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Only One Rockland County Cultural Organization Received Funding In The Latest Round Of State Grants For Capital Projects
The New York State Council on the Arts’ Capital Projects Fund announced $86 million in awards to 134 organizations to support arts infrastructure throughout the state. The awards are intended to boost local economies, expand access to the arts, and support job creation.
The funding, provided to non-profit arts and cultural organizations, supports building renovations, accessibility improvements and the construction of new spaces for creative and cultural work.
“Our arts and culture sector is a powerhouse, inspiring the world with innovation and creativity,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By investing in our museums, our theaters and our arts centers, we enrich our communities, strengthen local economies and improve tourism all over the State.”
Of the 134 organizations receiving grants, 21 are located in the Mid-Hudson Region. Of those 21 awards totaling $4.562 million, Rockland County secured only one award for Garnerville Arts Project, Inc. for $87,000 for window replacements in one of its gallery spaces. Robin E. Rosenberg, is President & CEO, GARNER Historic District, and is also a Regional Council Member of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Council.
Dutchess County netted $2.294 million for five projects. Westchester received $1.24 million for six projects; Ulster, $425,000 for five projects; Sullivan $417,000 for three projects; and Orange $99,000 for one project.
Below is a full, searchable, list of award recipients:
The bulk of the funding went to New York City based organizations ($37.1 million) with other regions largely netting more than the Mid-Hudson. The Finger Lakes ($13.8 million), Long Island ($6.38 million), Mohawk ($6,26 million), Southern ($5.86 million) and Western ($6.56 million) regional awards all surpassed the Mid-Hudson.
Every year, non-profits and cultural arts organizations in the Mid-Hudson Region vie for millions in grants and awards from various New York State agencies.
It remains unclear as to why Rockland County gets such a small slice of the pie, compared to other contenders (Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan) in the Mid-Hudson Region given that the county has the third largest economy and the third largest population, according to recent government data.
Rockland has not fared well in other areas. RCBJ recently reported that Rockland County received the smallest share of state grants and awards compared to other counties in the Mid-Hudson Region for the past three years running from a variety of state sources.
According to the state, NYSCA’s Capital Projects for Arts and Culture are strategic investments that empower organizations to better serve and engage their communities. They enable arts and cultural venues to become more physically accessible and sustainable, enhancing organizations’ abilities to connect with their audiences and become essential destinations for residents and visitors alike. Strong projects combine excellence in design with informed decisions that will serve and strengthen New York’s arts and cultural sector, stimulate local economies, catalyze investment in our communities, and help to ensure the vibrancy of our cultural organizations.
The first round of 2026 Council on the Arts Grants Now Available Here; Applications Opened May 22 and are due by June 26. The state has allocated $81.5 million for nonprofit arts and culture organizations and individual artists. Included in this current grant opportunity is critically needed general operating support for organizations, which provides funding for day-to-day activities, as well as support for artists, affordable rehearsal space, folk arts apprenticeships and performing arts residencies.
Guidelines for the following opportunities are available to download on the NYSCA website:
- Support for Organizations: Provides flexible operating and programmatic funding for qualified arts and culture organizations. Awards range from $10,000 to $49,500.
- Support for Artists: Funds creative commissions to individual artists across the state. The commission areas include Choreography, Composer, Film, Media, and New Technology, Folk and Traditional Arts, Interdisciplinary, Literature, Theater Commissions, and Visual arts. Award amount is $10,000.
- Support for Targeted Opportunities:
- Rehearsal and Studio Space for the Performing Arts: This funding is intended to support creative rehearsal time and organizations that provide viable and affordable space for non-profit arts groups and artists. Awards range from $15,000 to $35,000.
- Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships: This funding provides individuals experienced in folk art with opportunities to study with master folk artists from their own community. Award amount is $10,000.
- Performing Arts Residencies. This opportunity supports a minimum 3-consecutive-week residency by New York-based performing arts groups in a targeted area in New York State outside of the applicant’s home county and outside New York City. Awards range from $15,000 to $35,000.
- Support for Regrants and Services: Supports funding to State Community Regrant sites — a network of regional arts and culture organizations located across the state — that leverage their local expertise to extend the impact of NYSCA’s grantmaking to artists and nonprofits as well as funding to organizations for services to the field. This opportunity is by invite only.
