Resources

• Alliance for the Arts
  The Alliance for the Arts serves the entire cultural community through research and advocacy and serves the public through cultural guides and calendars.
• American Association of Museums
  The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community.
• Americans for the Arts
  Our mission is to serve, advance, and lead the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
• The ALLIANCE for Media Arts and Culture
  The ALLIANCE for Media Arts + Culture is committed to facilitating innovation, collaboration, strategic growth and cultural impact for the media arts field in the US and around the world.
• NYC Artists Coalition
  A coalition of artists, creative organizations, community leaders, activists, policy makers, and specialists providing mutual support and advocating for informal and affordable community spaces in NYC.
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit
• National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture

• Actors Fund
  A human services organization for performing artists that provides health care access information, and programs and services for those in need, crisis or transition.
• Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
  A service and advocacy organization for the Off Broadway, non-profit theater community.
• Arts & Business Council of New York
  Builds partnerships between arts organizations and businesses in the New York City community.
• Bronx Council on the Arts
  Serves Bronx artists and arts organizations by providing financial support, re-grant funding, information services, technical assistance, professional development, and community programming.
• Brooklyn Arts Council
  Offers service and support to Brooklyn artists and arts organizations, including re-grant funding.
• College Art Association
  A service and advocacy organization for visual art professionals, students, administrators, and professors. Promotes dialogue among the visual arts community and provides access to professional development resources, fellowships, travel grants, publications, and legal and financial services.
• Staten Island Arts
  Develops, fosters, and promotes arts, cultural, and humanities activities on Staten Island, and provides re-grant funding within the borough.
• Dance/NYC
  Provides resources, professional development, and one-on-one consulting to the NYC dance community.
• Fractured Atlas
  Provides artists with access to funding, healthcare, and education.
• Harlem Arts Alliance
  Nurtures artistic growth and organizational development of artists and arts organization in Harlem and surrounding communities.
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
  Leading arts presenter, advocate, and service provider to artists and arts groups throughout Lower Manhattan. Also provides services and re-grant programs through neighborhood-based organizations across Manhattan.
• New York Foundation for the Arts
  Supports the development of individual artists through services that include fiscal sponsorship and artists' fellowships.
• Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
  Supports artists and arts organizations in Washington Heights and Inwood, and serves as a catalyst in the cultural and economic development of Northern Manhattan.
• NYC Artists Coalition
  A coalition of artists, creative organizations, community leaders, activists, policy makers, and specialists providing mutual support and advocating for informal and affordable community spaces in NYC.
• Queens Arts Fund
  Queens Arts Fund (QAF) is administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts. The fund offers project-based grants to Queens-based artists, artist collectives, and small non-profit organizations to support the local production of artwork and cultural programs that highlight, engage, and bolster the diverse communities of the Queens borough.
• The Field
  Supports independent performing artists through programs focusing on the creation of new work, services include professional development workshops, fiscal sponsorship, and rehearsal space.
• Spaceworks
  Spaceworks is a not-for-profit cultural community development organization dedicated to expanding the supply of long-term, affordable rehearsal and studio space for artists in New York City.

• Brooklyn Arts Council
  Offers service and support to Brooklyn artists and arts organizations, including re-grant funding.
• Bronx Council on the Arts
  Serves Bronx artists and arts organizations by providing financial support, re-grant funding, information services, technical assistance, professional development, and community programming.
• Fractured Atlas
  Provides artists with access to funding, healthcare, and education.
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
  Leading arts presenter, advocate, and service provider to artists and arts groups throughout Lower Manhattan. Also provides services and re-grant programs through neighborhood-based organizations across Manhattan.
• New York Foundation for the Arts
  Each year, NYFA provides millions of dollars in cash grants to individuals pursuing artistic excellence in all forms.
• Queens Arts Fund
  A re-grant program for artists and arts organizations within Queens, currently administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
• Staten Island Arts
  Develops, fosters, and promotes arts, cultural, and humanities activities on Staten Island, and provides re-grant funding within the borough.

• Actor's Fund Housing
  The Actor's Fund offers resources for navigating housing in NYC and offers access to affordable housing in NYC, NJ, and CA
• Artist Certification under Soho Zoning Resolution
  Under applicable state legislation and the City's Zoning Resolution, certification as a working artist is necessary in order for an individual to qualify for joint living-working space in the M1-MA and M1-MB zoning districts (SoHo NoHo). This permits fine artists working on a professional level who demonstrate a need for a live/work loft to reside in specific lofts zoned for manufacturing. Pursuant to the City's Zoning Resolution, the Department of Cultural Affairs has been designated as the certifying agency.
• The Loft Law
  In 1982, the New York State Legislature enacted the New York City Loft Law and established the New York City Loft Board to regulate the legal conversion of certain lofts in the city from commercial/manufacturing use to residential use. The Loft Law also established the Loft Board with the mission of coordinating the legal conversion of these spaces to safe residential use.

