{"id":24594,"date":"2025-05-27T15:39:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/multi.nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/brooklyn-arts-council-to-distribute-record-1-82-million-in-grants-for-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T15:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T19:39:07","slug":"brooklyn-arts-council-to-distribute-record-1-82-million-in-grants-for-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/brooklyn-arts-council-to-distribute-record-1-82-million-in-grants-for-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn Arts Council to Distribute Record $1.82 Million in Grants for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>Brooklyn Arts Council<\/b> (BAC) is making history with its largest-ever funding allocation, distributing a record-breaking $1.82 million in grants to Brooklyn-based artists, creatives, and cultural organizations in 2025. This milestone marks the highest total awarded in the nonprofit\u2019s 57-year history.<\/span><\/p>\n

Largest-Ever Creative Cohort Announced<\/span><\/h2>\n

The 2025 Creative Cohort includes 378 grant recipients, with $1.17 million awarded to 299 individual artists and organizations. An additional $653,000 is earmarked for 79 teaching artists who will lead 104 residencies in schools and older adult centers across the borough.<\/span><\/p>\n

BAC continues to serve as Brooklyn\u2019s leading nonprofit arts organization, producing cultural events and supporting artists in communities that have historically faced systemic barriers. This year, 49% of BAC\u2019s total funding will go directly to neighborhoods like Brownsville, Crown Heights, East New York, and Sunset Park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in Brooklyn\u2019s Cultural Vitality<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cAt BAC, we firmly believe in the vital role the arts play in shaping the social and cultural contours of our community,\u201d said <\/span>Rasu Jilani, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Arts Council<\/b>. \u201cDespite ongoing budget cuts and significant reductions in arts funding, BAC remains committed to supporting and nurturing Brooklyn\u2019s creative ecosystem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jilani emphasized BAC\u2019s ongoing expansion since the pandemic, noting an increase in grant opportunities each year. \u201cBy intentionally investing in local artists and cultural institutions that elevate diverse voices, we affirm our values and deepen our commitment to the cultural vitality that defines Brooklyn,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Funding Partnerships and New Opportunities<\/span><\/h2>\n

BAC has partnered with the <\/span>New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)<\/b> and the <\/span>New York City Department of Cultural Affairs<\/b> to administer $916,000 through three funding streams: the <\/span>Brooklyn Arts Fund<\/b>, <\/span>Local Arts Support<\/b>, and the <\/span>Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund<\/b>. In total, 274 artists and groups will benefit from these grants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Erika Mallin<\/b>, executive director of NYSCA, praised BAC\u2019s enduring impact. \u201cTo this year\u2019s BAC grantees: your creativity and innovation fuels all of us \u2014 from building community, to engaging learners of all ages, to making New York the global epicenter of arts and culture. Congratulations to you all on this achievement\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creative Equations Fund Supports Social Justice in the Arts<\/span><\/h2>\n

In addition, <\/span>BAC\u2019s Creative Equations Fund <\/b>\u2014 which emphasizes arts for social justice \u2014 will distribute $250,000 to 25 grantees. The fund, backed by the <\/span>Howard Gilman Foundation<\/b> and the <\/span>Mertz Gilmore Foundation<\/b>, supports projects centered on justice, equity, sustainability, diversity, dance, and cultural heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leah Krauss<\/b>, senior program officer at the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, highlighted the importance of this initiative: \u201cBy developing values-driven structures, BAC nurtures creative risk-taking, honors creative expression and diversity, and anchors and expands Brooklyn\u2019s sense of place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in Arts Education and Older Adults<\/span><\/h3>\n

BAC is also investing $269,000 in 56 in-school residencies through its <\/span>Arts in Education (AIE)<\/b> programs like <\/span>CASA<\/b>, <\/span>Catalyst<\/b>, and <\/span>Global Rhythms<\/b>. These programs bring creative learning to classrooms, older adult centers, and community spaces across Brooklyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, the <\/span>Creative Aging: SU-CASA<\/b> program will award $384,000 to 48 teaching artists for residencies at older adult centers. Funded by the New York City Council and managed by the <\/span>Department of Cultural Affairs<\/b> and <\/span>Department for the Aging<\/b>, SU-CASA is the largest Creative Aging program in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laurie Cumbo, NYC\u2019s Cultural Affairs Commissioner<\/b>, celebrated this investment: \u201cWe provided BAC and arts councils across the city a 15% increase in funding, a recognition of the incredible work that artists do to provide affordable, accessible, uplifting programming for our residents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit <\/span>Brooklyn Arts Council<\/span><\/a> to view the full list of 2025 grant recipients.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) is making history with its largest-ever funding allocation, distributing a record-breaking $1.82 million in grants to Brooklyn-based artists, creatives, and cultural organizations in 2025. This milestone marks the highest total awarded in the nonprofit\u2019s 57-year history. Largest-Ever Creative Cohort Announced The 2025 Creative Cohort includes 378 grant recipients, with $1.17 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5893,"featured_media":24595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,2717],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-and-culture","category-bk-news"],"yoast_head":"\nBrooklyn Arts Council to Distribute Record $1.82 Million in Grants for 2025 - Brooklyn News and Events<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/brooklynbuzz\/brooklyn-arts-council-to-distribute-record-1-82-million-in-grants-for-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brooklyn Arts Council to Distribute Record $1.82 Million in Grants for 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) is making history with its largest-ever funding allocation, distributing a record-breaking $1.82 million in grants to Brooklyn-based artists, creatives, and cultural organizations in 2025. 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