Statewide Community Regrants

Founded in 1977, New York State Council on the Arts' (NYSCA) Decentralization Program (DEC) was developed to ensure that New York State's cultural funding reaches every part of the state. As of FY2022, this program is called the Statewide Community Regrants Program (SCR). SCR has become one of the Council's most effective means of making arts support available to geographically, economically, and ethnically diverse segments of the state's population. The program is administered statewide and funds volunteer community organizations as well as established non-profit corporations with paid professional staff. Grants can prioritize program quality over quantity of viewers/participants. The program forms the cornerstone of the Council's partnership with local arts agencies throughout the state, providing a link between the Council and portions of the community that might not otherwise be able to access funding from NYSCA.

Auburn Public Theater is the SCR regrant site for Cayuga, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties. Our 2026 SCR Cycle available funding amount for all projects is $96,037. Applications are open until 11:59PM March, 8th 2026.

Statewide Community Regrants serve as an umbrella for three distinct funding categories: Community Arts, Arts Education and Individual Artists.

Auburn Public Theater's Statewide Community Regrants is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.