State council awards grants for arts and cultural capital projects, including CNY initiatives

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has awarded more than $42 million for 144 small and medium-sized capital projects at arts and cultural organizations across the state.

This record capital investment supports crucial building renovations, accessibility improvements, and new spaces for creative work, according to a news release from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. About 57 percent of recipients are organizations with annual budgets of $1 million or less. Project decisions prioritized accessibility, artistry, cultural development, sustainability, health and safety, and structural and historical improvements.

Local award recipients include:

• Earlville Opera House, Inc., Chenango County, $50,000 for historic masonry improvements;

• Tri-Cities Opera Co., Inc., Broome County, $50,000 for theatrical lighting system replacement;

• Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Inc., Madison County, $154,000 for Dorothy Riester House and studio improvements and an artist lodge garage studio conversion;

• Old Forge Library Association, Herkimer County, $25,000 for outdoor garden accessibility improvements;

• North Country Childrens Museum, Inc., St. Lawrence County, $50,000 for a new gallery lighting system;

• Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, Inc., Broome County, $25,000 for LED lighting installation;

• Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County, $206,000 for ceiling moisture and condensation remediation; and

• Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts, Inc., Tompkins County, $25,000 for electric air-source heat-pump system.

Since 2018, the NYSCA has awarded 302 grants totaling $92 million, across all 10 state regions, for projects that increase employment capacity and advance cultural venues as tourism destinations.