UMEZ Unveils New Cultural Investments Strategy
Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance - Performance by Ulysses Quartet, spectators listen closely at the Inwood Farmers Market / Photo by Gary Santana
New York, New York - UMEZ announces that it will extend its support for arts and culture organizations serving Upper Manhattan through the Cultural Investment Fund. UMEZ will continue to offer its signature capacity-building support through four initiatives: Capacity Grants, Infrastructure Grants, Technical Assistance Grants, and Catalyst Grants. In addition, UMEZ is excited to introduce a new initiative, UMEZ Arts Engagement Grant, a grant program designed to offer project-based support for smaller arts groups, collectives, and individual artists. The UMEZ Arts Engagement program will offer grants from $1,000 to $10,000 to support public engagement with the arts in Upper Manhattan.
This marks the first time that unincorporated artist collectives and individuals can apply for UMEZ support, provided they have appropriate fiscal sponsorship. To launch this program, UMEZ is partnering with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, a Manhattan-based regrantor and arts service organization serving the entire borough. UMEZ will distribute up to $250,000 for projects taking place from July 1 – December 31, 2018, and up to $400,000 for projects taking place from January 1 – December 31, 2019.
UMEZ will continue to offer capacity-building support through four ongoing funding initiatives. Organizations with operating budgets larger than $100,000 may apply for Capacity or Infrastructure support for capacity-building projects like marketing and fundraising improvements, capital projects, and other enhancements that are based on a strategic plan for sustainability and growth. UMEZ will also continue its Technical Assistance Grant, a program designed to help organizations address a problem in partnership with a skilled consultant, and the Catalyst Grant, designed to support a one-time, large-scale marketing based initiative in Upper Manhattan.
To read the official statement about these exciting new grant opportunities, please see here.