• Under applicable state legislation and the City's Zoning Resolution, certification as a working artist is necessary in order for an individual to qualify for joint living-working space in the M1-MA and M1-MB zoning districts (SoHo NoHo). This permits fine artists working on a professional level who demonstrate a need for a live/work loft to reside in specific lofts zoned for manufacturing. Pursuant to the City's Zoning Resolution, the Department of Cultural Affairs has been designated as the certifying agency.
  
  

  Get the application and additional information about the program (in PDF).

• ArtBuilt
  Provides affordable space opportunities, public arts programming and asset-building resources for artists, artisans and neighborhoods in NYC and beyond.
• Chashama
  Supports artists by partnering with property owners to transform unused real estate into spaces for artists to create, present, and connect.
• Gibney
  Offers affordable dance studio rentals in Manhattan for rehearsals, performances, and events.
• LMCC
  Provides free studio spaces located in Lower Manhattan and in the Arts Center at Governors Island through its artist residency programs.
• SpaceFinder
  NYC Provides a listing of creative workspaces throughout the city based on location, price, amenities, and up-to-date availability.
• Spaceworks
  Operates affordable rehearsal and studio spaces for artists in Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.

• DCLA Cultural Capital Funding
  DCLA, through its Capital Projects Unit, supports design and construction projects and major equipment purchases at the 33 City-owned cultural institutions and approximately 200 other cultural facilities throughout the five boroughs.
• DCLA Cultural Development Fund (CDF)
  The Program Services Unit of the Department of Cultural Affairs is charged with the administration of the Cultural Development Fund, an annual grant-making process for New York City’s nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.
• The Fund for the City of New York
  The Fund has developed and helped to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices and technology in order to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond.
• New York City Industrial Development Agency
  Issues tax-exempt bonds to nonprofit organizations that are planning major capital projects.
• The Trust for Cultural Resources
  The Trust for Cultural Resources of the City of New York is authorized to issue triple tax-exempt debt for the benefit of certain cultural institutions.
• Seedco Financial ArtBusiness
  Financial and technical assistance for small arts businesses and small-to-midsized arts nonprofit organizations. Offers financing for working capital, facilities expansion, and connects nonprofit organizations to a network of technical assistance providers.

• Cultural Services for Seniors
  The NYC ARTS Cultural Guides for Seniors provide details on cultural programs for senior citizens across the five boroughs; ticket and membership discounts at arts organizations; and assistance available for visitors with disabilities.
• Elder Artists' Legal Resource
  The Elder Artists' Legal Resource website offers information for visual artists who want to understand the estate-planning process, gain access to valuable resources, or prepare to engage legal services.
• Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs
  The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) promotes the well-being of immigrant communities. In the de Blasio administration, we have prioritized three broad goals: enhance the economic, civic, and social integration of immigrant New Yorkers; facilitate access to justice for immigrant New Yorkers; and advocate for continued immigration reforms at all levels of government in order to eliminate inequities that impact New York's immigrant communities.
• NYC Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual, and Questioning Runaway and Homeless Youth
  The NYC Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual, and Questioning Runaway and Homeless Youth develops strategies to address the unique needs of LGBTQ youth before they run away, to provide homeless youth with shelter and support, or to help reunite them with their families when appropriate. Strategies include cultural opportunities targeted to LGBTQ youth.
• NYC Administration for Children's Services: LGBTQ Support
  ACS is committed to creating a safe and affirming environment where all young people can thrive, no matter their sexual orientation or gender-identity and expression. The ACS Office of LGBTQ Policy & Practice raises awareness and helps make sure that all of our services are affirming of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth and families
• Theater of War
  Theater of War Productions will bring theater projects and community conversations that address critical public health and social issues to all five boroughs.The project will combine theater and public forums that engage both veterans and civilians in community-specific performances that foster health and healing through open discussion and exchange.

• Cultural Services for Seniors
  The NYC ARTS Cultural Guides for Seniors provide details on cultural programs for senior citizens across the five boroughs; ticket and membership discounts at arts organizations; and assistance available for visitors with disabilities.
• LGBTQ Youth
  The NYC Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Transsexual, Bisexual, and Questioning Runaway and Homeless Youth develops strategies to address the unique needs of LGBTQ youth before they run away, to provide homeless youth with shelter and support, or to help reunite them with their families when appropriate. Strategies include cultural opportunities targeted to LGBTQ youth.
• NYC Administration for Children's Services: Community Resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth.
  The NYC Administration for Children's Services publishes a guide to community resources available to LGBTQ youth in New York City.
• Elder Artists' Legal Resource
  The Elder Artists' Legal Resource website offers information for visual artists who want to understand the estate-planning process, gain access to valuable resources, or prepare to engage legal services.

