Organizer Information
The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) was established in 1971 to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. In partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), NYFA provides unrestricted grants and professional development to artists across New York. This fellowship is a signature program that has supported thousands of creators for over 30 years, emphasizing the importance of the artist’s individual voice and its contribution to the state's cultural landscape.
Title & Description
2026 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship
Unlike project-based grants, this is a merit-based fellowship intended to support an artist’s vision and voice rather than a specific project. It recognizes artists at all levels of development. The grant is awarded across 15 different disciplines on a three-year rotating cycle (five categories per year). This year’s cycle focuses on a mix of literary and visual arts, providing a significant financial boost to those living and working within New York State or its Tribal Nations.
Categories
For the 2026 Award Cycle, applications are accepted in the following five disciplines:
- Craft/Sculpture: Including ceramics, glass, metal, jewelry, fiber, and 3D installations.
- Digital/Electronic Arts: Work created or displayed via computers, interactive installations, and internet projects.
- Nonfiction Literature: Creative nonfiction, essays, and memoirs.
- Poetry: All forms of poetic expression.
- Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts: Traditional and experimental prints, drawings, and artist books.
Eligibility
- Location: Current residents of New York State and/or one of the Tribal Nations located within the state.
- Residency Duration: Must have maintained residency for at least the last two consecutive years (2024 & 2025).
- Age: 25 years or older by the application deadline.
- Academic Status: Not enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind.
- Fellowship History: Must not have received a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in any discipline in the last five years (2021–2025).
- Role: Must be the originator of the work (e.g., the author or artist, not an interpretive performer like an actor).
Program Benefits & Awards
- Fellows: Receive an $8,000 unrestricted cash grant.
- Finalists: Recognized with a $1,000 cash grant.
- Professional Exposure: Awardees are featured in NYFA's newsletters, press releases, and digital galleries, reaching a wide audience of curators and arts professionals.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Work Samples: Requirements vary by discipline (e.g., up to 10 digital images for visual arts or a manuscript of up to 20 pages for literature).
- Artist Statement: (Required, Max 250 words) A concise overview of your artistic practice (this is not a bio).
- Work Statement: (Required, Max 100 words) A brief explanation of the specific work samples submitted.
- Technical Statement: (Optional, Max 200 words) Explanation of any specialized techniques or software used.
- CV/Resume: A summary of professional artistic achievements.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 January 2026
- Applicant Notifications: Summer 2026
Location
New York State, United States
Additional Details
Applications are reviewed anonymously by a peer panel of artists and arts professionals. The primary evaluation criteria are Artistic Merit, Originality, and Technical Skill. Collaborative teams of up to three individuals are eligible to apply together, provided all members meet the residency and eligibility requirements.