Local arts organizations have received more than $300,000 in funding through the New York State Council on the Arts 2026 grant program, supporting arts education, environmental programming, and live theater.
The funding was secured through the efforts of Senator Dean Murray and Assembly members Joe DeStefano and Jarett Gandolfo.
“Providing funding to the arts serves as a very smart investment that offers incredible returns in the form of economic impact and job creation,” Senator Murray noted.
“ArtBeat LI, Inc. of Patchogue was awarded $10,000 to support arts education programming, while the Center for Environmental Education and Discovery, headquartered in Brookhaven, received $10,000 for its multidisciplinary initiatives. The Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County in Bellport secured $25,000 to support theater programming and organizational operations.
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove received $25,000, while the Herstory Writers Network of Centereach was awarded $49,500. The Patchogue Arts Council and the Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center, also in Patchogue, each received $49,500, and the Long Island Arts Alliance was awarded $100,000.
“These grants are about strengthening organizations that educate, inspire, and bring people together,” said Assemblyman DeStefano. “These groups do tremendous work, often with limited resources, and this funding helps them keep their doors open, expand programming, and reach new audiences.”
The grants are administered by the state Council on the Arts and are part of a broader statewide commitment to sustaining cultural organizations and creative programming. Funding supports operating expenses, community outreach, and initiatives that bring the arts to schools, senior centers, and local venues.
“These investments will not only strengthen our communities and serve as economic drivers, but also enrich our local culture through support of the arts,” Assemblyman Gandolfo stated.
This year’s overall investment of $161 million in Council on the Arts funding is expected to generate a return of more than $160 billion statewide—exceeding the economic impact of the agriculture, construction, and retail sectors combined—according to Senator Murray. The funding is also expected to create more than 400,000 jobs.