Fabiana Chiu-Rinaldi, Program Officer (212) 741-7847

Electronic Media and Film is dedicated to furthering artistic growth and public engagement in the media arts. Electronic Media and Film supports a variety of activities that enable diverse constituents in the development, exhibition and appreciation of film, electronic media and sound as an art form.

To ensure diversity within the media arts, Electronic Media and Film welcomes and supports a range of non-profit organizations including youth media, technology centers, independent cinemas, museums, galleries and broadcasters as well as Internet-based dissemination. NYSCA has a long-standing commitment to creative exploration and exhibition in all aspects of the media arts, including film and media appreciation, professional development, technology and new modes of exhibition, distribution, and interdisciplinary work.

Applicants are welcome and encouraged to contact staff before the registration deadline.

Priorities of Electronic Media and Film

Funding priorities strive to ensure support for exhibition and public access to artists' work in old and new technologies of high artistic quality and high aesthetic standards as a moving image and sound art form. In addition, the following priorities apply:

Appropriate compensation and recognition of the creative work of artists and arts professionals.

Use of best practices in presentation standards for film and electronic media.

Strong curatorial vision and rigorous selection process for exhibition of existing and new work.

Evidence of film and electronic media as an art form in workshop curriculum and production standards.

Please note, Electronic Media and Film does not accept applications from individual artists. Support for production funding for independent film and media artists is available through Individual Artist support. All applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NYSCA staff well in advance of the registration deadline.

Interdisciplinary Projects

Support for interdisciplinary media art work seeks to enable the creative potential of digital technology. Interdisciplinary work will be considered for support when there is strong evidence of technology as an art form and as a distinct component. The core tools and process must be electronic as an aesthetic, formal and conceptual element of the work. Projects will not be considered for support when the use of technology is in the service of another discipline or objective.

Evaluative Criteria

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

Artistic Evaluation

NYSCA must be able to evaluate an applicant's artistic quality on an ongoing basis. It is the responsibility of all current and prospective applicants to inform staff of screenings or workshops well in advance of the event date. This is required so that staff, advisory panelists, or auditors may attend and evaluate the events. Email notification is welcome at emf@nysca.org.

NYSCA believes in honoring aesthetic and artistic excellence that reflects creative diversity without cultural boundaries and an evaluation process that embraces the widest spectrum of cultural expression offered to the public, in a broad array of settings and contexts -- from classrooms and community centers, to parks and open spaces, to more traditional venues. NYSCA celebrates artistic pluralism and welcomes requests from organizations serving all of the communities that make up New York State. These include the physically challenged, immigrants and other communities with special needs.