Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society awarded NYSCA Grant award

Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society press release

The Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society Inc. announced a grant award totaling $781,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s phase 2 of the Riviera expansion project (new dressing rooms). This grant is part of a capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $82 million to 132 arts and culture facilities across New York.

West Herr Riviera Theatre Executive Director David Fillenwarth said, “We are very appreciative that NYSCA stepped up to make this happen. This helps launch the funding needed to complete our vision and build new dressing rooms for our artists. As we approach our 100th anniversary, this helps ensure that the Riviera Theatre will be viable for generations to come and enjoy live entertainment. North Tonawanda is experiencing an exciting period of growth and resurgence. We’re honored to be a big part of it."

“New York’s powerful arts and culture sector is a formidable asset,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “Our continued investments in museums, theaters and art centers generate incredible returns – sparking innovation, boosting local economies, driving visitors and making us the global epicenter of arts and culture.”

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We know that when the arts flourish, communities follow – bringing energy, creating jobs, expanding accessibility and increasing tourism. This grant program is a critical investment in our creative sector, empowering our creative community and inspiring innovation. Congratulations to all the grantees – we look forward to seeing these diverse projects develop all throughout the state.”

More about the New York State Council on the Arts: The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York state’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York, NYSCA will award over $161 million in FY 2027, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Hochul and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the executive branch. For more information, visit www.arts.ny.gov or follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.