The Ontario County Arts Council is accepting grant applications through April 1st from local nonprofit and government organizations for small projects to enhance the visual and performing arts in the county.
The arts council has established a budget of $4,000 for 2023. Grants of up to $1,000 will be announced by May 15. Projects must benefit the Ontario County community and enhance the arts as a whole.
Last year, the arts council distributed $4,000 in grants as follows:
- $1,000 for the Dove Block Project in Geneva for an event in which participants read poems inspired by works of art and learned to make poetry chapbooks.
- $1,000 for the Bristol Hills Historical Society to support its effort to publish an illustrated history book with original watercolors by Anna Overmoyer.
- $1,000 for the Geneva Music Festival to support artist compensation for eight outreach concerts in May and June of 2022.
- $1,000 for ChamberFest Canandaigua to help cover the cost of hosting award-winning pianist Donna Kwong.
Some operational costs may be included in the grant application if they are critical to the project’s success and may be no more than 50 percent of the grant.
The application procedure is detailed on the arts council’s website. Applicants must explain the objectives and costs of the project, with preference given to new applicants and those that can show a partnership with at least one other organization.
The Ontario County Arts Council, which has about 200 members, partners with the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center and the Ontario County Historical Society to stage exhibits and events. It sponsors rotating art exhibits at local businesses in Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, and Victor and provides an annual $2,000 scholarship to a Finger Lakes Community College student majoring in the arts. The 2022 recipient of the Mariner Family Ontario County Arts Council Scholarship was Clara Elwell of Naples.