NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is an $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located therein.
This grant is awarded in fifteen different disciplines over a three-year period (five categories a year) and the application is free to complete. The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is not a project grant, but is intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, at all levels of their artistic development.
Click here to view the full list of 2024 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows, Finalists, and Panelists.
GRANT TIMELINE:
Applications Open: Tuesday, October 8, 10:00 AM ET
Applications Close: Tuesday, December 17, 5:00 PM ET*
Applicants Notified: Summer 2025
*Please note that the application form on Submittable will automatically close and stop accepting applications at this time.
APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- 25 years or older by the application deadline date
- Current residents of New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located in New York State
- Must have maintained New York State residency, and/or residency in one of the Tribal Nations located therein, for at least the last two consecutive years (2023 & 2024)
- Not enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind
- Are the originators of the work, i.e. choreographers or playwrights, not interpretive artists such as dancers or actors
- Did not receive a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in any discipline in the past five consecutive years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024
- Cannot submit any work samples that have been previously awarded a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
- While collaborating artists are eligible to apply, the total number of artists cannot exceed three individuals (this includes the submitter). Each artist applying must all meet the eligibility criteria for this award. Artists applying as a collaboration cannot apply separately as an individual.
- Applicants can apply in a maximum of 2 categories each cycle
- Are not a current NYFA employee or have been in the last 12 months, a member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, 2025 panelist, or an immediate family member of any of the above.
- Artists that have been awarded five NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships receive Emeritus status and are no longer eligible for the award
NYFA only accepts applications online via apply.nyfa.org/submit.
2025 AWARD CYCLE
The following categories will be reviewed:
- Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design
- Choreography
- Music/Sound
- Photography
- Playwriting/Screenwriting
NYFA only accepts applications online via apply.nyfa.org/submit. Please review the discipline-specific guidelines before submitting an application (linked above).
FUTURE AWARD CYCLES
2026 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Categories
Applications for the 2026 award cycle will open in Fall 2025. The following categories will be reviewed:
- Craft/Sculpture
- Digital/Electronic Arts
- Nonfiction Literature
- Poetry
- Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts
2027 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship Categories
Applications for the 2027 award cycle will open in Fall 2026. The following categories will be reviewed:
- Fiction
- Folk/Traditional Arts
- Interdisciplinary Work
- Painting
- Video/Film
INFORMATION SESSIONS
The NYFA Grants team will host a series of virtual information sessions designed to answer applicant questions and help artists build a stronger application. Each session will be held on Zoom; have a Q&A section where artists can ask NYFA Grants staff questions about the application process; and will be recorded for artists’ future viewing throughout the application period.
- Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design: Tuesday, October 15, Watch Recording Below
- Playwriting/Screenwriting: Thursday, October 17, Watch Recording Below
- Music/Sound: Thursday, October 24, Watch Recording Below
- Choreography: Tuesday, October 29, Recording Coming Soon
- Photography: Thursday, October 31, 2:00 PM ET – Register Here
Interested in applying? Watch the below pre-recorded general information session, courtesy of the NYFA Grants team.
Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design Info Session:
Playwriting/Screenwriting Info Session:
Music/Sound Info Session:
Choreography Info Session:
Photography Info Session:
PANELIST NOMINATION
Panelists are integral to the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship grant-making process. Panelists are New York-based artists, cultural workers, educators, and community leaders who carefully review NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship applications throughout multiple scoring rounds and participate in a virtual panel discussion. Panelists receive an honorarium based on the number of applications reviewed, and public recognition for their panel participation at the time of recipient announcement.
Interested in serving as a panelist? Or interested in nominating someone to be a panelist? Click the below button to learn more!
Panelist Nomination FormPanelist Nomination Opens: October 8, 10:00 AM ET
Panel Nomination Deadline: December 10, 11:59 PM ET*
*Early submissions are encouraged. If all spots are not filled by the deadline, nominations will remain open. NYFA staff will reach out to submitted nominees on a rolling basis, no later than January 2025 if they are selected for a panel.
All questions should be directed to [email protected].
FUNDING SUPPORT
NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowships are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Major funding is also provided by the New York State Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
Additional funding is provided by the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Deutsche Bank, and individual donors.
You can join NYFA’s generous benefactors in helping artists. Visit our Support pages to learn more about the impact of your gift.
Image Credit: (Detail) Sangram Majumdar (Fellow in Painting ’18), giacometti’s shadow, 2018, oil on canvas
