arts grants for queens

The Artists in Queens Grant supports artists that live in Queens for the creation of new work in a community setting. These grants highlight the role of artists as important members of the community as they enhance the cultural climate in communities and neighborhoods where they live and work.

Applicants may make only one project request of $5,000. Unincorporated artist groups and collectives may also apply, with a Queens-based artist member acting as the lead applicant for their proposal.

Successful applications will show how the requested funds will:

• Strengthen community bonds
• Increase overall awareness and greater access to cultural activities in Queens
• Advance the applicant artist’s career
• Engage with the community

Community Engagement Requirement

Artists In Queens Grant projects must have ​​a community engagement component. The project must engage a segment of the community through a public program, such as an exhibition or performance that is open to the public, and/or the inclusion of community involvement in the development and creative process of the artists’ project.

While a public presentation satisfies the community engagement requirement, an application may be more competitive should it include the community as part of the development or creative process of the project. This can be in the form of feedback, response, interaction and/or social practice by or with community members.

Some examples of this type of interaction include (but are not limited to):

• Interviews with a segment of the community.
• Creation of parallel work by a community group.
• Public art making workshops.
• Artist talk or Q&A with the community.
• Telling stories and anecdotes collected from a community group that relate to the concept or content of the project.