New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is doubling the city’s artist grants, giving rappers and other creators access to up to $10,000.
The increase marks the first boost to the city-funded grants in nearly two decades.
Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Julie Su and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij announced the change Friday.
Individual artists and small nonprofits can now apply for grants worth up to $10,000. The previous ceiling was $5,000.
The money is available to artists across all five boroughs, including rappers, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, writers and painters.
Mamdani said artists face the same soaring costs as other New Yorkers.
“Artists are working New Yorkers with the same costs as everyone else,” Mamdani said. “Doubling these grants is a critical step” toward helping creators afford to remain in the city.
The grants will be distributed through local arts councils and other city-funded partners. Applications are open in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. Staten Island’s application period begins in November.
The city is also offering artists another perk: free creative supplies.
Materials for the Arts will launch a dedicated shopping day for current artist grantees beginning this month. Eligible artists can access donated materials on a monthly basis.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani Doubles NYC Artists Grants To $10k, Rappers Allowed To Apply
The program collects about 4 million pounds of donated materials each year. Those supplies are distributed to nonprofits, schools and city agencies with cultural programs.
Vij said the expanded grants followed six months of town halls and listening sessions with artists across the city.
“I’ve spent the past six months in town halls and listening sessions with working artists across every borough,” Vij said.
“These increased grants and free resources from Materials for the Arts represent our first step,” she added.
Brooklyn Arts Council President Rasu Jilani said the increase addresses long-standing financial pressures facing artists.
“Raising the grant ceiling to $10,000 is a long overdue recognition of what it costs to live and make art in New York City,” Jilani said.
For rappers and other working artists, the larger grants offer more money to create, produce and sustain their careers in an increasingly expensive city.
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