Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program to Support Cultural Heritage and Artist-in-Residence Initiatives
Grand Isle, VT – The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in coordination with NEIWPCC, offers funding for projects that interpret the region’s natural and cultural resources, as well as Artist-in-Residence programs that engage the public through the arts.
Interpretive projects will further the goals of the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) and may fall into one of two categories: the CVNHP Special Program or Core Grant Program. Special Program grants are intended to support multi-jurisdictional or regional initiatives that interpret a “confluence” of any of the CVNHP’s three interpretive themes: Making of Nations, Corridor of Commerce, and Conservation & Community.
CVNHP Core Grant projects may highlight the above interpretive themes, engage youth in local heritage, support museum and library collections, or sponsor internships at museums and historic sites.
Artist-in-Residence projects will recruit artists to highlight the basin’s science, culture, and history to build greater public understanding and appreciation.
| Grant Program | Award Amount |
| CVNHP Special Program | $10,000 to $40,000 |
| Core Grant Program: “Confluence” Interpretive Theme Grants | Up to $10,000 |
| Core Grant Program: Internship Grants | Up to $10,000 |
| Core Grant Program: Collections Grants | Up to $10,000 |
| Core Grant Program: Local Heritage Grants | Up to $5,000 (local); up to $10,000 (regional / multi-jurisdictional) |
| Artist-in-Residence | Up to $40,000 |
“Both the cultural heritage and Artist-in-Residence grant programs exemplify one of our guiding principles: that appreciation leads to understanding, which leads to greater stewardship,” said Jim Brangan, Interim NEIWPCC Division Director of Lake Champlain Programs. “Through creative projects that interpret our connection to this region, partners are bringing more people into the shared effort to protect and restore the Lake Champlain watershed.”
Applicants to CVNHP grant programs will first submit a project pre-proposal and a subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal for funding consideration. Pre-proposals are due on October 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., and awarded projects are anticipated to begin work in December 2027.
Applicants to the Artist-in-Residence grant program will submit full proposals, due on September 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Awarded projects are targeted to begin work in February 2027. An additional RFP for 2027 Artist-in-Residence projects in Québec will be issued separately.
The CVNHP and Artist-in-Residence grant opportunities are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, respectively, on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
The CVNHP was established by the U.S. Congress in 2006 to recognize the importance of the historical, cultural, and recreational resources of the region and to assist efforts to preserve, protect, and interpret those resources. The National Heritage Area also works to enhance the quality of the tourism economy and to encourage working partnerships among state, provincial, and local governments and non-profit organizations in New York, Québec, and Vermont.
The 17th annual CVNHP International Summit will be held in Burlington, Vermont on September 23, 2026. While attendance is not required, the summit hosts a Foundant primer and offers networking opportunities to develop competitive projects for this funding opportunity. Please register at this link.
The proposal guidelines, list of eligible entities, submission requirements, and an electronic submission application link are available below:
- CVNHP Grants: https://champlainvalleynhp.org/resources/grants/
- Artist-in-Residence Grants: https://lcbp.org/grants/
For more information about CVNHP and Artist-in-Residence grants, please contact Jim Brangan at jbrangan@lcbp.org.
Posted: August 7th, 2026 under Adirondack Region News, Arts and Entertainment, Community Events, Education News, Lake Champlain News, Northern NY News, Regional NY-VT News.