The New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) will host a workshop with the grants team from ArtsWestchester to guide local artists through the Arts Alive grant process. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4th at 5:30 pm at the NRCA Office. This marks the first time that ArtsWestchester has brought its grant workshop to New Rochelle.
ArtsWestchester serves as Westchester County’s official arts council and manages state-funded grants for artists and organizations in both Westchester and Rockland counties. For 2026, grant amounts range from $1,000 to $7,500 for cultural group programming and from $1,000 to $5,000 for individual artists creating new work.
The Arts Alive grants aim to support a wide range of artistic activities, including community engagement programs, exhibitions, performances, and new creative works. Both organizations and individual artists are eligible to apply.
Additional information sessions are available for those interested in applying. A virtual session will be held on Monday, February 9 at noon via Zoom. Applicants are encouraged to review application materials before attending and bring specific questions about their projects or applications. In-person registration can be completed by emailing grants@artswestchester.org.
Other upcoming workshops include an event in Peekskill on Tuesday, February 3rd at The Bean Runner Cafe during the First Tuesday Salon hosted by Carla Rae Johnson, as well as a session in Rockland County on Wednesday, February 11th with details forthcoming.
Funding for these grants comes from the Statewide Community Regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature. ArtsWestchester administers these funds locally.
A main focus of this year’s funding cycle is attracting new applicants who have not previously received support. Additional priorities include emerging cultural organizations; projects serving under-resourced communities based on factors such as geography, race, economic status, gender identity or expression, age, religion or disability; and initiatives reflecting cultural traditions or contemporary expressions of heritage.
Applications must be submitted online through the Submittable portal by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. An early submission deadline is set for Tuesday, February 24th at 11:59 pm; early applicants will receive feedback from a grants team member with an opportunity to revise their submissions before final panel review.
There are two categories of funding: Community Impact (formerly Project), which supports public arts projects developed by groups or individuals and offers awards between $1,000 and $7,500; and Individual Artist: Creation of New Work grants supporting professional artists’ original works with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Public engagement is encouraged but not required for all categories.
“Arts Alive Grants are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program- a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by ArtsWestchester.”
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