• Alliance for Nonprofit Management
  Membership organization that delivers management and governance support services to nonprofit organizations.
• Arts Manager
  Resource of solutions to management challenges faced by nonprofit arts organizations. Hosted by The Kennedy Center Institute for Arts Management.
• Board Source
  A comprehensive resource that provides classes, publications, and tools to help nonprofit organizations build effective boards.
• Engage NYC: Digital Media for Nonprofits Toolkit
  In 2013 the Department of Cultural Affairs joined NYC Digital, NYC Service, and Greater New York to host the Engage NYC: Digital Media for Nonprofits conference. All of the videos, presentations, and other materials are now available online.
• Essensa, Group Purchasing for Non-Profits
  Since New York City is home to a vibrant and expansive nonprofit sector, the City has created a membership opportunity in Essensa, a group purchasing organization. Membership is free for all NYC nonprofits and provides access to discounts on a wide range of goods and services.
• Foundation Center's New Focus on Funding for the Arts website
  A "one-stop shop" of free, easily accessible information including charts that show the geographic locations and giving interests of grantmakers supporting the arts, RFP listings, arts-related reference guides and resource lists.
• Lawyers Alliance for New York
• Mayor's Office of Contract Services
  Capacity Building and Oversight Initiative provides classes on internal controls, governance, and accounting for nonprofits.
• New York City Business Solution Centers
  New York City Department of Small Business Services staff on hand to help identify permits and licenses required to open a small business in New York City, especially useful for artist entrepreneurs. One-on-one and small group technical assistance provided for marketing, accounting, and legal issues.
• Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York
  Information source for the New York nonprofit community, offers management services, courses, and other technical assistance.
• Subcontractor Resource Guide
  Get information on programs, certification, and access to capital from the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
• Temporary Public Art Resource Guide
  A guide to local agencies and organizations that provide permits for or facilitate temporary public art installations in locations around New York City.
• Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
  Provider of pro bono legal services, mediation services, educational programs and publications, and advocacy acts on issues vital to the arts community.

Resources to assist cultural organizations in preparing for emergencies:

Resources for Arts Organizations and Artists Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

DCLA encourages organizations to reach out to their local NYPD precinct, FDNY station, CERT teams, area businesses, residents and schools, and peer cultural organizations to coordinate emergency preparedness efforts.

To report suspicious activity, call 1-888-NYC-SAFE (692-7233), 718-615-7506 or 311. In case of an emergency, call 911.

Alliance for Response New York (AFR NY)
AFR NY includes emergency planning and recovery resources specifically for organizations with physical collections. It provides information specific to protecting and salvaging artifacts, photographs, and other cultural records, as well as historic properties and family treasures. Alliance for Response's website also provides information about immediate recovery best practices and safety measures.
Find out more information.

CultureAID
CultureAID ("Active in Disasters") is a collaborative network of stakeholders and service providers committed to strengthening New York City's cultural community - including artists and organizations - before, during, and after disasters through an organized communications system, as well as coordinated activities and services to the field.
Learn more and join the network.

Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS)
CEAS is the City's program to ensure access for critical employees to restricted areas following a serious emergency.

New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
OEM plans and prepares for emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates critical information.

NYC Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
New York City Community Emergency Response Teams (NYC CERT) are groups of dedicated volunteers who help to prepare their neighbors and communities for different types of disasters.

Ready New York
Ready New York is OEM's education campaign to prepare New York City residents and businesses for emergencies.

Cultural Affairs Open Data Portal

NYC Open Data is an online portal that makes the wealth of public data generated by various New York City agencies and other City organizations available for public use. As part of an initiative to improve the accessibility, transparency, and accountability of City government, NYC Open Data offers access to a repository of government-produced, machine-readable data sets.

Access historical data on DCLA program funding on NYC Open Data.

Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program
New York City's Percent for Art law has required that one percent of the budget for eligible City-funded construction projects be spent on public artwork. Managed by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Percent for Art program has commissioned hundreds of site-specific projects in variety of media by artists whose sensibilities reflect the diversity of New York City.

Governors Island
The Island created for and by New Yorkers, Governors Island is New York City’s shared space for art and play. Individuals or organizations planning an event that requires reserved space or has production needs not covered by the Island’s existing public amenities must apply for a permit. The Trust for Governors Island offers several types of permits. Please select a permit category below for more specific information.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
As part of their Training, Networking, Talks: Arts Advancement Series, LMCC produced the guide MAKING TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART & PERFORMANCE: What Artists Need to Know.

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation: Temporary Public Outdoor Art Guidelines:
For proposals in City parkland throughout the five boroughs.

