Central New York Foundations Announce $175,000 Challenge Grant to Save the Arts

In response to the crisis facing the arts sector in Central New York because of the coronavirus, the Central New York Community Foundation (CNYCF) ($100,000), The Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation ($50,000) and the John Ben Snow Foundation ($25,000) are launching a combined $175,000 Challenge Grant in support of CNY Arts’ efforts to raise $1 million for the CNY Arts COVID-19 Impact Fund. These funds will provide emergency funding for the arts sector across Central New York.

 “This is an urgent need. For us to unlock the first $75,000, we need the entire region to rally around the arts and donate today so we can prevent these closures, said Stephen Butler, CNY Arts’ Executive Director. 

For every dollar raised, the three foundations will provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to $175,000. Donations toward the first $75,000 must be postmarked by December 31, 2020 and can be  made online at The Central New York Community Foundation website at  https://cnycf.org/cnyartscovidimpact. Funds will be quickly turned around to support artists and organizations in immediate need of financial support. 

CNY Arts recognizes the Honorary CNY Arts Impact Fund Committee members spearheading the Arts Impact Fund:

Bruce Coville, nationally recognized children’s author and lecturer, founder of  Full Cast Audio.

Mark Golden, CEO, Golden Artist Colors.

Carrie Mae Weems, nationally renowned contemporary visual artist, MacArthur Genius Awardee.

Eunice Williams, Vice President/Chief Diversity Officer at Onondaga Community College.

The first phase of the CNY Arts COVID-19 Arts Impact Fund raised $150,000 over the summer. These funds are providing emergency relief grants directly to artists and arts organizations in Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. 

“The Center for the Arts of Homer has been severely limited in our ability to program arts, music, and cultural events with any regularity for the past six months,” said Ty Marshal, Executive Director of the Center for the Arts in Homer, NY. “The effects, should we continue to be unable to produce our normal performances and events, will have a major impact not only on our ability to thrive as a not for profit arts organization, but on the greater Central New York economy.”

The COVID-19 Arts Impact Fund supports CNY Arts Resiliency, Restart, and Relief Grants, which are rapidly distributed to nonprofit arts organizations in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley. These grants help organizations remain open and provide safe arts programming and education. Funds will also support artists and create job security for them so they remain in our communities across Central New York. 

Donations can be made at cnycf.org/cnyartscovidimpact or by mailing a check payable to:
CNY Arts COVID-19 Impact Fund, c/o Central New York Community Foundation, 431 East Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY 13202. Corporate matching-gifts are welcome.

Arts Impact Fund sponsorship packages are also available (link).