Press Releases

Eight WNY Organizations Receive Awards Through the National Endowment for the Arts

Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) announced $215,000 in federal funding for the Western New York arts community. Grants, awarded through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), will support projects and programs at eight art institutions in Western New York.  

“The arts foster creativity, inspire innovation, bridge cultural divides, and stimulate our economy,” said Rep. Kennedy.  “This funding strengthens Western New York’s vibrant arts sector which plays a profound role in cultivating a healthy society.” 

Rep. Kennedy announced the following awards for Western New York: 

Buffalo Arts Studio 

$25,000 to support the exhibition series "Waterfront View," and related public programming.

AKG  

$30,000 to support "Electric Op," an exhibition tracing the impact of geometric abstraction on electronic art and culture, and related public programming.

Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art 

$30,000 to support an exhibition series, related programming, and an accompanying catalog. 

Buffalo International Film Festival 

$25,000 to support the Buffalo International Film Festival and associated public programming. 

Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center 

$30,000 to support a workspace residency program for media arts practitioners at Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center. 

Just Buffalo Literary Center, Inc. 

$25,000 to support the Civil Writes Project. 

Torn Space Theater

$25,000 to support the collaborative development of multimedia performances. 

Western New York Book Arts Collaborative 

$25,000 to support Printing Partners, a free book arts education program for students

The National Endowment for the Arts awards competitive grants to art and cultural organizations nationwide. Applications submitted are reviewed for eligibility, recommendations are made by a panel of peers from the arts community, and awards, based on those recommendations, are selected by the National Council on the Arts.  The 2024 federal budget included $207 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on the NEA visit: www.arts.gov. 

###