MALONE — Foothills Art Society was recently awarded a $25,000 grant by the New York State Council on the Arts.
These grant funds are awarded to support the non-profit arts and culture sector, according to a news release from the state’s council on the arts, and NYSCA has awarded $82 million this year to 509 artists and 1,497 organizations across New York.
“On behalf of the council and staff, I am so proud that we are supporting the critical work of so many non-profit organizations all across the state, including work of Foothills Art Society,” Erika Mallin, executive director of the state’s council on the arts, said in the release, “New York State’s art and culture non-profits make us a global leader, strengthening our connections to each other and the larger world.”
According to Karen Loffler, director of Foothills Art Society, the art center in the village of Malone received one of the council’s operation grants.
“This grant is for operating expenses, it will pay staff salary, the bookkeeper, director, and maintenance, it will pay a little bit of that for the coming year,” Loffler told the Telegram.
According to Loffler, the application process for the grant funding is competitive.
“All the New York State Council on the Arts grants, you apply for them, usually in June and July and it’s a pretty extensive application and the operation grants are very competitive because that is what not for profits need the most,” she said, “It helps keep the operation of the not-for-profit going.”
The New York State Council on the Arts was created by former Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller in 1960, according to the release, and the council’s mission is to foster and advance the state’s arts, culture, and creativity for all, with $162 million in funding to be awarded in fiscal year 2025.
“As the unparalleled leader of arts and culture, New York’s creativity and innovation inspires the world,” Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul said in the release, “Our continued investment in our dynamic creative sector will further boost tourism, strengthen our local economies and continue New York’s success as a rich and vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
Loffler said Foothills Art Society is planning a holiday event next week in the village.
“We have our big holiday celebration on December 4th and it is from 5 to 8 p.m. and it is at Cafe Nouveau,” she said.
Loffler said the holiday celebration has been held during past years but this is the first time it will be at the cafe on West Main Street.
“Every year they try to do a big end of the year celebration, we are going to honor our volunteers, have a silent auction, things like that,” she said.
