Creative Learning
Creative Learning supports artists and organizations providing sequential arts learning and hands-on artmaking for Manhattan older adults to build artistic skills and encourage creative experimentation.
Funder: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Due Dates: November 12, 2026, 6 p.m. EST (Application) | January 4, 2027 (Requested edits) | January 31, 2027 (Outstanding reports) | April 5–16, 2027 (Appeals) | May 17, 2027 (Contract)
Funding Amounts: $1,000–$17,500 for programs taking place January–December 2027
Summary: Supports artist-led, sequential, participatory arts learning and hands-on artmaking for older adults in Manhattan.
Key Information: Programs require at least three sequential sessions with the same artists and participants, plus a free public culminating event.
Description
Creative Learning is a Manhattan Arts Grants program administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). It supports artists and organizations delivering arts education across all artistic disciplines for older adults in accessible Manhattan community settings, including older adult centers, recreation centers, libraries, and community centers. Live remote programming may qualify when designed around Manhattan participants’ accessibility needs.
The program prioritizes the quality and depth of artistic learning, including skill-building curricula, thoughtful lesson planning, creative experimentation, and hands-on creation. LMCC encourages programs serving older adults with limited access to arts resources and work rooted in Manhattan’s Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities. Funding comes from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), supporting artists and organizations unable to access those agencies directly.
