Comprehensive Studies for Capital Projects

Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are eligible to apply. Applicant must own the resource or hold at least a 6-year lease, MOU, or stewardship agreement. In the case of a lease or other agreement, the owner must be a municipality or another 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The historic resource that is the subject of the study must be used for public-facing arts and cultural purposes.

• Building condition reports

• Cultural landscape reports

• Historic structure reports

Preservation Planning for Communities

501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organizations receive priority consideration; other 501(c)(3) organizations and municipalities are eligible to apply. The project area that is the subject of the survey or nomination must include a clear arts/cultural connection, such as a district anchored by a nonprofit performing arts venue, museum, art gallery, etc. Districts that are mainly commercial or residential without a clear arts/cultural component are not eligible.

• Cultural resource surveys

• National Register of Historic Places historic district nominations

Requests of up to $20,000 are allowed. Applicants must contribute at least 20% of the project cost as a cash match. PNY will fund up to 80% of the project cost.

In-kind services and staff time do not count toward match requirements. The Preservation League and NYSCA expect to see a project budget that reflects the applicant’s meaningful commitment to the project. The consultant fee should reflect the applicant’s understanding of the value of these professional services. Please note that this program may not be able to fully fund the grant amounts requested.

The application process is entirely online. Prospective applicants must first complete a pre-application to determine eligibility and receive the full application link. The pre-application is available until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025 and the deadline to submit final applications is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025. Applicants will be notified by email approximately 12 weeks after the application deadline.

Applications that meet one or more of these funding priorities will receive priority consideration.

• Projects that identify and preserve histories, places, and culture associated with underrepresented communities and/or that address issues of social justice, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (see below for an explanation of underrepresented communities, as defined by NYSCA).

• Projects that respond to challenges created by climate change.

The Preservation League and its regrant partner, the New York State Council on the Arts, embrace the widest spectrum of cultural expression and artistic pluralism and encourage funded organizations to demonstrate a holistic and comprehensive commitment to DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and access). NYSCA interprets underrepresented communities as including, but not limited to: African American/Caribbean, Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Native American/Indigenous communities; People in areas with scarce cultural resources (including rural communities); disabled communities; LGBTQIA+ communities; neurodiverse communities; underserved older adults; veterans; low income and unhoused populations; as well as justice involved juveniles and adults.

Historic Structure Reports: A historic structure report (HSR) is a comprehensive building documentation study, usually undertaken at the beginning of a major restoration or rehabilitation project. An HSR provides documentary, graphic, and physical information about a property’s history and existing condition. An HSR also addresses management or owner goals for the use, re-use, or interpretation of the property. A complete historic structure report should include:

• Description of the building’s architectural, ownership, and occupant history

• Building construction chronology

• Existing conditions assessment

• Drawings (may include sketches and measured drawings) and photographs 

• Recommendations for preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation, consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards 

• Preliminary cost estimates

For more information on historic structure reports, see the National Park Service’s Preservation Brief 43, The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports.

Building Condition Reports: A condition report is a comprehensive document that provides a thorough understanding of condition issues and how to address them. A condition report can be useful in a maintenance plan or as a road map for a larger rehabilitation project. A condition report should include:

• Architectural analysis of the resource’s overall existing conditions, interior and/or exterior; can include consultation by a structural engineer if necessary

• Illustrations, either drawings (may include sketches and measured drawings) or photographs

• Prioritized recommendations for the resource’s preservation, including maintenance and repair

• Preliminary cost estimates for repairs

Cultural Landscape Reports: A cultural landscape report (CLR) is a comprehensive landscape documentation study, usually undertaken at the beginning of a major restoration or rehabilitation project, that helps guide the future management of a cultural landscape. A complete CLR should include, at a minimum:

• Description of the historic/physical development of the landscape

• Analysis of the landscape’s existing conditions

• Drawings (may include sketches and measured drawings) and photographs

• Treatment recommendations to preserve, restore, or rehabilitate the landscape

• Preliminary cost estimates

For more information on cultural landscape reports, see National Park Service Preservation Brief 36, Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment, and Management of Historic Landscapes and the NPS webpage on Cultural Landscape Reports and References.

Cultural Resource Surveys: A cultural resource survey identifies, documents, and recognizes historic buildings, structures, and areas. A survey is undertaken when creating historic districts or otherwise planning for the preservation and revitalization of a historic area. A survey may be defined geographically (e.g., a downtown commercial district or an entire village) or thematically (e.g., barns or canal-related buildings throughout a town, work of a particular architect, or a survey of public art). Depending on the project goals and how much survey work has been completed previously, support may be available for the preparation of:

• Broad historic overview and existing conditions statements

• Detailed descriptions of the historic buildings and sites within the survey area

• Statements of historic and architectural significance

• Photographs and maps

National Register of Historic Places Historic District Nominations: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. A historic district is a group of buildings, structures, and sites that are significant for their historical and physical relationships to each other. Properties in districts are not usually significant individually but gain meaning from their proximity and association with each other. A district may include any number of properties. Large historic districts are usually identified through comprehensive cultural/historic resources surveys (see above). A district nomination includes detailed descriptions of resources, precise identification and thorough justification of property boundaries, and the names and addresses of every legal property owner. PNY-funded nominations should be prepared by a qualified professional historic preservation consultant.  

Before applying for cultural resource survey projects and National Register nominations, please contact the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to discuss your project. To find your representative staff person, please visit the SHPO website contact page, or call Chelsea Towers, Survey and National Register Unit Coordinator, 518.268.2129.

For information about the National Register, please visit the National Park Service website and the NY SHPO website. The National Park Service has links to all of its National Register informational Bulletins and Brochures, listed here. These brochures range from the basics on how to apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, to guides on evaluating and documenting many different types of cultural resources.