We’re pleased to share that the FY2026 New York State Budget has been finalized—and thanks to ongoing advocacy across the state, the arts have remained a clear priority.

NYSCA Secures $172 Million in the Final Budget

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) will receive a total of $172 million in the FY2026 enacted budget. While this represents a modest 1.7% decrease from last year, it significantly exceeds the Governor’s original proposal of $111.5 million—a clear signal that lawmakers recognize the essential role the arts play in New York’s communities and economy.

Here’s how the enacted NYSCA budget breaks down:

  • $84 million in Aid to Localities – a 5.6% decrease from FY2025, but a major improvement from the Governor’s proposed $63.5 million
  • $80 million in Capital Projects – unchanged from FY2025, and double the amount initially proposed by the Governor
  • $7.98 million in State Operations – a 34% increase from FY2025, supporting NYSCA’s internal capacity and service to the field

Want to dive into the numbers? Click here to review the full budget summary.

Federal Support Continues

The budget also includes $1.81 million in projected NEA funds, which amounts to just over 1% of NYSCA’s total budget. While NEA Senior Advisor Mary Anne Carter has affirmed that federal arts council funding will not be cut this year, federal advocacy efforts remain vital to ensuring ongoing investment in the creative sector.

Advocacy Makes a Difference

Another win for statewide arts advocacy: ArtsNYS received $125,000 in the FY2026 budget to support the Empire Arts Summit, a convening for arts leaders across New York. We’re especially proud to note that ASI Executive Director Jen Swan-Kilpatrick serves as co-chair of ArtsNYS and helped champion this effort.

What’s Next?

We encourage you to reach out to your state representatives to thank them for prioritizing the arts in this year’s budget. A simple message of appreciation goes a long way in building continued support.

We also continue to monitor the federal budget process, which could have ripple effects at the state level. We’ll keep our community informed as those developments unfold.