NYSCA/Wave Farm Regrant Programs

NYSCA/Wave Farm: Media Arts Assistance Fund

MAAF for Organizations 2026

For organizations, the Media Arts Assistance Fund (MAAF) provides funds to support technical strategies for online development as well as to hire outside consultants to support organizational and professional development. Eligible organizations are current NYSCA grantees. Priority will be given to organizations that have missions specific to the media arts and dedicate the majority of their programming to technology as an art form. Applications from multi-disciplinary organizations that incorporate art and technology will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Opportunity: MAAF for Organizations

NYSCA supported organizations may apply for support in two categories:

Technical Strategies for Online Development
Outside Consultants for Organizational Development

A maximum request for each application is $2,500. Organizations may submit one request per application deadline. Each application must be for a separate and distinct request.

Application Due Dates:

Spring: May 1, 2026 (Project Period: June - December 31, 2026)
Fall: October 1, 2026 (Project Period: November 2026 - June 30, 2027)

Eligibility notes:

Applicants must be a 2025 or 2026 NYSCA Grantee.
Eligible organizations are current NYSCA grantees. Priority will be given to organizations that have missions specific to the media arts and dedicate the majority of their programming to technology as an art form. Applications from multi-disciplinary organizations that incorporate art and technology will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Organization-wide requests from multi-disciplinary organizations are not eligible for support.
Please note that MAAF defines media arts as creative expression in all genres of time-based and moving image media, including emergent technology. Activities where technology/platforms such as radio or the Internet is employed solely as a communications medium for expressions in other genres such as dance, folk arts, music, literature, and theatre are not considered eligible.
Organizations may submit one request per application deadline.
Each application must be for a separate and distinct request.
MAAF supports isolated work with an outside consultant that can be achieved within a single grant period (six months). On a case-by-case basis MAAF may support a second phase of previously supported work, but never a third phase or ongoing efforts. Please contact us with any questions.
Funding may not be used for general operating expenses, including staff salaries, or responsibilities that are typically addressed by salaried positions, such as grant writing. Please contact us with any questions.
Meals and hospitality are not eligible for MAAF support.
Funding may not be used for travel outside of New York State.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Organizations may not apply for new support with more than one other MAAF grant contract currently active. (i.e. in-progress or without a Final Report having been filed.)

Technical Strategies for Online Development

Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAAF Forward Fund helped organizations prioritize the role of technology in their transitions to remote operations and to online platforms for public engagement. In 2026, MAAF continues to support these activities with an eye toward research, planning, and implementation of long-term solutions.

Outside Consultants for Organizational Development

MAAF provides funds to hire outside consultants to support organizational and professional development. Consultants must be identified in advance of submitting an application for support.

Applications Must Be Submitted Online

Wave Farm uses the online platform Fillout for the MAAF application submission process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully and comprehensively read the information on this page before submitting an application. IMPORTANT NOTE: The application form must be completed in a single session. As such, it is highly recommended that you prepare your application offline in-advance.