Arts, Council on the
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: http://www.arts.ny.gov/
Mission
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) primary mission is preserving the State's cultural resources and expanding access to the performing and fine arts. NYSCA strives to achieve its mission largely through its core grant-making activity, through which the Agency awards grants to approximately 3,000 artists and arts organizations each year.
Organization and Staffing
NYSCA is headed by a Chair and a Vice Chair and consists of 21 members nominated to five-year terms by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Council’s staff, located in New York City, have expertise in the major artistic disciplines (including dance, theater, and music) and provide advisory services and financial assistance to New York’s arts community.
Major Programs
Over 90 percent of NYSCA's total funding supports grants to not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations. The remainder is used for the administration of the agency's grant program and the statewide promotion and development of artistic and cultural programs. NYSCA funding supports over 3,000 artists and arts organizations across all ten regions of the State. Grants are largely used to subsidize the operating costs of not-for-profit arts organizations, including but not limited to symphony orchestras, museums, dance companies, and theatres. Arts grants generally range from $10,000 to $49,500 based on the size of the organization and the scope of the project.
In FY 2026, NYSCA will award nearly $103 million in competitive grants to not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations, including both operating grants and capital grants to support arts and cultural institutions across the State that are undertaking small to mid-size capital improvement projects.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends over $111 million in total funding for NYSCA, a decrease from the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, primarily due to the discontinuation of one-time investments.
The Executive Budget funding level includes $7.9 million for agency operations, $62.5 million for NYSCA's core competitive grant-making activity, and $40 million to support capital grants ranging from $10,000 to $10 million. The $40 million for arts capital projects is appropriated in the Arts and Cultural Facilities Improvement Program (ACFIP) Agency. The Executive Budget also includes 41 FTEs for NYSCA, an increase of 8 FTEs compared to the Agency's current level. These additional FTEs will support the Agency’s grantmaking process, as well as work related to recently passed legislation to designate East Harlem as an arts and cultural district.
The Executive Budget also includes $1 million in operating support for the Egg, a one-time increase of $500,000 from FY 2025 Enacted levels. Combined with the $100,000 set-aside in NYSCA's base grantmaking appropriation, the Egg will receive $1.1 million in total State funding in FY 2026.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
| Category | Available FY 2025 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
Change From FY 2025 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 5,955,000 | 7,983,000 | 2,028,000 | 2,850,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 89,044,000 | 63,544,000 | (25,500,000) | 90,196,000 |
| Capital Projects | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,741,000 |
| Total | 94,999,000 | 71,527,000 | (23,472,000) | 102,787,000 |
| Program | FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 29 | 37 | 8 |
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 33 | 41 | 8 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 5,555,000 | 7,583,000 | 2,028,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 400,000 | 400,000 | 0 |
| Total | 5,955,000 | 7,983,000 | 2,028,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 5,555,000 | 7,583,000 | 2,028,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 400,000 | 400,000 | 0 |
| Total | 5,955,000 | 7,983,000 | 2,028,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 4,029,000 | 778,000 | 4,028,000 | 778,000 |
| Total | 4,029,000 | 778,000 | 4,028,000 | 778,000 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 0 | 0 | 1,000 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 3,554,000 | 1,250,000 | 53,000 | 0 |
| Total | 3,554,000 | 1,250,000 | 53,000 | 0 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 189,000 | 0 | 3,258,000 | 1,250,000 |
| Total | 189,000 | 0 | 3,258,000 | 1,250,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 54,000 | 0 |
| Total | 54,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Nonpersonal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 400,000 | 0 | 400,000 | 0 |
| Total | 400,000 | 0 | 400,000 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 87,135,000 | 61,635,000 | (25,500,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 1,413,000 | 1,413,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 496,000 | 496,000 | 0 |
| Total | 89,044,000 | 63,544,000 | (25,500,000) |
| Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council on the Arts Program | |||
| General Fund | 86,635,000 | 60,635,000 | (26,000,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 1,413,000 | 1,413,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 496,000 | 496,000 | 0 |
| Empire State Performing Arts Center Corporation | |||
| General Fund | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | 500,000 |
| Total | 89,044,000 | 63,544,000 | (25,500,000) |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Arts and Cultural Councils Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,741,000 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,741,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025