New York City has announced the programs in its new NYC Artists Corp program, which will distribute $25 million to local artists in all disciplines. The city has announced the first slate of opportunities in City Artists Corp, and it includes one-time $5,000 grants to more than 3,000 artists who have been impacted by COVID-19.
“Art and artists make New York City the cultural capital of the world, and the artistic community has an essential role in building a recovery for all of us,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio last month when the program was announced. “The City Artist Corps will tap into our greatest resource—New Yorkers’ boundless creativity—to create jobs and make our city more beautiful and vibrant than ever.”
The first opportunity available from City Artists Corp are the City Artist Corps Grants, which will be distributed by New York Foundation for the Arts. The grants will distribute $5,000 each to 3,000 artists working in any discipline. The grant money needs to go towards creating a work of art, and it must contain a live and in person component. The works of art can include a live theatrical performance or a live screening of an original film. Applicants must reside in one of NYC’s five boroughs.
The applications for the City Artist Corp Grants will be accepted on a rolling basis. The first wave of applications will open on June 8, and will close on June 22. Artists can apply here.
The City Artists Corp is also overseen by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. The other opportunities that have been announced include commissioning 60 visual artists to create public murals, and hiring 400 artists to create arts education programming for NYC youths. Additional City Artists Corp initiatives will be announced in the coming months.