On February 14, Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY), announced two new funding opportunities for artists. Based in the belief that the lives of artists are paramount to the vitality of New York State’s collective social and economic wellbeing, CRNY’s programs build upon existing COVID-19 relief efforts to envision longer-term, sustainable opportunities for artists across New York State.
CRNY's Guaranteed Income for Artists program will provide no-strings cash payments to 2,400 New York artists who demonstrate financial need. Artists will receive $1,000 per month for 18 months. Recipients will be selected from a pool of eligible artists to ensure equitable distribution. Application details and eligibility requirements for the program are available here.
CRNY's Artist Employment Program will fund employment for 300 artists working in collaboration with community-based organizations or municipalities across the State. Participating artists will receive a salary of $65,000 per year plus benefits and dedicated time to focus on their artistic practice. The partnering organizations are eligible to receive funding to support artists’ employment. Application details and eligibility requirements for the program are available here.
The application deadline for both programs is March 25.
Creatives Rebuild New York, which launched in May 2021, is an initiative of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. “Today brings us one step closer to realizing a vision that was born just months into the pandemic when, through my work on the governor’s [Reimagine New York] commission, it became clear that we needed to address the deep-rooted disconnect causing artists to not be seen as workers and to be compensated as such,” says Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation. “As we continue to envision and work towards our post-pandemic reality, it’s critical that we not overlook the artist workers whose labor is an essential part of our economy and whose continued work sustains us in our most joyful and our darkest hours.”
Following the launch of the Guaranteed Income for Artists and Artist Employment programs, CRNY will conduct a range of research, and advocacy with an eye towards replicability at the local, state, and national levels.
