Apply for the 2026 LMCC Manhattan Arts Grants — Up to $16,000 for Artists, Collectives & Community Projects
Up to $16K in grants for Manhattan-based artists and orgs through LMCC’s 2026 programs—open to public art, education, and community projects.
If you’re an artist working in Manhattan—from Inwood to The Battery—money is on the table.
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) has opened applications for its 2026 Manhattan Arts Grants, offering between $4,000 and $16,000 to artists, collectives, and community-focused organizations. The deadline is Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 5 PM ET.
Whether you’re staging a performance in a park, teaching older adults how to sketch in Spanish Harlem, or launching a gallery series in Chinatown—there’s a grant for that. Programs include:
- Creative Engagement – For public art events of all kinds
- Creative Learning – For community education and participatory projects, especially for older adults
- UMEZ Arts Engagement – For artists and orgs north of 96th Street (yes, Harlem and Washington Heights, this means you)
This isn’t just funding. These grants can be your first win—a seal of legitimacy that opens doors. Past recipients have leveraged LMCC awards into bigger opportunities, press, and institutional support.
It’s juried by artists, not bureaucrats. It’s competitive, but real.
No Manhattan address, no dice. These are hyper-local dollars for artists rooted in the city.
Info sessions are available. Applications live now. If you’ve been waiting for a green light—this is it.
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