UMEZ Arts Engagement
UMEZ Arts Engagement supports Upper Manhattan artists, arts groups, and nonprofits with public arts project funding to expand cultural access, strengthen neighborhoods, and sustain the local creative economy.
Funder: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Due Dates: November 12, 2026, 6 p.m. EST (Application) | January 4, 2027 (Requested edits) | January 31, 2027 (Outstanding grantee reports) | May 17, 2027 (Award contracts)
Funding Amounts: $1,000–$20,000 for projects taking place January–December 2027
Summary: Supports public arts projects that expand cultural access and the diversity and frequency of presentations in Upper Manhattan.
Key Information: Applicants and projects must be based in Upper Manhattan; individuals and collectives require a Manhattan fiscal sponsor, with LMCC available as an option.
Description
UMEZ Arts Engagement is administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) in partnership with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation, which provides program funding. It supports Upper Manhattan artists, arts groups, and nonprofit organizations presenting public-facing arts projects. Eligible disciplines include performing, literary, media, and visual arts, spanning folk and traditional forms, contemporary work, and socially engaged practices. Activities include concerts, performances, public art installations, exhibitions, screenings, festivals, and readings.
The program aims to strengthen Upper Manhattan neighborhoods, expand access to arts and culture, and sustain the community’s creative economy. It encourages presentations responding to local needs, especially projects generated within and serving communities with limited arts access. Work rooted in the lived experiences of Upper Manhattan’s Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities is particularly encouraged.
