When it comes to uncovering and writing grants to “elevate” the status of local arts and culture, the executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is leaving no stone unturned.
Appearing before the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee on Monday afternoon, Gregory Hallock reported that he is committed to locating funding for capital projects at the GO ART! building at 201 East Main St. – with the installation of a new elevator at the top of the list – as well as for programs and support of community artisans.
“We received over a half-million dollars in grants this year,” he said. “I’ve been working my butt off writing grants. So, we’re kind of excited about everything that we’re going to be doing – excited about giving out more money.”
Hallock said the majority of the $500,000 went for building repairs, but some was used to subsidize programming and $50,000 from Restart NY was given out to deserving organizations in the two counties.
He said he missed out on the latest round of funding for an elevator at the three-story facility, but is hoping that a grant that he is applying for through the NYS Preservation League could pave the way for the $400,000 or more needed to put in the elevator.
“It’s an historical building, so we’re looking for the preservation league to do an updated study and include an update to the elevator study that we started,” he said. “We need to see what we can do with the empty spaces, including the use of the third-floor attic. I also have heard a rumor that a state grant for handicapped accessibility is possible.”
Hallock said GO ART! will be receiving $40,000 more than it got this year to fund Reach Grant (Community Arts), Spark Grant (Arts in Education) and Ripple Grant (Individual Artist) awards.
“This year, we gave out more than $44,000 in Genesee County for our cultural happenings, which is part of a $70,000 pot split between Genesee and Orleans … and next year, we’ll be giving out $107,800 in grants,” he said. “So, we’re really excited. We got a top end score with the state, which is awesome.”
This year saw the completion of several projects, including the library, podcast studio and dance studio, Hallock said.
He noted that “some massive grants” are coming out for artists in residence.
“We’ll be applying for those for artists coming out to our area to plaster Genesee County with murals. We are concentrating on the cultural aspects of it and the folklorist traditional aspect of it. We want to represent all of the communities within our counties.”
Hallock said he has been conducting extensive research of grant databases at the main libraries in downtown Buffalo and Rochester, and has developed a connection with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.
“The foundation just gave millions of dollars to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (for arts and culture in the region) and we’re involved with them, hosting meetings with them,” he said. “I'm hoping that this means something for our future. But I got myself on the panel during that time because I want to make sure that funding comes here.”
In related action, the Human Services Committee voted in favor of a $7,500 allocation from Genesee County to GO ART! for 2022. The funding -- $1,000 more than what was appropriated in 2021 -- is subject to approval by the full legislature.
