Cultural Resources Council Announces $80,000 in Community Arts Grants

The Cultural Resources Council has announced its Community Arts Grants for 2011.

Fifty-nine not-for-profit organizations and eleven area artists will share $80,000 in awards for community-based cultural projects in Onondaga, Cortland, and Oswego Counties.

“In a difficult year, we worked hard to broaden our assistance,” said Stephen Butler, Executive Director of the CRC. “By carefully managing our limited funds, we were able to support more projects this year– from park concerts in rural communities to festivals that strengthen our urban neighborhoods. While the locations vary, all of these projects matter deeply to local people.”

Community Arts Grants depend on support from the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. The program is designed to reflect the priorities of communities and neighborhoods across the state by relying on local decision-making. Panels composed of local artists and community residents are responsible for the funding recommendations, based on applications solicited each autumn from organizations and individual artists throughout the region.

Among 73 diverse projects supported by the 2011 Community Arts Grants are:

Onondaga County
Aurora of Central New York,  “Aurora Coffee House,” ($2,000)
A unique performance venue for the visually/hearing impaired community, including sign language interpreters and sighted guides

Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, “Fiesta de las Aves” ($1,000)
A dual celebration of Latin American culture and the annual flight of migratory birds, produced in partnership with the Spanish Action League

Westcott Area Cultural Coalition, “Westcott Street Cultural Fair” ($1,500)
A one-day event showcasing established and emerging regional performers, celebrating the diversity of the Westcott neighborhood of Syracuse

Cortland County
Lime Hollow Nature Center, “Music In the Woods” ($1,000)
A June event with local musicians and ensembles performing in the outdoor setting of nature trails at the popular environmental education and recreation center Cortland

Chenango Rural Services, “West African Drumming Traditions” ($ 600)
An evening concert for youth and families in Cincinnatus by Syracuse-based musician David Etse Nyadedzor and his troupe of drummers and dancers

Lamont Memorial Free Library, “One World, Many Stories” ($1,600)
A program integrating storytellers, dancers, actors and musicians into summer library activities for children and youth in rural McGraw

Oswego County
Cleveland Historical Society, “Children’s Glassworks Theatre” ($ 650)
A children’s theater program producing two plays per year in the former St. James Church Building, now operated by the local historical society

Pulaski Congregational Church, “LaVeck Memorial Concert Series” ($1,600)
A locally developed concert series bringing exceptional classical music performances to northern Oswego County

Salmon River Fine Arts Center, “Drawing Families into Art” ($2,400)
A series of art classes offering the community an opportunity to study traditional techniques for producing handcrafted works of art

A complete listing of all Community Arts Grants in the three-county region is available on the CRC website at www.cnyculture.com.