ARTS LINK Individual Artist Grants offer commissioning support to individual practicing artists in the amount of $3,000 for the creation of a new work or to complete a work-in-progress.
This grant opportunity represents a “live & work” investment in local artists.
Public presentation or some aspect of community interaction/engagement is required.
It is designed to increase support for local artist-initiated activity across the county and to acknowledge the vital importance of Putnam County artists who enhance the cultural life, economic growth, and social fabric of our communities.
GUIDELINES
FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTIST TIER
⭐️APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, August 29, 2025 5pm⭐️
Grants of up to $3,000 are available to individual artists who are residents of Putnam County. Grants are awarded for projects which combine the creative process with community interaction. All disciplines are eligible.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Individual Artist program is to provide support for the creative development of local artists, to enable artists to complete a work-in-progress or a new work and to engage with the public in a community context or public space.
ABOUT THE FUNDING:
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Putnam Arts Council.
GRANT PERIOD:
Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. An interim progress report must be provided by January 15, 2026 and a final report is due by July 15, 2026.
ELIGIBILITY
Artists apply directly for the Individual Artist Grant. Applicant may submit one grant proposal for funding consideration. Multiple submissions will not be accepted. All applicants must meet the following criteria:
● Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submission.
● A resident of Putnam County in New York State.*
● May not be enrolled in a full-time degree program.
● Applicant must submit a work sample of their past work to be considered.
● Project must be independent work initiated by the artist.
*Proof of Residency: Applicants must provide proof of residency which contains the individual’s name and address. Acceptable proof of residency documents include
one of the following: Telephone bill, utility bill, credit card or bank statement (first page only; social security and financial information should be blocked), current lease or mortgage agreement listing the artist’s name and NYS address, NY State Driver’s License or ID card, or voter registration card.
INELIGIBLE PROJECTS
● Activities that are recreational, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or religious in nature when the purpose is primarily for rehabilitation, therapy, or worship.
● Non-arts activities including fundraising events or programming used as a fundraising event, humanities programs or programs that are primarily academic, or recreational events including parades, balloons, clowns, and magic shows.
● Artists who applied directly to NYSCA for Individual Artist Funding in 2025 are ineligible.
SUBMISSION AND REQUIREMENTS
I. PRE-SUBMISSION MEETING – Applicants are required to schedule a meeting with the Putnam Arts Council in advance of submission to discuss the proposed project and submission guidelines. Matching funds are not required.
II. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT on at least one or more levels must be demonstrated through:
1) Public Presentation – an artist exhibition, reading, or performance of the project and/or a lecture or workshop on the creation of the piece that is open to the public. Presentations must take place in the artist’s county of residence. Large or expensive presentations are not recommended.
● Artists may charge an admission fee for public presentations.
2) Community involvement: The artist may work with a specific community during the creative process. Community can be broadly defined as any group of individuals sharing common geography, identity, interests, or belief. Examples of community involvement include:
● Interacting with community members during the creation of artwork. For example, community members may participate in a preliminary workshop sharing stories or anecdotes, provide materials or necessary components, or contribute dialogue and feedback during the execution phase.
● Directly involving community members in the creation of the artwork. Examples might include, but are not limited to: murals, new works for music, theatre, or dance, multi-media projects or sculptural.
III. BUDGET
pieces which include members of the community as contributing artists and performers in the artist-created work and/or with the creation of a parallel work by a community group.
The grant amount is a maximum of $3,000. There is no cash match required. On the application form, applicants are required to describe how grant funds will be spent. Applicants are not required to submit a separate budget form.
ALLOWABLE EXPENSES:
– artists’ fees
– materials/supplies that are necessary for the production of the work
– rental of facilities for the rehearsal and/or presentation of the project
– printing, advertising, mailing costs
– miscellaneous expenses including, but not limited to, film/video editing,
photodocumentation, scripts and scores, trucking, equipment rental, reproduction expenses.
Grants are unable to fund the following expenses:
– operating expenses of privately-owned facilities or capital improvements.
– acquisition of works of art
– contingency funds
– lobbying expenses
– regrants by applicants to fund other activities
– awards, trophies, scholarships, fellowships, contests, cash prizes juror fees
– fees paid to children under the age of 18
– entertainment costs including receptions and food
– out of state travel costs
IV. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Samples of artistic work are required and must be submitted with the online application:
– When selecting work samples, we recommend artists select work that reflects their range and skill, as well as work that relates to the proposed project.
– Work Samples (up to 3 files): image files, videos, audio files, and literary samples (limit of 8 pages). Acceptable file types: .jpg, .mp4, .wav, .mp3, and .pdf or links to files. There is no limit on file sizes. Two additional document(s) may also be included (letters of support, press articles, marketing samples, etc.).
REVIEW PROCEDURE:
All applications submitted will be reviewed by the Grants Manager for completeness and accuracy. If additional information is needed, the individual artist will be contacted. Supplementary material submitted by the artist must represent work completed within the last four years. Applications are reviewed by a rotating Individual Artist Grants Panel drawn from the recommendations of local arts affiliates and professional artists in the region.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
The panel evaluates each application according to the following criteria:
– quality of applicant’s work as demonstrated by the supplementary material submitted
– professional resume, including education and artistic training
– impact of the proposed project on the professional development of the artist
– impact of the proposed project on the community at large
– clearly defined, realistic project goals (appropriate budget, demonstrated ability
to achieve goals, adherence to grant guidelines)
– projects in which community collaboration complements the creative process.
⭐️DEADLINE: APPLICATION MUST BE emailed OR HAND DELIVERED BY 5pm Friday, August 29, 2025⭐️
Please email materials to: grants@putnamartscouncil.com
Call 845-803-8622 first to hand-deliver to:
Grants Manager, Putnam Arts Council, 521 Kennicut Hill Rd, Mahopac, NY 10541