Speak Up for the Arts

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: PUBLIC SUPPORT MATTERS

WESTCHESTER COUNTY –
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 2024 BUDGET PLANS

Westchester County has the potential to become the Creative Capital of New York State, but to get there our arts and cultural organizations need a strategic one-time boost from the county to get there and continue their post-pandemic recovery. The arts were among the sectors hardest-hit by COVID-19. Recovery to date has been uneven, with many organizations still struggling to return to pre-pandemic audience numbers. But there are powerful signals that the sector is growing despite COVID-19 and has the potential to emerge as a robust economic driver for the County. With a total economic impact of more than $182M, a 16.5% increase in creative workers moving into the region, and the relocation of film and streaming production to Westchester, the arts are on an upward trend that can only continue and be amplified with the County’s help.

Now is the moment for the County to invest in a future of a thriving creative economy and a diverse arts and cultural sector.

Westchester County funds enable ArtsWestchester to support arts and cultural activity throughout the county through  competitive grant programs, provide county residents and visitors with information about cultural activities available in Westchester; and to provide arts education opportunities throughout the county.

In November 2023, Westchester County Executive George Latimer will announce the 2024 Executive budget.  In advance of that announcement, the County will host several town hall open forums to invite input from the public on what is important to the residents of Westchester. 

Please email grants@artswestchester.org with questions on how you can show your support, or if you plan to attend a budget hearing.

Westchester County Requests Your Participation at the 2024 Westchester County Budget Public Input Sessions

Before the 2024 Westchester County budget is finalized, come and share your priorities for County programs and services. This year’s information is as follows:

November 16, 2023 at 6pm
Warner Library
121 North Broadway
Tarrytown

November 20, 2023 at 7pm
Chappaqua PAC
480 North Bedford Road
Chappaqua

December 6, 2023 at 7pm
Board of Legislator Chambers
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor
White Plains

Those who wish to submit written comments may do so by sending an e-mail to Communications@Westchestergov.com.

NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS


We believe New York State—not only New York City—is the art state. New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is the agency responsible for funding arts and culture throughout the state. In Westchester, NYSCA grants to arts and cultural organizations total more than $1 million each year. In addition, NYSCA’s Decentralization Program, which Arts Westchester regrants as Arts Alive awards, ensures that community-based arts activities are available and easily accessible.

NATIONAL


Did you know that the Biden Administration submitted its first detailed budget proposal to Congress for FY 2022? There are several proposed increases to the nation’s federal arts and culture grantmaking agencies, including raising the annual budget of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to $201 million. President Biden’s proposed FY 2022 budget increase would bring the NEA to its highest funding level in the agency’s 56-year history! (See NEA press release.)

What you can do:

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will proceed with their annual appropriations process to reach a funding level that they believe these federal cultural agencies should receive. At last month’s National Arts Action Summit organized by Americans for the Arts, arts advocates asked Congress for a “substantial increase” for the NEA (See 2021 Congressional Arts Handbook.) In the coming weeks, we will be asking you to send timely e-messages to urge your Congressional delegation to match this substantial increase proposed by President Biden.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE CONVERSATION TO KEEP THE ARTS THRIVING IN WESTCHESTER!