News
May 1, 2019Fairgame Arts Grants awarded to 59 organizations in 19 counties—Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame Supports Regional Arts and Cultural Organizations
The Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame has awarded Fairgame Arts Grants to 59 non-profit arts and cultural organizations in the three New York state casino regions—Capital, Catskills and Southern Tier/Finger Lakes.
In February, groups in 27 counties were invited to submit for grants ranging from $1,000–$5,000, subsidized by gaming revenues from Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, Resorts World Catskills, del Lago Resort & Casino and Tioga Downs Casino Resort.
The coalition, a group of dozen performing arts centers, was created in partnership with the casinos specifically to foster economic cooperation amongst the entities. Through its community commitment, the coalition created Fairgame Arts Grants, to fund programs to support organizations in the associated regions.
A total of 84 applications were received statewide, with 59 awards being offered in 19 counties, amounting to $161,550.
Elected officials in the three regions are praising the Fairgame Arts Grants, emphasizing that the alliance has stayed true to its plan of not only protecting the performing arts in downtown areas upstate, but also fostering the success and maintenance of smaller arts partners.
“This is what happens when we all work together,” said NY State Senator Neil Breslin, longtime champion of the arts. “The coalition members, the casinos, and state and local government see this project as a boon. In the Capital Region, 17 applicants are receiving funding that will help them transform their communities through direct participation in the arts.”
“This is the creative economy in action,” said NYS Senator Sue Serino, whose Catskill Region boasts 29 recipients. “Our community has long been a major hub for arts and tourism to the benefit of residents and visitors alike, and we thank Fairgame for living up to its commitment to help fund these programs that mean so much to our local area. These grants will not only serve the grantees directly, but will benefit our community as a whole and we are grateful that this program puts the spotlight on all that makes our community so unique.”
“We are proud of the breadth and depth of our cultural offerings in the Southern Tier/Finger Lakes,” said Assemblyman Harry Bronson of Rochester, whose region had 13 recipients. “Initiatives like Fairgame Arts Grants don’t simply support active creative organizations, but inspire new ideas, new ways of thinking and new ways of engaging. This program looks to the future, with the casinos serving as a seed for new growth.”
Distribution of the awards included Capital Region $52,500; Catskill Region $75,000; and Southern Tier/Finger Lakes Region $34,050.
“Five years ago, we saw this as a significant goal of the coalition,” said Fairgame board president Chris Silva, executive director, Bardavon Presents. “Now it’s happening. These grants will make tangible differences in individual communities. We’ve proven that the casinos and major performing arts centers can work together to enrich their regions in myriad ways.”
The Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame includes Bardavon Presents (Poughkeepsie), Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (Bethel), Clemens Center (Elmira), Forum Theatre (Binghamton), Palace Performing Arts Center (Albany), Proctors (Schenectady), Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Auditorium Theatre (Rochester), Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs City Center, State Theatre of Ithaca, Times Union Center (Albany) and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
