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 an umbrella agency and membership 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 has a state-of-the-art “Arts Resource Center”, a space that includes computers, Internet access, and both a print and media library. And most recently, the Arts Council has commenced a regional cultural tourism program development initiative. The Arts Council is in a period of rapid growth.

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