Erie County lawmakers heard a lot Monday evening during their public hearing on County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz’s budget proposal for 2014, including appeals to support Poloncarz’s plan to hire a new energy officer to reduce the county’s costs for electricity and other energy use. In addition, the Legislature heard appeals to consider property taxes [...]
As Western New York prepares to celebrate the start of theater season with Curtain Up!, Congressman Brian Higgins and leaders in the Western New York arts community are warning of the impact of a House appropriations bill that cuts funding to the National Endowment for the Arts in half. The House of Representatives fiscal year [...]
Some prominent arts and cultural groups could be in for a major funding cut. A bill working its way through Congress could slash funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to its lowest level since the 1970s. If a House appropriations bill is approved, Congressman Brian Higgins says National Endowment for the Arts funding [...]
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, UB Center for the Arts, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Just Buffalo Literary Center and Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center are among the nonprofit Buffalo arts organizations that have received funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. But Rep. Brian Higgins warned Monday that a House appropriations bill would [...]
AMHERST, N.Y. — "Local professional artists are employed year-round as artists in residence working directly with patients," UB Center for the Arts executive director Thomas Burrows said. Working with patients on everything from writing to dance at Roswell and Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, UB's Arts in Healthcare Initiative has received national attention since [...]
On Thursday afternoon, about 30 minutes into my meeting with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, the first-term politician rose from his swivel chair and walked into a room near his office on the 16th floor of the Rath County Office Building. The sound of rummaging could be briefly heard. I exchanged quizzical looks with the [...]
The Arts Services Initiative announced Wednesday the completion of its 2013 decentralization grant program, which will distribute $98,700 to arts groups in Erie County. The grants are scheduled to be announced in a ceremony at 3 p.m. today in Suzuki Strings, 4 Webster St., North Tonawanda. The event includes performances from Tony-nominated actor Stephen McKinley [...]
The Oishei Foundation recently announced a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant to the Niagara Falls City Council to help restore funding to the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (NACC). The City Council Majority has recently eliminated $30,000 in City funding to the NACC and has verbally turned down the Oishei Foundation's offer of $15,000 if the City [...]
Call it the latest round of the battle to fund the arts in Niagara Falls. Mayor Paul A. Dyster this morning called on the city council to accept a $15,000 "challenge" grant made earlier this month by the John R. Oishei Foundation. The grant, if matched by the city council, would go to fund the [...]
(NIAGARA FALLS) There is a clash over cultural and arts funding in the city of Niagara Falls following a surprising budget cut by the City Council. 30-thousand dollars in the city budget for the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center was slashed by a council majority on Monday. They said the money was needed for resources [...]
