April 2, 2019 -- Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Board of Legislators today joined with ArtsWestchester to announce the availability of a total of $85,000 in funding to support community-based artists and grassroots arts organizations in the cities of Yonkers and Mount Vernon. Westchester artists and nonprofit cultural organizations are invited to apply for support for programs planned for 2019 to 2020 through ArtsWestchester’s Yonkers Arts Initiative, and Mount Vernon Arts Initiative. Awarded annually, these grants are specifically designed to enliven communities through the performing and visual arts.

The deadline for submissions for both the Yonkers Arts Initiative and the Mount Vernon Arts Initiative is Tuesday, April 9. Applications are available now, and may be accessed electronically by visiting ArtsWestchester’s web site: https://artswestchester.submittable.com/submit/

These initiatives bring programs that artists and nonprofit cultural organizations provide to local residents, while also enhancing the neighborhoods in which they occur. The grants help locally-based cultural organizations build their capacity, and contribute to their city’s economic development efforts.  Eligibility for the Yonkers Arts Initiative is open to Yonkers-based artists and nonprofit organizations; eligibility for the Mount Vernon Initiative is open to Westchester-based artists and Mount Vernon-based nonprofit organizations.  For more information, please visit: https://artswestchester.org/grants/

Latimer said: “Westchester County’s partnership with ArtsWestchester brings vibrant programs to these two important cities. Cities where the arts are thriving attract people to their downtowns, generating positive economic impact.  In fact, arts and culture in Westchester County generates more than $173 million in economic activity annually.”  

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet T. Langsam said: “Last year, ArtsWestchester supported 21 cultural programs and happily, we will increase the number of projects we support this year.”

For more information about ArtsWestchester, visit artswestchester.org.