Hochul Named Partners for New Mural Program
Governor Kathy Hochul selected 12 community organizations to lead the 2026 state mural initiative.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Governor Kathy Hochul announced the selection of 12 community partners to manage the 2026 Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals (CHARM) program. This initiative will fund the creation of 40 new public murals across more than 30 New York counties.
Why it matters
The CHARM program aims to boost local economies and revitalize public spaces by transforming them into regional cultural landmarks. By collaborating with community organizations, the state seeks to foster unique artistic expressions that celebrate local narratives and landscapes.
The 2026 program will feature 12 community partners across New York, a shift from the 21 counties served by 57 murals in 2025. The initiative is overseen by the New York State Council on the Arts, which maintains operations across 10 state regions.
The players
Kathy Hochul
She is the current Governor of New York who oversees state-level policy and funding initiatives.
New York State Council on the Arts
This state agency administers various arts programs and manages grant distributions across 10 regions.
The details
Selected community partners are responsible for developing mural concepts, hosting educational programming, and collaborating with local stakeholders. All resulting murals are designated to be publicly accessible sites once completed.
Timeline
The 2025 initiative successfully funded 57 murals across 21 counties.
Governor Hochul announced the 12 selected partners for the 2026 cycle.
Project organizers expect the 40 new murals to be finished by October 2026.
Market Landscape
The expansion of the CHARM program reflects a broader trend of utilizing public art as a catalyst for local economic development and urban revitalization. This program aligns with the New York State Council on the Arts strategy to distribute cultural resources across all 10 regions of the state.
Residents across more than 30 counties can expect to see new, publicly accessible murals installed in their communities by October 2026. These projects provide opportunities for citizens to engage with local artists and educational programming focused on regional history.
The takeaway
The CHARM program highlights how state-level cultural funding can be effectively decentralized through regional partners. Residents interested in local art should monitor their county government updates for project concepts and educational event schedules.
Further reading
Learn more about local funding efforts by visiting the Philanthropy section.
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Do you believe state-funded public art projects improve your local community?
