Opportunities for Bronx Individual Artists, Arts Organizations, and Artist Collectives

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) offers grant funding and program opportunities to support community-centered arts and culture projects and to recognize outstanding local artists.

Applications are accepted from individual artists, artist collectives, and nonprofit arts or community organizations for projects in a wide variety of disciplines, including dance, visual arts & crafts, theater, music, film & video, opera, folk arts, interdisciplinary arts, literary arts, multi-disciplinary art forms, and others.

Emerging and pre-professional artists, women artists, artists of color, artists with disabilities, artists who identify as LGBTQ, and artists from other historically excluded communities and demographics are strongly encouraged to apply.


For more information, please visit www.bronxarts.org/grants, send an email to tracey@bronxarts.org.

Dear Bronx Dance Fund Recipients,

We are happy to have had you as part of BCA's 2024 Bronx Dance Fund Cohort. As part of your 2024 Bronx Dance Fund agreement, you agreed to submit a Final Report on your grant activities for the year when requested. This will complete your funding requirements.

Your report will help enrich our understanding of how the Bronx Dance Fund has impacted your work and continue to support the dance ecosystem of the Bronx.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • Deadline: January 15, 2025

For questions or assistance, please contact:
 

We look forward to learning about your achievements and how this funding has supported your artistic practice. 

Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO)

For 35 years, BCA’s BRIO Award has recognized artists from a wide range of creative disciplines who have the ability to showcase their artistic practice through technique and knowledge of their craft. Each year, BRIO provides direct support of $5,000 to individual Bronx artists who create works in the literary, media, visual, and performing arts. Artists who have received a BRIO award represent the vast diversity of Bronx residents, inclusive of all ethnicities, ages, and genders. Over the years, BRIO has become one of the most coveted distinctions amongst artists residing in the Bronx. 

BCA highlights BRIO’s core emphasis of recognizing outstanding artists in the Bronx and has distributed over $2 million to over 550 artists in more than three decades. Peer review panels for BRIO are comprised of seasoned artists and arts professionals from outside the borough who are guided by discipline-specific criteria and experience, review submissions anonymously, and select grantees for distinction whose work demonstrates the following: 

  • An innovative approach to the discipline; 
  • Probing and pushing of boundaries; 
  • Technical expertise and high level of skill; 
  • Ingenuity and rigor in its production; 
  • An awareness of the medium within a historical context; and 
  • Compelling vision and original voice. 

 

In addition, grantees are required to complete a one-time public service activity known as Artists for Community Enrichment (ACE) within a year of receiving the award. ACE events range from performances with Q&As to workshops and classes, provide artists with additional visibility, and demonstrate the wealth of artistic talent available in our borough. 

BCA is proud to continue the BRIO tradition, offering this invaluable honor in the Bronx that: 

  • Highlights previously unknown voices; 
  • Recognizes quality artistic practice; and 
  • Fosters connections between Bronx artists and their communities. 

The Bronx Dance Fund: Overview

Deadline: Monday November 25,2024

The Bronx Dance Fund (BDF) seeks to nurture the development of artists and organizations that comprise the field of dance in the Bronx. To achieve this goal, the Bronx Dance Fund (BDF) will support individual Bronx-based dancers, choreographers, and dance companies with grants of up to $7,500 for general operating or project-based support, including capacity building, training, professional development, and/or production. BDF will prioritize talented early career dance artists, and BIPOC led organizations.


 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

The BDF is open to Bronx-based individual dancers, choreographers and unincorporated dance groups (ensembles or collectives) practicing in the field of dance, along with Bronx-based incorporated dance organizations whose annual operating budgets of up to $250,000. Unincorporated groups must have one member apply as an individual applicant; only one member may apply on behalf of the group. Productions must take place in New York City but are not required to take place in the Bronx.

Individual artists or one member of an unincorporated group (ensembles or collectives) must:

  • be residents of Bronx County and
  • be 18 years of age or older.

Incorporated organizations must:

  • be based in the Bronx with a Bronx address,
  • have been incorporated for at least one year,
  • show proof of non-profit status,
  • have an active board of directors, and
  • have an annual budget of $250,000 or less.

Deadline: November 15, 2024

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) is seeking a Bronx-based youth journalist for our Youth Engagement Program (YEP) to write three (3) articles related to the Longwood Art Gallery exhibitions, specific artists and artworks, and/or topical essays. 

Interested writers must submit examples of their work for consideration. The opportunity will require the youth journalist to travel to the gallery prior to, or during the exhibition’s opening night to review the artworks and interview the artists and curators, if available. 

