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>> The Arts Initiative

The Union Square Awards program was established in 1998 by an anonymous donor to encourage grassroots activism as a means of strengthening communities in New York City. In 2005, in recognition of the important and leadership role played by arts and culture in creating educational opportunities, building community and promoting social change, the Union Square Awards launched an Arts Initiative. Its purpose is to provide support to innovative and creative arts programs that are engaging youth and families in low-income communities across the city, especially those providing services to populations with limited access to the arts due to geography, language or economics. Consideration will be given to all artistic disciplines - dance, theater, music, visual arts, media arts and creative writing.

Prospective grantees will be identified through a nomination process, and nominations will be accepted from September and through the end of February. Each is reviewed as received, and the names of the organizations emerging as the strongest candidates are submitted to the Union Square Awards Selection Panel. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 will be distributed once a year in June.

We are currently working on updating our online nomination forms.

Please submit your nominations to Irini Neofotistos at ineofotistos@unionsquareawards.org, by fax to 212-213-6372 or by mail to Union Square Awards, 281 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010.

In your nomination please include the following information:
- Name of the organization or project.
- Name of organizational contact including their phone number, fax number, email address and mailing address.
- A brief narrative describing the nominee’s work and the reasons why you think this project or organization should receive the award.
- Your name, contact information and relationship to the organization.