More Than $550,000 in Arts Alive Grants Support Local Groups

ArtsWestchester was recently joined by the arts community at a reception to thank state and county officials who made it possible to award 164 grants to artists and arts groups in Westchester and Rockland Counties. The list of grants is comprised of 104 community projects, 45 individual artists, and 15 education projects.

In total, a record-breaking $550,000 was awarded for projects in local libraries, parks, schools, historical sites and more – from poetry readings and the creation of public murals to arts that serve diverse populations like the LGBTQ community and residents with special needs.

The Statewide Community Regrants Program (known as ArtsWestchester’s Arts Alive grant program) is administered by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s Office and the New York State Legislature.

The funding was made available by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who was in attendance at the reception, to enable ArtsWestchester to expand its support of cultural programs in community sites.

Stewart-Cousins explains: “Our vibrant arts community adds so much value to Westchester; art brings joy and works to unite us all.”

Also in attendance was Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg, MaryJane Shimsky and Chris Burdick, County Legislator (and AW Board member) Terry Clements and Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, who all recognized the impact of the arts in local communities.

Recognizing that libraries not only carry books but also serve as cultural hubs for many communities, 25 grants were awarded to libraries in the area. This includes, among others, a bilingual concert experience featuring dance, storytelling and song at the Ossining Library with musician Flor Bromley; an environmentally-themed photography exhibition at the Yonkers Riverfront Library that features new works by artist Sari Nordman; and a community African dance program led by Bokandeye African Dance at New Rochelle Public Library.

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet T. Langsam, who emphasizes that the list of awards includes 65 first-time grantees, also adds that “this critical state funding … allows [ArtsWestchester] to reach into every corner of the community and deepen [its] commitment to accessibility and equity.”One of the first-time granted projects is an exhibition of historical rubbings from colonial gravestones by renowned cutters Solomon Brewer and John Zuricher, which includes carving workshops and a walking tour of Old Dutch Church Burying Ground. Another is an original documentary by Hakima Alem that uncovers a seldom-acknowledged history of Nyack during which urban renewal laws enacted in the ‘60s removed over 100 Black families from the area.

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Mara Manus says that it is essential to recognize how the arts live in our communities and neighborhoods, and points out that the arts have “measurable impact to our personal and economic health.”

Photo: Courtesy of Leslye Smith

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.