About the Open Call

  • A stipend of $200 per 500-word piece will be provided.
  • The article will be included in the Longwood Art Gallery ISSUU Exhibition Catalogue published on BCA website (bronxarts.org). 
  • Journalists will write one article per exhibition (total of three exhibitions).
  • Both the author and BCA retain reproduction rights to the commissioned text, with credit always given to the author.
  • The application deadline is November 15. 

Application Requirements (to be completed on Submittable.com)

  • ·Your personal information (Name, address, phone number, and email address).
  • Please submit an introductory letter outlining where you heard about this opportunity and your interest in being part of this initiative.
  • Please submit two original art-related writing samples (500 words max each)
  • Please submit a brief bio (250 words max)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • The journalist must be a Bronx resident between the ages of 18-24
  • Student or recent graduate of a journalism, literature, or writing program 

Deadline to Apply: Friday, November 15, 2024

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) Longwood Arts Project seeks a Bronx-based Curatorial Fellow for a unique opportunity to assist with the implementation of the Longwood Art Gallery 2025 series of three exhibitions. The exhibitions will revolve around the theme “The World We Want to Live In” and examine art’s role in social and political movements – not only raising awareness, but also catalyzing public discourse and bringing new audiences into activism. 

The Curatorial Fellowship program is highly competitive, and offers high-quality, real-world experience and mentorship to an emerging arts professional/curator in the visual arts field. This paid, six-month fellowship will allow the Fellow to work closely with inspiring BCA staff and creatives in one of the leading non-profit organizations in NYC.

The Curatorial Fellow will receive a stipend of $3500 for their training and assistance in the exhibitions. The Fellowship will run from January 2025 through the end of June 2025, with a schedule of two days a week for five hours per day.

About the Curatorial Fellowship

The Curatorial Fellow will work closely with the Longwood Arts Project’s Gallery Director to learn the process of curating an exhibition from start to end, and will have a hands-on approach to all the tasks that it entails, from the choice of the theme through the writing of a proposal, the selection of artists and artworks, and the design of the space, as well as administrative functions.

 

The Curatorial Fellow will:

· Learn best practices in the development of an exhibition 

· Help in the coordination and communication with creatives, vendors, and art organizations

· Join the Gallery Director in artists’ studio visits

· Immerse themselves in the exhibitions’ themes and artworks and educate visitors and art students

· Gain knowledge and engage with the arts and culture environment of the Bronx

· Update and maintain accurate records

· Follow up with artists on loan forms and agreements

· Oversee timely implementation of schedules and deadlines

· Learn about the design of the exhibition’s layout plan 

· Supervise incoming and outgoing artworks

· Oversee installation and de-installation 

 

Eligibility Requirements

Geographic location

· The Curatorial Fellow must be a Bronx resident and be able to travel to and within the borough

 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in art, art history, or related field preferred

• Museum or arts organization experience preferred

 

Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to understand and learn about contemporary art concepts and artworks. 

• Excellent organizational skills. 

• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills. 

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy. 

• Computer proficiency with PC and Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint.

• Photoshop desirable. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills. Self-directed, ability to anticipate actions needed. Ability to juggle multiple tasks and meet deadlines. 

• Ability to exercise discretion and to be a team player in an active office environment. 


Submission Requirements

You can apply by sending:

• Your personal information (Name, address, phone number, and email address)

· Cover letter noting the reason for your interest in this fellowship

• Two original art related writing samples (500 words max each)

• Your resume (max 1 page)

 

Please send your application only via Submittable.  


2025 Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: November 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST

Since 1982, the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) has offered Community Engagement Grants (CEG) to enrich the cultural life of the borough by supporting high-quality community-based arts projects in all disciplines, genres, and styles.

For this grants program, “community” is defined as:

  • A geographic area;
  • A cultural, social, racial, or socio-economic demographic;
  • An artistic community.

The program is for Bronx-based artists who are not applying directly to the supporting and who are also: individual artists, unincorporated artist collectives or ensembles, or nonprofit organizations with an art mission or program. 

We fund projects via three Funds. Our new process allows you to apply for all three Funds at once:

  • Arts Fund (AF), supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).  (AF) grants of up to $5,000 are open to individual artists, unincorporated artist collectives or ensembles, and nonprofit organizations with an annual budget under $100,000.
  • Community Arts (CA), supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) program. CA grants of up to $5,000 are open to individual artists with a fiscal sponsor, unincorporated artist collectives or ensembles with a fiscal sponsor, and nonprofit organizations. 
  • New Work (NW), also supported by the NYSCA SCR program. NW grants of up to $3,000 are open to individual artists who generate new work.

