Why We Support the Arts

As the regional arts council serving six counties, we at CNY Arts spend a lot of time discussing the value of arts, culture, and heritage. We talk about the impact of audience spending and integrating the arts and culture sector with the larger economy. We talk about our role in creating livable communities through Main Street and rural revitalization and beautification. We talk about how important arts and culture are to creating, attracting, and retaining a creative and engaged workforce. And we talk about the immense value that exposure to arts and culture has on our community's young people, and how important it is that they feel a connection to our region's history and heritage.

 

At CNY Arts, we believe that a healthy arts community is essential to the quality of life and community in Central New York for all those reasons and more, which is why we promote, support, and celebrate arts and culture in our region.  

 

But the great thing is that you don't need to consider any of that in order to enjoy the benefits of arts and culture.

 

You can go watch a classic movie projected on a museum wall just because you love movies.

 

You can go to a gallery to learn about an issue, to have your ideas challenged, or to appreciate something beautiful.

 

You can go to a festival to see a legend in action, or to see young people just getting started on their careers.

 

You can go to the theater to see great works recreated, or to see something no one has ever seen before.

 

You can do all of these things because they're entertaining, educational, and enlightening. You can do all of these things with family, or with friends, or by yourself. You can do all of these things at very little expense. And you can do all of these things and more just this weekend.

 

So get out there and enjoy yourselves... and thank you for your continued support of the arts in Central New York.

 

Stephen Butler
Executive Director
CNY Arts
 
Read up on CNY Arts' Regional Cultural Planning efforts on the Gifford Foundation's website and in an interview with Grant Reeher in the Syracuse New Times. 
Listen to the interview on WRVO. 
July 2014
What's Inside?


NYSCA Public Opinion Survey
 



CNY Arts
421 Montgomery Street
Syracuse, NY  13202
315-435-2155


CNY Arts is supported by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency,
nysca logo white bkgd
with support from the
County of Onondaga,
Onondaga County seal
and
the IDEAS Collaborative
ideas 
artsgrants2015 Arts Grants from CNY Arts
Applications Available July 15
CNY Arts will launch Decentralization (DEC) Grant guidelines and applications for the 2015 cycle on July 15 at cnyarts.org/grants. The grant programs will include Community Arts, Arts Education, and Individual Artist tiers.

Call for Panelists
CNY Arts is seeking a diverse group of professionals with a range of expertise from all across the 6 county region to fulfill the Decentralization advisory panelist role. If you, or someone you know would be interested in participating, please complete the nomination form here! 

Informational Seminars
Grant informational seminars will start in August and run through October. We are looking for venues and/or groups to present to, if you are interested in hosting or would like us to speak with your group, please complete the form here.
nyscasurveyNew York State Council on the Arts Public Survey
nysca logo white bkgdThe New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), a New York State government agency, needs your help. As the agency develops its long-term plan to advance the role of the arts, culture and heritage in the lives of the state's citizens, visitors and communities, it is crucial that they hear directly from the public.

In this brief survey, NYSCA would like to learn about your experiences with arts, culture, and heritage, as well as the role you feel they should play in your community and the state. Your feedback will help NYSCA's plan align with the values and priorities of the state's citizens.

neaHouse Appropriations Subcommittee Proposes $8M Cut to NEA
The message below is an action alert from 

 

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a bill to fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and other cultural institutions like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Smithsonian Institution. Thanks to your advocacy, the budget situation has improved from last year; however, the subcommittee has proposed another funding cut to the NEA - a decrease of $8 million from the current funding level.

At today's markup, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) objected to the cuts and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) expressed her disappointment and cited the positive impact the creative economy has had in Maine.

 
Last year, the subcommittee was under severe fiscal pressure with the sequester, and proposed disproportionate and devastating cuts to the NEA of nearly 50 percent! Following a federal government shutdown, the NEA was funded through a Omnibus spending bill at $146 million-the same amount as the previous year.

This year, the House and Senate instead reached agreement on total federal spending in advance, easing some of their work. As a result, appropriators have been trying to move funding bills forward, and it appears that severe cuts are not on the table so far. Yet the 5 percent funding cut from current levels by the subcommittee today is terribly concerning as it would set back NEA funding to pre-2008 levels.
nyconNYCON Action Alert - NYS Grants Gateway and Prompt Interest Payment Bills 
The message below is an action alert from the New York Council on Nonprofits. 

