Last month the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded a coveted Our Town grant to the City of New York. NYC’s new Space for Art program received one of only 51 grants issued nationwide.

New York City’s Space for Art program, a collaboration between the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department for the Aging, will receive $200,000 from the NEA to create artist-in-residence programs in senior living facilities in all five boroughs.

“Older New Yorkers and artists are both major contributors to the life of our City, and Space for Art gives them new opportunities to work together,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “Thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts ‘Our Town’ grant, this creative program will continue to contribute to our efforts to improve the City’s quality of life for people of all ages.”

The NEA grants support programs that foster public-private partnerships in addition to making a substantive community or social impact. The Space for Art program definitely seems to fit the bill.

The program will offer free studio space to artists in exchange for engaging aging residents with arts programing. Local arts councils will be posting shortly the application process for artists who would like to participate. Artists – check in with your local arts council!

New York City-based artists face a major challenge in finding affordable studio space to work in.

The Bare Square congratulates the Space for Art program, the NEA, NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Department for Aging as well as all of the people involved for their innovative arts program.

-Jen Wallace