23 County Cultural Arts Organizations Win Funds

The Essex County Arts Council is pleased to announce its 2016 Cultural Assistance Program grant awards.  The Essex County Board of Supervisors and the Arts Council’s Board of Directors provided a total of $11,000 to be distributed among twenty-three winning organizations.  Of particular note are two grants that will bring international artists to our area.

Pam Gothner of Keene said, “East Branch Friends of the Arts anticipates that the Sunita Staneslow harp concert on July 16 will bring not only diverse international music to the region, but also an engaging conversation about the current world refugee turmoil.”

Mary-Nell Bockman of Whallonsburg Grange Hall said, “This grant will help us to bring a unique musical event to the Champlain Valley all the way from Wales.”

Several of the grants are aimed at community-building programs.  Jane Bouchard from Schroon Lake Public Library said of her group’s ukulele lessons, “Although we offer a lot of programs at the Library, we’ve never offered anything quite like this before.  I believe, by offering this multi-generational program, we will reach community members that would not necessarily use the library, especially teens.”

Debbie Fitts of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta said, “Most importantly, the CAP grants demonstrate support at the county level for the services we provide and as such are significant in leveraging other monies. Based on the communications we receive from our audience members and supporters, this concert series is an important part of what the public expects from a mid-week visit to Lake Placid and we are pleased to continue to provide this experience.”

General operating support assists with the many programs provided to Essex County residents by the Depot Theatre, Essex County Historical Society, Historic Saranac Lake, Pendragon Theatre, Seagle Music Colony, Tahawus Center in Au Sable Forks, Ticonderoga Historical Society and the Upper Jay Art Center.

Project support is provided to Adirondack Art Association in Essex for their Summer Music Series; East Branch Friends of the Arts for Harpist Sunita Staneslow; Elizabethtown Social Center for their Summer Performing Arts Series; Essex Community Concerts for the concert series; Fort Ticonderoga Association for Scots Day; Lake Placid Sinfonietta for free community concerts; Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society for the Lake Placid Timeline Exhibit; North Star Underground Railroad Museum for Solomon Northup Day Commemoration; Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce for annual square dances; Schroon Lake Public Library for “Learn to Play the Ukulele;” Ticonderoga Area Farmer’s Market for “ART & ARTICHOKES; COMQUATS & COMMUNITY;” Ticonderoga Arts for Summer Arts Workshop Series; Ticonderoga Festival Guild for “Summer in the Park” concerts; Willsboro Arts for its second summer sculpture show; and the Whallonsburg Civic Association / Grange Hall for CALAN in concert.

All Essex County nonprofit organizations offering arts projects that serve the general public are welcome and encouraged to apply for the 2017 round of funding.  The application deadline will be in May 2017.  Community residents wishing to contribute to this grant program and make it larger may send donations to the Essex County Arts Council at PO Box 187, Westport, NY 12993.  More information and a “donate now” button are available at our website www.EssexCountyArts.org.