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The Center for Architecture’s NEA Funding Was Cut, and We Need Your Support

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May 7, 2025
by Center for Architecture
Group of students and a teacher standing in a classroom surrounded by models of bridges
Second graders from PS 42M share their bridges and bridge books at the culmination of a LBD:NY program. Photo: Center for Architecture.
Students stand around a hand-made model of a neighborhood
After learning about different types of buildings, the first graders at PS 276M in Battery Park City built a model neighborhood, with buildings straight out of their imagination. The class voted to name their neighborhood “Minihattan.” Photo: Center for Architecture.
4th graders at PS 343 show off their designs as part of their Learning By Design: NY residency on the architecture of New Amsterdam. Photo: Center for Architecture.
4th graders at PS 343 show off their designs as part of their Learning By Design: NY residency on the architecture of New Amsterdam. Photo: Center for Architecture.
Students stand in front of a model of an arch bridge.
As part of their Building Bridges LBD:NY residency, students at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan learned the fundamentals of bridge engineering. Photo: Center for Architecture.
Students stand in front of a model of a wigwam as parents gather around
The 3rd graders at PS 343M in Lower Manhattan dove into early New York City history with a study of the Lenape Tribe. Together, they built a Lenape fishing village complete with wigwam. Photo: Center for Architecture.
Students in a classroom sitting in front of a table showing models of multi-family housing structures
PS 11K 2nd graders augmented their study of NYC history by looking at how housing had changed over time, from the earliest Lenape dwellings to Dutch colonial houses, rowhouses, tenements and today’s high-rise apartments. Working in design teams, students created a 3D timeline of NYC’s residential architecture, charting the city’s growth. Photo: Center for Architecture.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Late last Friday, the Center for Architecture received notification from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that our grant funding, which supports our hands-on architecture and design residency programs in public schools across New York City, has been terminated. We are not alone in this; hundreds of other organizations, including many of our architecture and design peer organizations in New York, received similar messages.

We were anticipating this news, and our team is working hard to plug the gap that the loss of $30,000 in grant funding creates. And right now, we need your help.

The Center for Architecture will continue to bring our programs to public schools and communities across New York City but moving forward without this longstanding funder will present a significant challenge. Your support is needed to fund our K-12 programming.

Our in-school programs prioritize New York City public schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income households, and which have limited access to funding for arts education. Our K-12 team is working at full capacity to meet the high demand for our services and we already have a growing waitlist of schools hoping to join our program. Every contribution will have a direct impact on our ability to serve NYC public school students and families in the coming months.

While we pursue an appeal and contact our elected officials, we hope you will make a gift to support our work of delivering exceptional K-12 educational experiences to schools and community organizations that cannot otherwise afford our specialized programs.

In a changing and challenging fundraising landscape, your support at this critical moment will help the Center for Architecture continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young New Yorkers.

Make Your Donation Today >

 

With Gratitude,

Jesse Lazar signature

Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA
Executive Director, AIA New York and the Center for Architecture

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