6 Ambitious Arts Organizations based in New York

6 New York Organizations Supporting The Arts

Get To Know Patricia Phelps de Cisneros

The Value Of The Arts In New York's Economy

According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts, arts and cultural productions accounted for 7.8% of the total gross state product in New York in 2016. The table below compares the value added to the economy by arts to the value added by other sectors.

RxArt and José Parlá

In Depth

Art comes in all shapes, sizes, and styles, and has the capacity to connect people across geography and culture. The groups included here attest to this power, demonstrating a commitment to facilitating, producing, and promoting diverse creative works that help transform and empower communities around the world. Working to give comprehensive support to practitioners and enhance public life in the process, here are, in no particular order, six New York-based arts organizations with an ambitious reach.

For #1 we have the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Established in 1963, FCA fosters and sponsors innovative art made by organizations, individuals, and groups. Designed by and for creators, it uses profits from the sales of artist contributions to help fund grant programs that provide direct support to other creators. These donated works encompass a range of mediums including painting, photography, performance, and video, and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money for those working in dance, poetry, and music and sound, among other fields.

FCA supports artists through ten grant programs, most of which are named after famous creators whose legacies and disciplines are being honored through the award. The biennial John Cage Award, for instance, recognizes work that expresses the spirit of the late experimental composer. Other programs give annual grants, including ones that reflect the essences of such luminaries as Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly, and Dorothea Tanning. An initiative commemorating Ellsworth Kelly, meanwhile, provides $40,000 to facilitate a solo exhibition at a regional institution. Make a contribution to FCA to support the continual development of new art.

FCA supports artists through ten grant programs, most of which are named after famous creators whose legacies and disciplines are being honored through the award.

Showing up at #2 is Art Production Fund, which is devoted to commissioning and creating ambitious public artworks, as well as advancing social appreciation of contemporary creative practices. In collaboration with other institutions, it gives artists the technical, financial, and logistical assistance they require to realize challenging and complex works. These projects, which take on a wide spectrum of multimedia, site-specific forms, are exhibited in unique and publicly accessible venues across the nation.

APF's projects are designed to cross social and economic barriers, allowing people of all walks of life the unimpeded ability to experience and engage with contemporary art. The organization creates further access through its free Art Sundae program, which builds self-esteem in children by giving them the opportunity to make a public project alongside a skilled creator. On the more corporate side of things, the group collaborates with home and fashion brands to produce designer products such as towels and pillows. Help APF in its efforts by donating through its site.

For #3 we get the Coleccion Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, based in both New York and Caracas. The principal arts program of the education-oriented Fundacion Cisneros, the CPPC promotes the appreciation of Latin American art and fosters scholarship on its diverse visual culture. Its collection, amassed by Patricia and her husband Gustavo, comprises a breadth of works from the Ibero-American world including modernest geometric abstraction, contemporary and colonial pieces, and indigenous artifacts. With the aim of enhancing cultural understanding, the CPPC makes these works publicly available through loans and exhibitions at institutions around the globe.

The principal arts program of the education-oriented Fundacion Cisneros, the CPPC promotes the appreciation of Latin American art and fosters scholarship on its diverse visual culture.

In addition to showcasing its collection, the CPPC disseminates and nurtures vital knowledge through programs and initiatives. Among these are a series of discussions and lectures, which give the public opportunities to reflect on issues pertaining to various artistic fields and practices. An annual one-day seminar event, meanwhile, helps facilitate the cross-disciplinary study of contemporary art and culture. The group also maintains a wealth of bilingual resources on its website, and produces publications such as exhibition catalogs and journals. To get involved, consider submitting your own content to one of the CPPC's many online features.

At #4 is the International Studio & Curatorial Program. Housed in a former Brooklyn factory featuring galleries and work studios, ISCP assists with the creative development of incipient to mid-career artists and curators. Offering New York's most comprehensive international residency program in the visual arts, it strives to forge a global network of creators connected by professional collaboration, dialogue, and a multiplicity of global perspectives. Additionally, ISCP bolsters the community through numerous public events, projects, and exhibitions, which include everything from panel discussions to displays of site-specific works.

Residencies at ISCP come with private, furnished studio space and around-the-clock facility access. The International Program, which usually lasts from three to six months, encourages residents to participate in activities such as museum field trips, salon presentations, and critiques with visiting professionals. Artists located in New York City can apply to the Ground Floor Program, which provides professional development and subsidized working space. There's also a Studio Assistant offering that enables BFA and MFA students to acquire experience working with ISCP residents. Become a Young Patrons member, and get benefits such as access to unique arts programming.

Become a Young Patrons member, and get benefits such as access to unique arts programming.

For #5 we come to RxART, which uses the incredible power of art to help kids heal. Working with an array of talented contemporary creators, it commissions large-scale artworks that transform healthcare facilities into beautiful, soothing, and whimsical spaces. These works, which include colorful murals and hanging pictures, brighten pediatric medical centers throughout the country. RxART gives stipends to each participating artist, and carries out its projects at no cost to the hospitals involved.

To further enhance the healing process, RxART brings interactive arts education to child patients at its project sites. This initiative, which is designed to complement arts therapy programs at many of the organization's partner hospitals, utilizes the support and talent of staff, commissioned creators, and other contemporary practitioners. Providing crucial opportunities for creative expression, the initiative allows patients to learn valuable skills, improve their self-confidence and abilities, and find inspiration to keep pushing forward. Aid RxART's efforts by giving to one of the projects listed on its website.

Finally, arriving at #6 is Magnum Foundation. Catalyzed by the ongoing dissolution of traditional documentary photography, Magnum Foundation works to champion long-form visual storytelling focused on relevant sociopolitical issues. It supports international photographers at all career levels, providing grants, project assistance, and fellowships to help realize innovative works. The Foundation values projects from diverse and progressive voices who challenge conventions, expand public consciousness, and promote social justice through personalized styles and sensibilities.

It supports international photographers at all career levels, providing grants, project assistance, and fellowships to help realize innovative works.

Designed to train burgeoning artists and activists, Magnum Foundation's fellowship programs involve intensive group workshops and individual mentorship, and generate opportunities for cross-cultural discourse, strategic partnerships, and creative experimentation. They include cash awards of varying sizes, plus ample time to gain professional experience in New York City and beyond. Other offerings include project development labs and an annual symposium, both of which emphasize interdisciplinary learning and the exploration of new storytelling tools and methods. Contribute to Magnum Foundation to help cultivate future generations of vital image-makers.