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Arts Services Initiative of Western New York Inc. has awarded $97,970 in emergency grants to 60 local artists and nonprofit arts and cultural organizations affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Less than one week after opening applications, this event marks the first round of funding through ASI’s WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund, a granting program designed to assist Western New York’s creative community by alleviating its economic struggles related to the pandemic.
Grants were awarded to artists and organizations based in five counties in Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus). In addition to the 23 individual artists, teaching artists, and creative workers who received funding, grants were awarded to the following nonprofit arts and cultural organizations:
Applications are now open and will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria: need for funding; urgency of request; impact of funding on the organization or individual; and efforts to continue art and creative practice beyond COVID-19.
“Our goal for this fund is simple: We want to ensure that our arts community makes it to the other side of this crisis,” ASI Executive Director Jen Swan-Kilpatrick said.
ASI’s WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund is possible because of support from Fund for the Arts, the Marilyn Gohr McTaggart Reveal Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, a Family Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and the individual donors of ASI’s GoFundMe campaign.
As this crisis continues to unfold, funds will continue to be raised and distributed. To see a full list of funders or to join the effort, visit asiwny.org/wny-arts-emergency-relief-fund.
Arts Services Initiative (ASI) empowers the region's artists and arts organizations with connections to funding, learning opportunities, and community access to the arts. ASI is a resource hub for the Western New York arts and cultural sector.