Dance/NYC 2026-2028 Dance Program

Overview
The Dance Advancement Fund, now in its fifth iteration, is a grant program administered by Dance/NYC and made possible by the Howard Gilman Foundation and Ford Foundation. It is designed to support dance-making organizations and groups based in the New York City metropolitan area. The fund specifically targets entities with operating budgets between $25,000 and $250,000, a range that often encompasses small to mid-sized dance companies and collectives that are vital to the city's cultural ecosystem but may not have access to larger institutional funding. This iteration of the fund, covering 2026-2028, continues a commitment to sustaining dance-making in New York City. While the exact grant amount and number of awards are not specified in the provided information, the program's focus on organizations within this budget range suggests an intention to provide meaningful support that can stabilize and advance the work of these groups. The involvement of the Howard Gilman Foundation and Ford Foundation underscores a philanthropic investment in the diversity and resilience of the dance field. The curatorial vision behind the Dance Advancement Fund is to nurture the infrastructure of dance in New York City by supporting organizations and groups that are making work and serving communities. By targeting this specific budget range, the fund acknowledges the particular challenges faced by small and mid-sized dance entities, including limited administrative capacity and financial precarity. The grant is likely intended to help these organizations sustain operations, develop new work, and deepen their impact. As with previous iterations, the fund aims to foster a vibrant and equitable dance landscape in the metropolitan area.