Cheers from the Arts Community for Essential Funds Raised

ArtsWestchester was recently joined virtually by County Executive George Latimer, members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators and members of the arts community to celebrate another successful year of the Art$WChallenge matching grant program, and to thank the Westchester County Government for its support in raising essential funds for the arts. In 2021, 106 groups participated in the Art$WChallenge. $600K+ in private funding was raised, which will be matched with $400K in County funding – totaling over $1 million dollars in combined support for the arts and cultural community.

Public investment in the arts enhances what makes us economically viable as a county…There is a governmental philosophical underpinning for why we allocate these funds. It’s about what we believe the future of Westchester will be if we fund the arts. – Westchester County Executive George Latimer

It’s refreshing to be involved with a group of people, as I am on the Board of Legislators, who have such an admiration, respect and support for the arts. I am whole-heartedly, 115% in support of all that ArtsWestchester does. – Legislator Colin Smith

Investing in the arts is a very good investment. It’s good economically, for quality of life; it helps our children succeed and helps people to enrich their lives. – Chair of the Board of Legislators Catherine Borgia

These funds have allowed us to persevere during the pandemic, offering our Jitterbugs early childhood education program, along with our regular weekend presentations of Jazz and Brazilian music. – Mark Morganelli, Founder & Executive Director, Jazz Forum Arts

In this time of “on-again, off-again” productions, the Art$WChallenge matching grant makes it possible for us to fund and plan our in-person Library Theatre play series and in-person MainStage production. – Robin Anne Joseph, Artistic Director, GoJo Clan Productions

This year, the Challenge allowed us to bring a new donor on board. It also helped us to give a deep clean of the entire building that is now the Bronxville Picture House. – Laura deBuys, Executive Director, The Picture House

We were able to use these funds to bump up our instructor pay. This helps them in their lives and it also helps us to maintain this incredible team we have. – Noah Opitz, Director of Development, Rye Arts Center

We’ve worked hard to survive. Even with grants and loans, our income was still below our 2019 levels. [Thanks to the Challenge], we initiated our very first individual fundraising campaign, which was a success. – Kathryn Slocum, CFO, ArchForKids

Funds received through the ArtsChallenge will help us to implement and fully realize our Making Connections project, which will create “art corridors” to connect the Peekskill Waterfront to the downtown. – Robin Kline, President, Peekskill Arts Alliance

This support helps to make Westchester not only livable, but lovable. Caramoor has been able to leverage these funds to acquire a new board member and expand our free community programming. – Edward Lewis III, President & CEO, Caramoor

The Challenge allowed us to attract a new contributor, and he was so impressed with what we were doing that he has now also joined our board. So this has had a ripple effect through our organization. – Brent D. Glass, Executive Director, Sing Sing Prison Museum

Often our money is bookmarked for very specific things, and when we have this fundraising money, it gives us the chance to try new things…like an open mic for kids or pop-up exhibitions for artists. – Michele Amaro, Gallery Director, Blue Door Art Center

Through this program, we were able to quadruple our annual giving program. This really had a direct impact on our scholarship program. In the past, we’ve had two or three students on scholarship. This season we have 14. – Erica Kelly, Executive Director, Westchester Children’s Chorus

This award will enable us to keep our tuition at a low, affordable rate as well as offer scholarships to children in the community. – Sharon Simmons-Wright, Artistic Director, Just the Place, Inc.

A version of this article first appeared in the March 2022 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

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.