| Who We Are | What We Do | Join Us | Resources | News | Events | Artist Registry |
| Who We Are | ||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
 |
History The Arts Council was established by a group of community leaders in 1973 as the Arts Development Services (ADS). ADS was specifically created to support the arts through generating audiences by way of discounted tickets or ADS vouchers. Beginning in 1978, its major activities were co-sponsoring the region- wide Ethnic Heritage Festival and administering a local Decentralization funding program with support provided by the New York State Council on the Arts. Arts Development Services was renamed the Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County in 1987. Today, the Arts Council is a membership and service organization. We strive to improve the ability of artists and arts organizations to conduct business; and works to educate the broader community about the value of art. We market our region’s cultural diversity and promote the annual multi-million dollar economic impact the arts have on Western New York. The Arts Council is the designated voice for Erie County’s cultural community. Our constituents are all of the arts agencies and individual artists who offer programs in Erie County. Currently, we have over 200 member organizations and individual members. We provide members the opportunity to purchase low-cost health insurance; receive our bimonthly Membership Memo that shares helpful management tips, grant deadline information and general arts news from the community. We also provide discounts to selected workshops and seminars, offer access to our conference room for meetings, and our resource room to access current computer and print information relative to the field. Programs and activities administered by the Arts Council include re-granting funds to small and mid-sized organizations and individual artists. We also offer technical assistance through workshops and consulting, conference and exhibit space showing works by local artists, and advocacy, primarily on public funding issues. The Arts Council offers health insurance to individuals with ties to arts, cutlturals and tourism. We also offer a weekly e-mail newsletter featuring all of the latest happenings in the arts community. Past Presidents 2006-Present Lynda K. Stephens 2004 – 2006 Charles B. Franklin 2002-2004 Dr. Ross G. Hewitt MD 2000-2002 Lewis Rich 1998-2000 Patrick Fagan 1996-1998 Roger B. Simon, Esq. 1994-1996 John Hurley Esq. 1993-1994 George W. Collins Jr. 1991-1993 Dr. Andrew J. Rudnick 1988-1991 Anne Hayes 1986-1988 Thomas E. Baker 1983-1986 Edward K. Duch Jr. 1981-1983 Kevin Keane 1980-1981 Northup R. Knox 1976-1980 Regina B. Gantham 1975-1976 Franz T. Stone Founders Welles V. Moot, Northrup R. Knox (late), Franz T. Stone (late), Alan Sapp
The Arts Council in Buffalo & Erie County is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, Erie County, Artvoice, East Hill Foundation, Goodyear Foundation, Hahn Foundation, Hodgson Russ, LLP, HSBC, KeyBank, Knox Foundation, Lamar Advertising, M & T Bank, Progressive Direct Marketing, The Buffalo News, The Buffalo Niagara Partnership, The Summit Federal Credit Union, Rich Products, Time Warner, Univera, Verizon, WBFO FM 88.7, WIVBTV Channel 7, Zeron Foundation, artists, arts organizations, individuals, special events and membership fees. |
|||||||||