state of the arts fellowship
Know before you apply
- Socially engaged artists based in New York State
- Artists interested in working within government systems
- Solo artists at any career stage
- Must reside in New York State
- Cannot be enrolled in academic program
- $60,000 award includes all project expenses
In 2026 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) launched the first "State of the Arts" Fellowship Program, embedding an Artist Fellow within three participating New York State agencies. The State of the Arts inaugural program placements are Eto Otitigbe at the Office of General Services (OGS), Cara Hanley at the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and sTo Len at the Office of Victim Services (OVS). More information on each artist can be found below.
The State of the Arts Fellows work with their respective agencies to bring positive focus to the State’s priorities and resources. The program is a fruitful collaboration between Artist Fellows and agencies, bringing creative vision to New York State’s breadth of programs and resources. As a cornerstone of the Governor’s arts policy, the initiative meaningfully impacts the agencies employees and the people it serves.
Program Overview:
NYSCA will place one (1) artist fellow at each of four (4) host agencies to address important solve-for questions at the core each agency’s public service mission:
NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION: interpret and share the ingenuity and innovation of Canal Craft to honor and uplift the generations of canal workers and canal towns to shape the future of the Canal system. (Sites throughout New York State; Staff offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany)
NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (DHR): give meaningful expression to important dialogues around rights, identity, and belonging while also connecting these big ideas to the everyday lives of New Yorkers (New York City/Bronx)
NEW YORK STATE HOMES & COMMUNITY RENEWAL (NYSHCR) — STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY (SONYMA): help bridge gaps in awareness and perception around homeownership and connect SONYMA’s opportunities with the diverse populations and communities it serves across New York State. (sites throughout New York State; main offices in Albany and Manhattan)
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (OPWDD): collect, share, and interpret the collective memory, lived experience, and archival materials of the Willowbrook State School’s former residents and their family members, other stakeholders in the disability rights community, and the public in ways that will engage and resonate with neighbors, students, and visitors of the present and future. Timed with the construction and opening of the new Willowbrook Center for Learning. (Albany and Staten Island)