Open House New York receives 2026 Cultural Development Fund Grant from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Open House New York has received an award of $79,035 from the City of New York as part of the city’s recent announcement of more than $74 million in Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grants to 1,171 cultural organizations across the five boroughs. The FY26 awards represent the largest-ever funding allocation for the CDF and the most-ever grantee organization, supporting affordable, accessible cultural programming across the city.
For OHNY, this CDF grant will support Open House New York Weekend, a five-borough festival celebrating design, culture, and infrastructure. OHNY Weekend opens 300+ locations throughout the city—many of which are not typically open to the public—for behind-the-scenes tours, talks, and special activities, giving thousands of New Yorkers and visitors an opportunity to explore and experience the city in new ways. The 24th annual OHNY Weekend will take place on October 16-18, 2026.
“OHNY Weekend highlights the breadth and diversity of the incredible cultural experiences NYC has to offer,” said Kristin LaBuz, Executive Director of OHNY. “We are grateful for this continued support from the Department of Cultural Affairs and are proud to provide a platform for creative organizations, many of whom are fellow CDF grantees, to connect with the public and raise awareness of their work.”
“New York City’s cultural community brings meaningful, affordable, and accessible cultural programs to every corner of the five boroughs,” said DCLA Assistant Commissioner for Program Services Audrey St. Clair. “With this historic investment through our Cultural Development Fund, we’re proud to support and partner with more than 1,000 cultural nonprofits citywide – working across disciplines, communities, and geographies – to lift up the creative sector that is so vital to our city. Art and culture can change lives, and that’s something every New Yorker deserves to experience.”
“This historic investment through the Cultural Development Fund reflects the central role arts and culture play in New York City’s identity and economic vitality. Supporting more than 1,100 organizations across all five boroughs means investing in the artists, administrators, and cultural workers who keep our communities vibrant and connected,” said Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations. “The fact that the overwhelming majority of grantees offer free or subsidized programming underscores the importance of public funding in keeping cultural access affordable and accessible for New Yorkers. As Chair, I remain committed to ensuring that our funding structures are transparent, stable, and responsive to the realities organizations face on the ground. Sustained investment in this sector is essential to preserving a cultural landscape that is diverse, community-rooted, and reflective of every neighborhood across our city.”
96% of all FY2026 CDF grantees offer free or subsidized programs to make cultural activity more affordable and accessible for New Yorkers. More than half of the recipient organizations are receiving funding as part of a multi-year award cycle following reforms that expanded eligibility for multi-year grants to all organizations, offering greater stability in funding for grantees. This year’s CDF also maintains a 15% increase in funding for the city’s borough arts councils, which goes support individual artists, collectives, and smaller organizations; support for the Language Access Fund, Disability Forward Fund, and Equity Fund to foster greater equity and access throughout the cultural sector; and discretionary funding from the City Council. With more than 84% of applicants receiving awards, DCLA continues to build on its commitment to leverage public funding in support of the broadest, most equitable group of cultural organizations possible.
Learn more and find a full list of this year’s CDF grantees in the city’s official press release.
Top photo: Hispanic Society Museum & Library. Credit: Josef Pinlac