Brooklyn Arts Council Distributes $1.7 Million to 328 Brooklyn-based Artists & Cultural Organizations
Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) is thrilled to announce our 2024 Community Arts Grants, Creative Equations Fund, and SU-CASA Creative Aging awardees. This year, a total of $1.7 million will be given to 328 Brooklyn-based artists, creatives, and cultural organizations—the most BAC has ever distributed! Of this, $1.3 million will be distributed to 279 Grantees and $400,000 will be allocated to 49 SU-CASA Teaching Artist Awardees. Also of note, 42% of this year’s funding recipients are first-time BAC Grantees. We thank the 84 panelists for joining us in reviewing Grants and SU-CASA applications and participating in the selection processes for these funds.
BAC supports community and economic development, by investing in neighborhoods that lack traditional arts infrastructure and those most heavily impacted by systemic barriers such as Brownsville, Crown Heights, East New York, and Sunset Park. This year, 26% of projects funded through BAC Grants are impacting these communities (Crown Heights - 20.9%; Sunset Park - 2.67%; Brownsville - 0.76%; East NY - 1.9%). BAC is also proud to share that of the 2024 Grantee cohort, 68% identify as People of Color, and 56% identify as Women
Supported by our partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), BAC’s Community Arts Grants program consists of three funding streams: Brooklyn Arts Fund, Local Arts Support, and the Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund. In 2024, Community Arts Grants will provide $840,000 in funding to 240 Brooklyn artists, collectives, and cultural organizations.
Driven by values of justice, equity, and sustainability, and with visionary support from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Creative Equations Fund is BAC’s initiative dedicated to arts for social justice. This program supports community-engaged artists, arts organizations, cultural entrepreneurs, and researchers who have dedicated their creativity to solving social problems. There are three categories, including Justice, Equity, Sustainability + Performing Arts; Cultural Heritage, Diversity + Dance; and Social Innovational + Cultural Entrepreneurship. This year, BAC’s Creative Equations Fund will provide $425,000 in funding support to 39 Grantees.
BAC’s Brooklyn-wide SU-CASA Creative Aging program, funded by the New York City Council and administered by the DCLA and the NYC Department for the Aging, provides opportunities for seniors to actively express themselves creatively, socialize with a culturally engaged collective of senior citizens, participate in cultural performances, and learn techniques in a variety of arts disciplines. A city-wide initiative, SU-CASA is the largest Creative Aging program in the country. This year, BAC will award $400,000 to 49 Teaching Artists at 49 older adult centers throughout Brooklyn. Teaching Artists receive a generous stipend as well as additional funding to cover the cost of materials. Partnering senior centers also receive a subsidy to support their participation. This year’s residencies feature talented and dedicated artists reflecting a broad spectrum of styles and cultural backgrounds.
Rasu Jilani, Executive Director of Brooklyn Arts Council shared, “We are proud to announce our continued support for an outstanding group of artists, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations. The role of arts and culture in enhancing the vibrancy and richness of Brooklyn cannot be overstated. At BAC, we firmly believe in the critical role that the arts play in shaping the social and cultural contours of our community. Despite facing budget cuts and significant reductions in arts funding, BAC remains committed to supporting and nurturing the Brooklyn creative ecosystem. Our dedication to promoting a thriving creative environment is unwavering. We are distributing more awards than ever before, not because we have more money to give, but to model the type of investment our community needs and deserves to other funders. By investing in local artists and cultural institutions, we honor and elevate the diverse voices and talents that define the unique character of Brooklyn. We are delighted to extend our congratulations to this year's grantees and awardees.”
“NYSCA is proud to support Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) and their dedication to Brooklyn, a globally recognized leader in arts and culture,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts. “By ensuring critical state funding reaches within communities all over the state, organizations like BAC are vital to New York’s creative sector. Congratulations to all the grantees, we follow your lead as innovators and changemakers. Your creativity strengthens New York State’s role as the epicenter of arts and culture worldwide and we look forward to seeing your work grow and flourish.”
Kristal Pacific, Program Officer at The Howard Gilman Foundation expressed, “The Howard Gilman Foundation is delighted to continue our support of the Brooklyn Arts Council's Creative Equations Fund (CEF). This innovative program demonstrates the significant impact of supporting local, artist-led initiatives. By empowering Brooklyn’s creative changemakers, CEF encourages artistic expression and addresses important community issues. We are proud to ensure that essential resources are available to organizations and artists who leverage the performing arts to promote beauty, joy, and social progress, enriching the cultural vibrancy of the borough.”
"We're thrilled to partner with Brooklyn Arts Council to champion and invest in the visionary artists and collectives that make the Brooklyn arts community one of the most vibrant in the world," said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner, Laurie Cumbo. "From forging connections between artists and seniors to enlivening public spaces with diverse cultural experiences, the projects we support this year underscore the boundless creativity that sets our city apart. We're proud to contribute to a more vibrant and livable NYC for all New Yorkers, enriching the fabric of our communities."
Leah Krauss, Senior Program Officer for Dance & Special Projects at the Mertz Gilmore Foundation commented, “There is growing recognition that the arts improve neighborhood livability, community identity, and social wellbeing. The Mertz Gilmore Foundation is proud to support BAC’s Creative Equation Fund, funding dance work that represents different identities and enriches Brooklyn residents’ quality of life. Mertz Gilmore also relies on BAC’s expertise and proximity to reach Brooklyn dance artists who work outside traditional business and employment structures (e.g. individual artists, small dance groups, and collectives).”
Diane Jacobowitz, 2024 Brooklyn Arts Fund & Local Arts Support Grantee, remarked, "I am so grateful to BAC for funding this project! These grants have inspired and empowered me to experiment in ways that I would never have tried. BAC’s support has given me the courage to try out new approaches to movement and energy modalities. I have learned, and continue to learn, so much about guiding elders in ways that are both respectful of who they are and supportive of their creative growth.”
Mark Zlotsky and Karyn Lao of Mookntaka, 2024 Brooklyn Arts Fund Grantee, voiced, "The Brooklyn Arts Fund grant significantly propelled our practice forward, opening doors to new and unexpected opportunities while connecting us with both local and international organizations…This year has been an incredible one of growth and opportunity. This experience taught us more about ourselves, the kind of work we want to create, and what it takes to do it. We met new communities of talented and generous people who share our mission of embracing our inner child and bringing play to unexpected places, while also growing our roots in our Arts Gowanus community! We express our deepest gratitude to Brooklyn Arts Council—this would not have been possible without your help and contribution.”
Brooklyn Arts Fund (BAF) is supported by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA); the New York City Council, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President.
The Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund is supported by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the New York City Council, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President.
Creative Equations Fund (CEF) is supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Local Arts Support (LAS) is supported 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 New York State Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SU-CASA Creative Aging is funded by the New York City Council and administered by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA); and the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA).
Cover Image: Alisha Desai, 2024 BAC Grantee. Photo by Ananta Cuffee.