For more information, see complete guidelines here. Guidelines are available in Spanish here

 Dear BRIO Recipients,


We are happy to have had you as part of BCA's 2024 Bronx Recognizes its Own Cohort. As part of your 2024 BRIO agreement, you agreed to submit a Final Report. This will complete your funding requirements. 

Your report will help enrich our understanding of how BRIO has impacted your work and continue to support the performing arts ecosystem of the Bronx.  

Key Details: 

  • Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025 

If you have any questions or need assistance completing your report, please don't hesitate to contact our Grantmaking Manager, Tracey O'Reilly, at tracey@bronxarts.org or our Grantmaking Associate Guadalupe Ambrosio, at guadalupe@bronxarts.org 

Thank you for your participation and your contribution to the Bronx arts community. 

Best regards, 

BCA's Grant Team 

Are you a performer, visual artist, arts critic, arts historian, musician, curator, other artist or arts professional, or arts engaged community leader?

The Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) seeks artists, arts professionals, and nonprofit and community leaders to serve as panelists for our 2024 and future grant cycles.

BCA offers several grantmaking programs and distributes more than $750,000 of grant funds every to Bronx artists, collectives, and nonprofit organizations. BCA Panelists review and score applications, provide invaluable panelist comments, and recommend recipients for funding. They play a key role in the grants process, and their knowledge and expertise are crucial in shaping the way public arts funds are distributed.

If this is you and you would like to help make a difference in the Bronx, please apply to serve on one of our grants panels!

Potential panelists from all boroughs are welcome to apply, as BCA’s different grant programs require panelists from in and outside of the Bronx. BCA supports panel diversity in all forms: age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, artistic discipline, location, etc.

Selected panelists will be contacted when needed. All panelists receive an honorarium. 


For more info on BCA's grants, please visit this link.

Dear 2024 Community Engagement Recipients,

As part of your grant agreement for your 2024 Community Engagement Grant, you agreed to submit a Final Report on your grant activities for the year.

Please complete this Final Report as soon as possible.

Completing this Final Report will complete your funding requirements.

BCA has combined the four different Final Report forms into one Submittable form. If you received more than one Community Engagement Grant, please include data for all of them.

Community Engagement Grants:

  • Arts Fund
  • Community Arts
  • New Work
  • Arts on the Block

If you have any questions about your Final Report, please contact BCA Grants Making Manager Tracey O’Reilly at tracey@bronxarts.org

Application Deadline: December 13, 2024

REMINDER: Please read full guidelines HERE.
 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
 

SU-CASA is a community arts engagement program that places artists and organizations in residence at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. The program provides selected artists with a stipend in exchange for creating and delivering arts programming for seniors. The program has two components: 

  1. Artists will engage participating seniors in an art project or series of cultural programs throughout the residency, and 
  2. the residency will include a public program component – exhibits, readings, performances, open houses, or other cultural interactions open to the surrounding community.

Selected artists will work with the senior center, where they are placed to refine project goals and coordinate a schedule for residency activities and the use of facilities.    

  For FY25, individual artists will be eligible to participate. Individual artists may apply for SU-CASA through their local arts council; any organization that submitted an eligible FY25 Cultural Development Fund proposal may apply for SU-CASA through DCLA. The program will support residencies for individuals and organizations at senior centers across the City’s 51 Council districts.

  Bronx Council on the Arts is proud to be part of this program on behalf of the borough of the Bronx. BCA will accept applications from individual artists seeking residencies at participating senior centers in the Bronx only.

  Individual artists-in-residence will receive a stipend in the amount of $6000, an additional $2000 materials/supplies budget, and access to materials and supplies from Materials for the Arts. Individual artists are expected to provide a minimum of 20 contact hours of activity and can apply directly to participate in the program without a fiscal sponsor.     

  All application components must be received no later than 11:59 PM on December 13, 2024.  Applicants will be notified of their application status and, if selected, which senior centers are participating by the end of January 2025.  Residencies will take place between February 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025.  

Dear BCVF grantee -
We are happy to have had you as part of BCA's 2024 Bronx Cultural Visions Fund Cohort. As part of your 2024 Bronx Cultural Visions Fund agreement, you agreed to submit a Final Report on your grant activities for the year when requested. This will complete your funding requirements.

Your report will help enrich our understanding of how BCVF has impacted your work and continue to support the performing arts ecosystem of the Bronx. 

Thank you! 

Bronx Council on the Arts