Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts

New York, NY

The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts (EFA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists and fostering creative community in New York City, providing affordable studio space, print shop access, and programming for emerging and established artists. Its 75,000-square-foot Manhattan building is home to 95 artist studios and serves more than 300 printshop members, making it one of the most important artist-support facilities in the city.

A 2025 FCI Technical Assistance Grant funded a full-scale building assessment to evaluate all facility systems, energy use, and carbon output. The assessment culminated in creating a long-term roadmap for capital upgrades required to meet New York City's carbon reduction mandates and foster a healthier environment for studio artists and EFA audiences, with goals to decrease energy consumption by an estimated 25 percent and reduce emissions to 204 tCO2e/yr by 2030.

A 2026 FCI Implementation Grant will support first-phase upgrades to EFA, including replacement of the aging cooling tower and conversion from fuel oil to natural gas. The project is expected to eliminate fuel oil use and reduce HVAC-related energy consumption by 25–30 percent, advancing the Foundation's path toward compliance with New York City's Local Law 97 while directly improving conditions for the artists and printmakers it serves.