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“These awards always have a tremendous impact on the lives of the recipients, but this year they will be especially meaningful,” explained Michael L. Royce, the executive director of NYFA, which recently conducted a survey that revealed that almost half of the artists living in New York State make less than $25,000 annually. “Artists across the state are suffering from substantial losses of income, and these fellowships will provide them with the resources that they need.”

Jackie Brookner, who received her third NYFA grant this year in the field of interdisciplinary work, said in a phone interview that the support she gets from NYFA gives her the breathing space in terms of time and money to work on special projects such as a bird-nesting and water-cleaning project in Finland and a community revitalization and ecological project in St. Louis, Missouri.

“The grant gives me a little extra boost and the recognition is important,” she said. “It’s an affirmation.”

Chitra Ganesh, a grantee in the printmaking/drawing/artists’ books category, is spending her money on health insurance and rent for her studio. "Things have been tight for everyone with the current economy but especially for artists who often don't have health insurance," Ganesh said. "NYFA's grant is designated for unrestricted use, and that means more freedom — you can chose to take care of your basic needs."

NYFA distributed $917,000 in grants this year in eight categories — crafts, digital/electronic arts, film, interdisciplinary work, nonfiction literature, poetry, and printmaking/drawing/artists books — as part of its efforts to empower artists, although the economy has took a toll on the organization as well. Its grants for 2009 are down from the $952,000 it gave to 144 artists in 2008.

Since 1985, when the fellowship awards began, NYFA has awarded more than $22 million to over 3,688 early and mid-career artists in 16 disciplines. Past recipients include filmmakers Tamara Jenkins and Spike Lee, poet Billy Collins, theater director Julie Taymor, and artists Barbara Kruger, Ross Bleckner, Carroll Dunham, and Andres Serrano.

Support is provided by organizations including the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Buitoni, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, and the Alex G. Nason Foundation.