The NYS Grants Gateway bill, legislation that would extend of the Gateway's current 90 day grace period from September to January 1st, 2015 and create a "hold harmless" procedure, was passed in this year's legislative session. Dovetailing its passage was bill S.6482/A.8964, legislation which would entitle nonprofits to all prompt contracting interest due from a state agency.

Although a victory, the largest hurdle is just ahead. Last year, the prompt interest payment bill was vetoed by Governor Cuomo, stating that initiatives such as the NYS Grants Gateway would resolve prompt contracting and payment issues in New York State. However, based upon several studies including the Prompt Contracting Annual Report 2013 the problem is only getting worse.The report's results showed State agencies were late 87% of the time in approving contracts with nonprofit providers in 2013.This is an increase from 2012, when 78% of contracts were approved late.

With this knowledge, NYCON will be mobilizing and advocating with members to convince Governor Cuomo to sign these bills. If you'd like to get started sending a letter, use the NYCON Template.

Send a copy of your letter to NYCON Policy & Program Associate, Amber Vanderwarker. 
RightThingsRightNowThe Right Things, Right Now Marketing Workshop
CNY Arts and the IDEAS Collaborative (Initiative to Engage Audiences in Syracuse) welcomed nonprofit marketing expert, Nancy Schwartz, to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Central New York for a full-day marketing planning workshop for 48 individuals representing 33 arts, culture, and heritage organizations in Central New York.

 

Through the ENGAGE CNY initiative, one of the priorities identified by arts organizations in our region was marketing. The marketing planning 

workshop was a great first step in addressing our marketing challenges and providing a foundation to move our efforts forward.

 
The day was intensive, but Nancy provided four principles in marketing planning: have a written plan; have a plan that is for the foreseeable future; have a plan that is prioritized and realistic; and use the Right-Things, Right-Now approach to marketing. Nancy guided participants through 10 steps of marketing planning to direct our focus that makes us articulate concrete, measurable goals and messages and develop the appropriate methods and tactics to reach our marketing benchmarks. Attendees shared ideas with one another, offered potential solutions, and began developing new partnerships for the future.
 
Careers in the Arts
CNY Arts receives numerous inquiries from individuals looking for careers in arts management. If you have positions available in your organization in marketing, development, administration, box office management, or artistic programming, we will gladly forward postings directly to these individuals in addition to sharing them on the newsletter or via social media, whichever is most appropriate for your needs. Email job postings to communications@cnyarts.org.
Opportunities and Resources for Artists and Organizations
(email communications@cnyarts.org to submit)
 
Opportunities
 
Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts - Call for Artists
 "From the Land" - Juried Exhibition 
 
Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts cordially invites all artists - painters, photographers, sculptors, etchers, lithographers, fiber artists, potters, etc. to submit their work. This year's exhibition theme is "From the Land." With the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival as backdrop we seek works of art that depict our landscape and/or elements of our natural environment. 
 
Eligibility requirements and additional details can be found here.
 
Open Call for Artists - Exhibit Opportunity 
 
Westcott Community Art Gallery 
 
The Salt District of the Near West Side  
Inexpensive home/studio ownership opportunities for artists. Please click here to visit the website.

Jobs/Volunteers/Grants  
Syracuse First can always use volunteers. Call for more information (315.396.6418) 
Resources

 

The New York State Literary Tree - Resources for writers in New York State. 

 

Giffordslist.org - A resource sharing website, administered by the Rosamond Gifford Foundation, for Central New York nonprofits and businesses.

Oswego Arts Collaborative - a local service and advocacy organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for the economic development and sustainability of visual and performing arts, is compiling a list of artists and arts organizations interested in strengthening the cultural life of Oswego County. All artists, groups and residents interested in receiving regular information about the Collaborative and its initiatives or in taking part in the mission of the Collaborative are asked to email artsinoswego@gmail.com.
 
 
For a comprehensive listing of artist workshops and classes in your area,