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation: Proposal Guidelines for the Parks Arsenal Gallery:
For proposals in City parkland throughout the five boroughs.

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation; Events application page for permitting related to performances, concerts and very short-term art projects:
For proposals in City parkland throughout the five boroughs.

NYC Department of Transportation
DOT Art partners with community-based organizations and artists to present temporary public art in public plazas, fences, barriers, bridges, step streets, and sidewalks across the city.

NYC Street Activity Permit Office
Information on the permitting process for street fairs, festivals, block parties, farmers’ markets, commercial/promotional and other events on the City's streets and sidewalks.

NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
Guide for proposals that call for introducing elements or making modifications to a landmark site that will exist for a temporary period of time. Installations include signs, artwork, banners, kiosks and temporary modifications related to approved work.

Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
Guidelines for permits to support film and television productions of all shapes and sizes

The Metropolitan Transit Authority
MTA Arts & Design administers visual arts, performing arts and design programs throughout the MTA network, and welcomes professional artists who are interested in being considered for several program opportunities.

More Art
More Art is always looking for new artists to take part in the Art Creates Community Education program. Projects must be designed so as to directly involve students in the decision-making of the creative process.

• CreateNYC: A Cultural Plan for All New Yorkers
  CreateNYC will incorporate intensive public input and an in-depth evaluation of the city’s cultural assets in a comprehensive cultural plan. CreateNYC is an exciting opportunity to create a long term roadmap for promoting greater equity, access, diversity and vibrancy, and expanding opportunities for ALL New Yorkers to access and participate in the city’s rich cultural life.
• Interagency MOUs
  Local Law 40 of 2011 requires agencies to post certain memoranda of understanding and similar agreements (“MOUs”) entered into among governmental agencies. DCLA has not identified any covered MOUs or similar agreements to date. Please check back for future updates.
• Department of Cultural Affairs Report on Diversity & Equity
  The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) prepared this overview of data collected by research firm Ithaka S+R on the staff and board makeup of nonprofit cultural organizations that received funding from the DCLA between FY13-FY15. We embarked on this effort as part of the de Blasio administration’s commitment to fostering a fairer and more equitable city, and we believe in the value of a cultural sector that reflects the communities it serves.
• The Social Well-being of New York City's Neighborhoods: The Contribution of Culture and the Arts
  This report presents the conceptual framework, data and methodology, and findings of a two-year study of culture and social well-being in New York City by SIAP with Reinvestment Fund. The team gathered data from City agencies, borough arts councils, and cultural practitioners to develop a 10-dimension social well-being framework for every neighborhood in the five boroughs between 2014 and 2016.

CUNY Cultural Corps
Modeled after the CUNY Service Corps, which provides hundreds of CUNY students with paid work experience in civic-oriented jobs in community-based organizations and government agencies, the Cultural Corps is a student pipeline for successful alumni into New York City’s arts and culture institutions.

• Cultural Benefits of IDNYC Municipal ID Program
  IDNYC is the new, free identification card for all New York City residents. IDNYC cardholders are now eligible for free one-year memberships at over 35 participating institutions in 2017.
• NYC GO
  Find out what to do, where to go, where to stay and what to eat in NYC from the experts who know it best.
• Venues with Free Hours and Suggested Admission
  The City of New York is home to more than 700 galleries, 380 nonprofit theater companies, 330 dance companies, 131 museums, 96 orchestras, 40 Broadway theaters, 15 major concert halls, five zoos, five botanical gardens, and an aquarium Many offer free, reducued, or pay-what-you wish admission.

A program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, with support from the Departments of Sanitation and Education. They collect a wide variety of reusable materials from businesses and individuals and make them available for free to nonprofits and civic organizations with arts programming and public schools.

Learn more

City agencies can award contracts of up to $1,500,000 for goods, professional services, standard services, and construction directly to City-certified M/WBEs without formal competition using the M/WBE Noncompetitive Small Purchase Method. This streamlined process makes it easier for the City to do business with M/WBEs. Don't miss out! Be ready to receive and respond to these opportunities directed specifically to our City-certified M/WBE businesses by creating an account in PASSPort today. Read the simple two-step account creation instructions.

DCLA seeks qualified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) vendors for the following categories:

Goods:

Audiovisual
Information Technology
Sound
Theatrical Lighting
Theatrical Seating and Staging

Standard Services:

Catering
Installation for Audiovisual and Information Technology

Professional Services:

Technical assistance, training, and capacity building for non-profits

To express interest in working with DCLA in providing these goods and/or services in the future, please email proposals@culture.nyc.gov

Learn more about the City of New York’s M/WBE Program.

The Subcontractor Resource Guide provides information on programs, certification, and access to capital from the NYC Department of Small Business Services.