The Greene County Council on the Arts (GCCA) and the Columbia County Council on the Arts (CCCA) are pleased to announce the recipients of regrant awards through the Twin Counties Cultural Fund Decentralization Program for Columbia and Greene Counties (DEC). The two counties have been awarded $51,700 in funding in support of cultural programming and activities for 2008 and $5,000 for two Individual Artist awards (one for each respective county).

The Twin Counties Cultural Fund Decentralization Program for Greene and Columbia Counties is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). This program provides support for community-based not-for-profit organizations and artists sponsored by these agencies. These funds are intended to reward programs and services with strong public components providing direct benefit to county residents.

Young sculptor at Catskill Library’s 2007 program

All funding awards are competitive and are determined by a select panel of artists, arts professionals, and community members - all unaffiliated with applicant organizations - for their respective county. Gracious thanks to this year's multitalented CCCA panelists: Robert Baksa, William Case, Donn Critchell, Mary Franklin, Lynn Garon, Joyce Sarner, Carlin Thomas and Trina Porte. Great appreciation also goes to our good natured and hard working GCCA panelists: Paul Honyea, Paige Ingalls, Joe Iraci, Monica Restaino, Dorothy Rodgers, Alice Tunison, and Barbara Walters. Special recognition to our Individual Artist panel reviewers who will meet Jan. 12 and have perhaps the hardest task of all: Lynn Breslin, Kristine Cottom, Edith Marcik, Dan Region, Paul Smart, Barb Sturman, and Pamela Wallace. These individuals deserve a round of applause for their long hours and active commitment to the arts in our region.

2007 Soup2Nuts theater rehearsal	The Greene County Council on the Arts and the Columbia County Council on the Arts would like to express congratulations to all grant recipients. The intent of these awards is to support high caliber, artistically diverse, and innovative cultural programs for our communities. To keep the arts alive and well in your county these individuals and organizations need your encouragement and patronage.
Please join us in congratulating them on their success and show them you appreciate their efforts by participating in this imaginative assortment of offerings.

Greene County received 23 applications for requests totaling $75,902 – three times the amount of available regrant funds. Twenty-two organizations received $25,850 for the Decentralization Program (DEC) Project Support which includes organizations that act as a conduit (fiscal managers) for artist initiated projects. They are: All Arts Matter for poetry read-in and script-in-hand readings and high school art exhibit; Athens Cultural Center and Jeanne Heiberg for writing and clay sculpture workshops and exhibition; Athens Cultural Center and Bonnie Mion for a historic and cultural exploration of Middle Eastern dance; Cairo Public Library for multidisciplinary workshops; Catskill Community Center for dance and visual arts programming; Catskill Mountain Wolf Center and Joseph Capone for presentation of “Amadeus” and “Desire Caught by the Tail”; Catskill and Palenville Libraries for art workshops, music and puppetry performances; Community of Windham Foundation for lecture and demonstration on historic photo processes; D.R. Evarts Library for graphic arts programs and literary readings; Greenville Public Library for ceramics, watercolor and drawing workshops; Heart of Catskill Association and David Woodin for classical concert with professional and amateur musicians;  Heermance Memorial Library for quilting and ceramic mural programs; Love ‘N Care Pet Sanctuary and Margo Muller for children’s theater project; Mountain Top Historical Society for cloggers, musicians and lecturer for annual Open House; Pleshakov Music Center for lecture/concerts at the piano museum in Hunter; Schoharie Creek Players for production of “Steel Magnolias”; Town of Catskill and Cindy Putorti for film project involving teens and local WWII veterans; Town of Hunter and Kevin VanHentenryck for outdoor stone carving class along Route 23 in Hunter; Town of Jewett and Vera Gaidoch for classical music concert and exhibit of local artist works; Ulster-Greene ARC for visual arts classes and performance for developmentally disabled adults and others; Windham Arts Alliance for Sandcastle Sculpture project and Artfest 08; and Windham Public Library for Victorian tinsel painting and youth theater workshops and more.

Susan Wides photo hike

Columbia County received requests from 23 organizations totaling $68,191 – more than twice the amount of available funding. Nineteen organizations received $25,850 for the Decentralization Program (DEC) Project Support, which includes organizations that act as a conduit (fiscal manager). They are: Department of Youth and Diata Diata International Folkloric Theatre for dance and theatrical production of “And Then There Was One”; Clarion Concerts for Leaf Peepers Concert Series; Friends of Chatham Public Library for artist/author programs; Ghent Playhouse for adult acting workshops; Haitian Community Project for an international evening with culinary, visual arts, dance and music; Hawthorne Valley Association for 88 Keys music concerts; Hudson Area Library for a youth workshop with Walking the Dog Theater; Hudson Chamber Opera/Diamond Opera Theater for one act play and opera performance; HRC/Showcase Theatre for staged readings of original plays; Hudson Valley Choral Society for musicians for 2008 concerts; Kinderhook Library for World Music performances; Mental Health Association of Col/Greene Counties for theater workshops and presentation; Music Coalition for contemporary classical music performances; North Chatham Library for literature and arts workshops; Philmont Community Chorus for a consultant and accompanist for their winter and spring concerts; Philmont Library for five evenings of music; Roeliff Jansen Community Library and Neil Smith for Literary Tongues writing workshops and public reading; St. James Church and Columbia Chamber Players for classical music and Rumi poetry performance; and Roving Actors Repertory Ensemble for full scale orchestra production of “Man of La Mancha”.

Tribal dancing at Catskill Community Center

Look for Individual Artist award announcements in the next issue of Arts Alive!  Decentralization re-grant programs are vital to assuring that the arts reach all audiences. If you or your children have participated in any of these programs, you know their value. To help ensure future funding for these programs in your community, please take a moment to write or call your State representatives and thank them for the work they've been doing to support the arts in New York State and encourage them to continue their efforts.