The Africa Center Awarded $100,000 Cultural Development Fund Grant From NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The Africa Center is one of 1,171 cultural organizations across New York City to receive support as part of the City's largest-ever $74.3 million Cultural Development Fund
(New York, NY - March 11, 2026) - The Africa Center, a nonprofit institution committed to the principle that a just and peaceful world begins with a flourishing Africa in deep communion with the diaspora, today announced it was awarded a Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grant from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
The Africa Center is one of 1,171 cultural organizations across the five boroughs to be granted a portion of $74.3 million in CDF grants, receiving an individual grant of more than $100,000 in city funding. The grant will be used to support an array of initiatives at The Africa Center, including public programming and exhibitions.
“We are grateful to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for their sustained support,” said Ambassador Martin Kimani, President and CEO of The Africa Center. “The grant strengthens our ability to deliver innovative programming, deepen community engagement, and ensures The Africa Center can continue to serve as a welcoming space where communities can gather, learn, and celebrate the global impact of African art, culture, and policy.”
“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.”
Official award notifications were sent to FY26 CDF grantees in December 2025. Learn more and find a full list of this year's CDF grantees in the city’s official press release.
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About The Africa Center
The Africa Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution committed to the principle that a just and peaceful world begins with a flourishing Africa in deep communion with its diaspora. Located in New York City, The Africa Center convenes artists, creatives, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to shape artistic expression, narratives, investments, and partnerships critical to the prosperous and secure future of Africa and its diaspora.