All CAP Grants

CAP has grant programs for Tompkins County artists and not-for-profits!

The Community Arts Partnership (CAP) has four 2027 grant programs for Tompkins County public arts events, artist-in-community projects, arts education residencies in pre-k-12, and artist career opportunities.

Since its founding in 1992, CAP has administered more than $8.6 million in funding to Tompkins County arts organizations, municipalities, nonprofits, and individual artists.

Contact Robin with Questions!

Robin Schwartz, CAP Grant and Program Director, programs@artspartner.org

2026 Final Report Forms

For GAP, Artist in Community Grant and Arts Education Grant, Google Link HERE
For Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS) Grant, Google Link HERE

2027 Grants

Workshops: Grant Overview and Proposal Writing Advice

Grants for Arts Programs (aka GAP Grant)
Artist in Community Grant
Arts Education Grant
Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS)

(2027 - 2028 Arts & Cultural Organizational Development Grant - ACOD)

Register for CAP Grant Overview & Grant Writing Advice Workshops!

Robin, CAP Program and Grant Director, presents a brief overview of CAP's grant programs. Most of the presentation is great proposal writing advice!

ZOOM WORKSHOPS

Wed, Nov. 18, 6:00 - 7:15pm. Registration Required HERE
Thurs, Jan 7, 6:00 - 7:15pm. Registration Required HERE

IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS

Please Reqister HERE for any of the five following workshops.

Mon, Nov. 23, 6:00 to 7:15pm. CAP ArtSpace, Downtown Ithaca.
Wed, Dec. 16, 6:00 to 7:15pm. Dryden Center for Community
Thursday, Dec. 17, 5:30 to 6:45pm. Ulysses Library, Trumansburg
Thurs, Jan 14, 2027. 6:00 to 7:15pm, CAP ArtSpace, Downtown Ithaca
PENDING: Greater Ithaca Activities Center in January

Workshop Recording

A workshop recording will be here by November 7th.

Grants for Arts Programs (GAP)

FOR:
The GAP Grant funds exemplary arts programming open to the general public in Tompkins County, such as performances (theatre, music, dance), visual art exhibitions, literary events (fiction, poetry, spoken word, creative non-fiction) and artistic films.
GAP support enables artists and organizations to enhance the artistic cultural climate in our communities and neighborhoods through arts events.

WHO CAN APPLY:
* Tompkins County not-for-profits.
(Note: organizations applying directly to NYSCA cannot apply, nor can they be fiscal sponsors or community partners.)
* Municipalities and Tribal Nations
* Individual artists (or groups) using a Tompkins County not-for-profit as fiscal sponsor.
* New this year: Individuals or groups can apply directly if there is a strong Tompkins County "Community Partner" which can be a for-profit business, a not-for-profit or community organization.
(See Past Grantees here)

DUE DATE:
Thursday, February 4th, 2027, 11:59pm for January 1, 2027 to January 31, 2028 events.

TO APPLY:
GAP Grant GUIDELINES
(The application is filled out on an online prortal, explained in Guidelines)

GAP Grant .xlxs BUDGET FORM
(Contact Robin - email at top of page- if you need it the budget in a differnet format. FYI: You can open .xlxs in google sheets if you don't have excel or mac numbers.)

A PROGRAM OF NYSCA:
This grant is part of New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) "Statewide Community Regrant" program and is made possible by NYSCA with the support of the Office of the Governor an d the New York State Legislature.

Artist in Community Grant (AICG)

FOR:
Tompkins County full-time resident practicing artists who wish to apply for a grant to create NEW WORK within a community setting with community involvement - whether through direct hands-on art making or through input/feedback/interaction.

WHO CAN APPLY:
* Tompkins County Artist(s): must be current full-time residents of Tompkins County since 10/1/2026, expect to continue full-time residency through 12/31/2028, 18 years of age as of1/1/2027, and not be enrolled in a 2027 full time graduate or undergraduate degree program.
* (Note: artist applying directly to NYSCA cannot apply)
(See past grantees here)

DUE DATE:
Monday, February 8th, 11:59pm for January 1, 2027 to January 31, 2028 programs.

TO APPLY:
Artist-in-Community Grant GUIDELINES
(The application is filled out on an online prortal, explained in Guidelines)

Artist-in-Community Grant .xlxs BUDGET FORM
(Contact Robin - email at top of page- if you need it the budget in a differnet format. FYI: You can open .xlxs in google sheets if you don't have excel or mac numbers.)

Arts Education Grant

FOR:
Tompkins County teaching artist residencies in pre-K-12 public schools/after school programs, or for a closed group of pre-K-12 learners at community organizations.

WHO CAN APPLY:
* Tompkins County Artist(s): must be current full-time residents of Tompkins County since 10/1/2026, expect to continue full-time residency through 12/31/2028, 18 years of age as of1/1/2027, and not be enrolled in a 2027 full time graduate or undergraduate degree program.
* Tompkins County Arts Organizations, Municipalities, Cultural Organizations.
(Note: organizations applying directly to NYSCA cannot apply)
(See past grantees here)

DUE DATE:
Wednesday, February 10th, 11:59pm for January 1, 2027 to January 31, 2028 programs.

TO APPLY:
Arts Education Grant GUIDELINES
(The application is filled out on an online prortal, explained in Guidelines)

Arts Education grant .xlxs BUDGET FORM
(Contact Robin - email at top of page- if you need it the budget in a differnet format. FYI: You can open .xlxs in google sheets if you don't have excel or mac numbers.)

Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS)

FOR:
CAP’s SOS grant is for artists who are full-time residents of Tompkins County with a consistent record of producing art. Artists can apply for a specific and strategic opportunity anywhere in the world taking place from January 1st, 2027 - February 29th, 2028 that will take their artistic career to the next level. Awards range from $100 to $800.

WHO CAN APPLY:
Tompkins County practicing full-time resident artists

FUNDING:
Funding for SOS comes from CAP fundraising, a private foundation, and the Community Foundation of Tompkins County's Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund.

DUE DATE:
Thursday, February 18th, 11:59pm for January 1, 2027 to February 29, 2028 opportunities.

TO APPLY:
SOS GUIDELINES
(The application is filled out on an online prortal, explained in Guidelines)

SOS .xlxs BUDGET FORM
(Contact Robin - email at top of page- if you need it the budget in a differnet format. FYI: You can open .xlxs in google sheets if you don't have excel or mac numbers.)

Arts & Cultural Organizational Development (ACOD)
(Renamed for 2027: Tompkins County Cultural Investment Program)

The Tompkins County Tourism Program is now administering this grant.

Contact: Nick Helmholdt - Principal Planner - Tourism Program Director, Tompkins County Planning Department
(607) 274-5560, nhelmholdt@tompkins-co.org

* The grant is on a two-year cycle. Applications for 2027 & 2028 will be available later this fall and will be due in December 2026.

* Grants support organizations that enhance Tompkins County’s brand as an artistic and cultural destination. The grants provide general operating support to local public museums and performing/visual arts organizations.

* Organizations interested in applying may contact Nick (see above) Grant guidelines and application instructions will be available at www.tompkinscountyny.gov/tourism/grants

Grantees: Download CAP Logos

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