A total of $1,322,000 will be allocated to 238 Brooklyn-based artists and cultural organizations. This year marks the highest number of grantees and awardees as well as the largest amount of funding BAC has ever distributed.
Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) is thrilled to announce our 2022 Community Arts Grants and Creative Equations Fund recipients as well as SU-CASA awardees. A total of $1,322,000 will be allocated to 238 Brooklyn-based artists and cultural organizations. This year marks the highest number of grantees and awardees as well as the largest amount of funding BAC has ever distributed. We thank the amazing 89 grants and SU-CASA panelists for joining us in reviewing applications and participating in the selection processes for these funds.
Supported by our state and city partners at the New York State Council on the Arts and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, BAC’s Community Arts Grants program consists of three funding streams: Brooklyn Arts Fund, Local Arts Support, and Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund. This year, a sum of $715,000 will be distributed to 163 artists through Community Arts Grants.
In 2021, BAC launched the Creative Equations Fund, our new investment strategy dedicated to arts for social justice. Driven by values of justice, equity, and sustainability, and with visionary support from the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Hopestreet, and American Immigration Council, the initiative supports community-engaged artists, arts organizations, cultural entrepreneurs, and researchers who have dedicated their creativity to solving social problems. There are four categories including: Justice, Equity, & Sustainability (performing arts); Cultural Heritage & Diversity (dance); Social Innovation (cultural entrepreneurs); and Advocacy & Immigrant Voices. BAC’s Creative Equations Fund will provide $295,000 in support to 34 grantees for their work in 2022.
BAC’s Brooklyn-wide SU-CASA Creative Aging program, funded by the New York City Council, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the NYC Department for the Aging, is awarding an additional $312,000 to 41 artists for arts programming in 48 senior centers. This is the highest number of SU-CASA allocations BAC has ever distributed. For each SU-CASA site, artists receive a generous stipend as well as funding to cover costs for materials. Partnering senior centers are also receive subsidy to support their participation in the initiative.
In previous years, BAC distributed grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to artists and cultural organizations in every Brooklyn neighborhood. This is the first year we have awarded grants up to $10,000. BAC also hosts the Brooklyn Innovation Institute (BII) providing professional development; fiscal sponsorship; capacity-building; technical assistance; cultural heritage programming; promotional partnerships; and community wellness to those in our network. These crucial resources allow artists to engage with their communities, strengthen bonds, and foster relationships for future creative collaborations that add to the vitality and dynamism of Brooklyn.
“As Brooklyn recovers from the effects of the pandemic, we see the strength and resilience of artists in our borough. Their spirits invigorate and lift up communities and remind us of the diversity and vibrancy that are deeply rooted in Brooklyn. We are honored to be able to provide resources and opportunities to such an impressive array of artists and organizations for another year. BAC is thrilled to show our deep commitment to equity and social justice through our Creative Equations Fund and believes in the long-lasting impact of our 2022 grantees in Brooklyn.”
- Charlotte A. Cohen, Executive Director of Brooklyn Arts Council
“The Howard Gilman Foundation is extremely proud to contribute to the Creative Equations Fund and its effort to support Brooklyn’s artists and cultural workers. This investment strategy provides valuable resources to those dedicated to using creativity to solve social problems. It serves as a shining example of the importance of hyper-local, grassroots grantmaking.”
- Laura Aden, President & CEO of Howard Gilman Foundation
“The pandemic showed us just how essential arts and culture are to sustaining vibrant and flourishing communities. We commend Brooklyn Arts Council for empowering and investing in Brooklyn’s artists and arts organizations and propelling New York City’s fair and equitable recovery.”
- Sheelah A. Feinberg, Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
“Brooklyn artists and arts organizations are central to the DNA of New York State’s rich cultural ecosystem. As New York’s arts and culture sector continues a multi-year recovery process, NYSCA extends immense gratitude to Brooklyn Arts Council for their dedication and support of the borough’s creative culture.”
- Mara Manus, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts
“We are thrilled to participate and facilitate artistic enrichment programs specifically in communities where we live and work.”
- Sha Dinour, Partner, Hopestreet
“We’re proud to partner with Brooklyn Arts Council to support a wide range of immigrant and refugee artists that are part of the vibrant New York City community. In challenging times art can be a powerful tool for building empathy, creating connection, and highlighting our shared humanity.”
- Katherine Steinberg, Director of Arts & Culture at The American Immigration Council
“A 2017 BAC grant was the very first grant our project received—it was funding for our summer program and a boost of confidence. Having BAC's support as we grew from a volunteer-lead passion-project to a staffed nonprofit has made all the difference.”
- Meghan McNamara, Executive Director of the Octavia Project & 2022 Brooklyn Arts Fund grantee
“We are beyond proud to make art in our borough, for our borough and by our borough. As a company mainly comprised of immigrants and first-generation American folks, we have found our creative home-away-from-home here in Brooklyn and are overjoyed to be part of the vibrant arts community here.”
- James Allan Clements, Co-Artistic Director of What Will the Neighbors Say? Theater & 2022 Brooklyn Arts Fund grantee
Brooklyn Arts Fund (BAF) and Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund is made possible, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
Local Arts Support (LAS) is made possible, in part, by the Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Creative Equations Fund (CEF) is made possible, in part, by lead funder The Howard Gilman Foundation as well as Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Hopestreet, and American Immigration Council.
The SU-CASA Creative Aging program is made possible, in part, by the New York City Council, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), and the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA).
Photo: Oludaré Bernard, Founder of Kiire Wellness. Bernard is a CEF: Justice, Equity, & Sustainability grantee. Photo by Amina El Kabbany.