NeON Arts Grants
NeON℠ Arts, a program of the NYC Department of Probation in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, offers young people in New York City the chance to explore the arts through workshops in a variety of artistic disciplines, including dance, digital media, music, poetry, theater, and visual arts. This summer, NeON Arts will recruit more than 300 young people ages 18–24 to Beautify NYC, collaborative arts programs for young people that transform public spaces into artistic spaces. This program is made possible by the New York City Artist Corps and the City Cleanup Corps (NYC CCC).
Beautify NYC enables young adults and artists to work together to learn and create 21 public art projects in the seven NeON neighborhoods: Staten Island, East New York, Jamaica, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, South Bronx, and Harlem.
Carnegie Hall invites artists and arts organizations to submit proposals to lead public arts projects with New York City-participants this summer. NeON Arts provides funding to New York City artists and arts organizations to produce programs in partnership with the DOP’s Neighborhood Opportunity Networks (NeONs), which connect local residents to opportunities, resources, and services in their neighborhoods. For more information about the NeONs, visit the NYC DOP.
Contact Us
For more information, email NeON Arts: NeONArts@carnegiehall.org.
Beautify NYC Project Details
- Projects should last 12 weeks.
- Project should engage participants for 12 hours per week.
- Based on the project and activity, this can include hybrid virtual and in-person instruction.
- Projects should be structured to work with 14 participants (ages 18–24).
- Projects will take place in NeON Arts Neighborhoods: Staten Island, East New York, Jamaica, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, South Bronx, and Harlem.
- All forms of art will be considered, including mural and art installations, video or photography, music production, virtual reality, and more.
- Grant amounts range from $18–$23 thousand.
- There are two project timelines available in early summer and late summer.
Early Summer Timeline
- Deadline to Submit Letter of Interest: June 21
- Select Applicants Invited to Submit Full Proposals: June 24
- Full Proposal Deadline: June 30
- Grant Winners Notified: July 7
- Project Begins: July 12
- Project Ends: September 27
Late Summer Timeline
- Deadline to Submit letter of Interest: July 1
- Select Applicants Invited to Submit Full Proposals: July 19
- Full Proposal Deadline: July 26
- Grant Winners Notified: August 2
- Project Begins: August 9
- Project Ends: October 25
Grantee Requirements
- You are available to collaborate with Carnegie Hall staff and stakeholders to plan, implement, and execute a public arts workshop.
- Your past work in the arts has been conducted in at least one of the five boroughs of New York City.
- You have previous experience working with young adults.
- You are able to plan and produce a final event that allows participants to share their work and accomplishments.
Submit a Letter of Interest
If you are interested in being considered for a grant, please email a brief letter of interest to NeONArts@CarnegieHall.org that includes the following information:
- Arts mission statement (100 words max)
- Short project summary (250 words max) with descriptions of the primary activity and goals
- Your website or links to previous works or engagements
- “Beautify NYC” in the email subject line
Proposal Submission
Carnegie Hall staff will review letters of interest and invite select artists and organizations to submit a full proposal. The proposal will consist of a project outline—elaborating on your initial pitch—and a project budget. Templates for both the outline and budget will be provided by Carnegie Hall staff.
Project Selection
Carnegie Hall staff will review submitted proposals and select projects based on the feasibility of the project, anticipated impact, and the needs of the community.
Additional Information
- You do not have to be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or have a fiscal sponsor to apply.
- Partnerships can be valuable to the success of NeON Arts projects. While it is not required, applicants are encouraged to explore partnerships with organizations both within and outside of the arts.
NeON Arts is a program of the NYC Department of Probation in partnership with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.
Lead support is provided through NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s Innovative Criminal Justice Programs Initiative with sponsorship by Council Members Keith Powers, Vanessa Gibson, and Jimmy Van Bramer.
Major support is provided by The Kresge Foundation.
Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of New York through Council Members Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Vanessa Gibson, Robert Holden, and Deborah Rose, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Young Men's Initiative.