artist subsidy program
The Artist Subsidy Program is designed to subsidize fabrication services for New York City–based artists facing financial barriers in realizing their projects. We recognize that these barriers often stem from systems of oppression—including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and economic inequality—which create significant obstacles for artists in accessing and participating in the arts. To address these challenges, we aim to prioritize low-income artists with other marginalized identities, specifically Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and refugee artists.
Application deadline: January 15
Applicants will be notified in early February
About the Program
Learn from Powerhouse Arts staff and collaborating artists how the Artist Subsidy Program is making a difference.
about the program
Based on data from our demographic survey covering May to August 2024, current findings reveal that the Powerhouse Arts community, which includes clients, community members, and event attendees, identifies as: 49% Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), 14% LGBTQIA+, 41% low to moderate income backgrounds, and 17% who report having a chronic condition. While we strive to support as many artists as possible, our fee-based fabrication services have not been readily accessible to certain artists who would highly benefit from them. This program is a direct response to that.
Through our research, we have identified that a majority of our current artist clients can afford our fees, as our research shows that only 5% of our projects are declined due to high costs. Accordingly, a key focus of this program will be outreach to artists who mostly lack funding, institutional support, knowledge of available resources, and/or gallery representation.
We define low-income based on annual low-to-moderate income (LMI) individual earnings at or below $68,386, which represents 80% or less of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) area median income for New York. We acknowledge that low income is not solely determined by earnings from labor but also by access to resources, which can be influenced by factors such as family wealth, property ownership, debt, caregiving responsibilities, and other socioeconomic factors. By requesting applicants to share with us information about their access to funds and providing space for a narrative, we can make more informed decisions on the recipients of this offering.
By actively addressing these obstacles, Powerhouse Arts aims to amplify voices that are historically silenced or under-resourced. We believe this program will break down participation barriers in the arts for those who need it most. This support will enable artists to freely create, experiment, explore, grow, and evolve their practice in meaningful ways that will positively impact their communities.
Featured Project
Aziz + Cucher, You’re Welcome and I’m Sorry
The pilot of the Artist Subsidy Program brought incredible projects to life, including work by Aziz + Cucher.
what artists will receive
Subsidized labor costs for fabrication services including materials up to $6,250 in one of the shops in Print, Ceramics, Digital Print Lab, and Public Art, covering areas such as research & development (R&D), fabrication, production, and consultancy. Additionally, artists will receive knowledge and guidance from our team of expert fabricators and a session with development staff on fundraising strategies. This package also includes promotional marketing through our Instagram and newsletter.
who we serve
We aim to prioritize low-income artists with other marginalized identities such as Black, Indigenous, artists of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, and refugee artists. This also encompasses artists with little to no institutional support or gallery representation. We may expand this focus to include other underserved groups as we identify them.
Eligibility:
- We will prioritize low-income artists who self-identify with marginalized identities (see above).
- Must be a New York City–based artist.
- Cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (e.g., MFA, BFA), participating in an artist residency, nor be represented by a gallery between February to June of 2025.
- Must be flexible to collaboratively modify the project based on fabricator feedback and budget limitations.
- Must finish the project by June 30th, 2025.
Applications include:
- A project description and expected list of materials informed by the Budget Guide. Our fabrication teams will work with the artist to allocate funds and to identify materials once accepted.
- Optional narrative box to share any factors for financial need.
- Optional narrative box to share existing financial support if applying for fabrication in Public Art Shop.
- 5 past work samples and 5 relevant images, sketches, or mockups for the project (up to 10 files).
The Artist Subsidy Program is subject to change. Each year, we anticipate that the structure of the program will be modified and improved based on feedback from the participants to better meet their needs. As a result, artists can expect continual enhancements and adjustments aimed at enriching their artistic growth.