ArtsWestchester Distributes $35,000 in Grants to Mount Vernon Artists & Arts Organizations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Debbie Scates
ArtsWestchester
914-428-4220
dscates@artswestcheter.org
ArtsWestchester Distributes $35,000 in Grants to Mount Vernon Artists & Arts Organizations
White Plains, N.Y. (November 20, 2019) — ArtsWestchester has announced a total of 14 grants as part of the Mount Vernon Cultural Arts Initiative totaling $35,000. Seven cultural organizations and seven artists received grants ranging from $1000 to $5000. The Mount Vernon Arts Initiative is designed to help Mount Vernon’s community-based cultural organizations and artists enhance the cultural programs and services that they provide to city residents, while also enhancing the neighborhoods and venues where the arts events occur.
Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester explains, “With support from the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the City of Mount Vernon, ArtsWestchester is pleased to award these grants to assist artists and arts groups to build their capacity to positively contribute to Mount Vernon’s overall community and economic development efforts.”
“Mount Vernon is known as a community of arts and culture,” explains Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams. He continues, “This partnership with ArtsWestchester, through initiatives funded by the Westchester County Board, continues the tradition of appreciation for the many talented artists and arts programs as well as the promotion of creative collaborations that enrich the lives of residents.”
The following 14 Mount Vernon grantees received arts grants through this program to support events ranging from summer concerts to art-making workshops to dance performances.
| MOUNT VERNON ARTS INITIATIVE 2019-20 | ||
| Organization | Project Title | Project Description |
| Harrigan Educational & Cultural Center Inc. | Amazing Grace … Discourse to Transformation | Dance Production of “Amazing Grace” – Creation and presentation of dance piece entitled “Amazing Grace… Discourse to Transformation” at Grace Baptist Church in March 2020. Dance style is a fusion of lyrical, contemporary, African and hip-hop highlighting social justice issues. |
| Mount Vernon Friends of Parks and Recreation | Summer Breeze Concert Series | Summer Breeze Concert Series – Annual outdoor live summer concert series featuring Samba NY, Beyoncé Tribute Band and Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute band. |
| Mount Vernon Public Library | Paper Mache Workshops | Paper Mache Creation – A series of four artist-led workshops using paper mache to create a sculptural object like a jug, bowl using paper mache and collage. Artists include: Fanny-Marie Oliveras, Fani Miller-Beard and Deborah Nelson. |
| Mount Vernon Public Library | Cloth Doll Workshop | Cloth Doll Workshops – Series of two three-hour workshops on cloth doll making in May 2020 at the Mount Vernon Public Library taught by Mount Vernon-based fiber artist, Gwen Jackson. |
| Mustafa Music Foundation Inc. | Heart of the Music Workshop | Heart of the Music Workshop – One day music workshop festival at the Doles Center on April 18, 2020 with interactive learning experiences featuring professional musicians targeted for middle to high school aged students. |
| PJS Jazz Society | Fall 2019 Concert Series | Fall 2019 Concert Series – three Jazz concerts in September, October and November 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon. |
| Revelators Inc. | Production of “CeCe’s Hot Chocolate” | “CeCe’s Hot Chocolate” – Production of “CeCe’s Hot Chocolate”. Includes free music and dance workshops at the Doles Center beginning July 2019 through November 2019. |
| Artist | Project Title | 2019-20 Project Description |
| Dawn Leone | We Are Mount Vernon | We Are Mount Vernon – Creation of linoleum block print featuring images of Mount Vernon community members gathered via open call submissions to be displayed at a one-day exhibition at Maggie Spillane’s in May 2020. Printmaking demo station available to participants during exhibition. |
| Dene Ross | “Collage: making Paintings with Paper” | Collage: Painting with Paper – Series of 6 collage workshops at Mount Vernon Public Library for youth and seniors creating artworks of landscape and nature. Final exhibition of participant’s work to be displayed at the MVPL. |
| Eve Soto | ReadyToSing Vocal Workshops | ReadyToSing Vocal Workshops – 8 week vocal workshop/class for teens. Learning to use vocal techniques, performing, audition skills and awareness of careers in music/singing. |
| James “Bujo” Williams | The Creative Spirit – Painting Workshops | “The Creative Spirit” – Series of 12 free, acrylic painting workshops at MVPL and AC-BAW. |
| Niara Flax Jordan | The Swelter Show | The Swelter Show – A one-day pop-up exhibition on June 25, 2020 confirmed at AC-BAW featuring Niara’s artwork alongside up to 15 additional artists. Two other artists are confirmed, Melanie Ortiz and Monica Perez, the rest of the artists will be selected through an open call. |
| Pamela Sklar | Words Into Music | Words Into Music – Composition and performance of a new original music piece entitled “Words Into Music” using Mount Vernon community member’s personal memories to inform the composition. Concert confirmed for April 11, 2020 at St Paul’s Church National Historic Site. |
| Pamela Tucker | Youth and Senior Collages Workshop | Collaborative Collage Making – Community collaborative collage workshops for kids and seniors inspired by plants and botanical art methods. Resulting collage will be transferred to paper and hung in the MVPL. |
For more information on ArtsWestchester’s grants programs or to find arts events in Westchester, visit: artsw.org
About ArtsWestchester
For over 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.
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 create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. 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. artsw.org