genesee-orleans regional arts council

 In a bid for a piece of a New York State $5.1 million pie, Genesee County will feast on a bit of that dessert in GO-ART!’s culinary kitchen with an award of $32,775.

The state Homes and Community Renewal announced the grant awards as part of Round XIII of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative that was opened to municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

The $5.1 million was awarded to 23 projects to “enhance and revitalize Main Streets and strengthen local economies,” HCR said in a press release issued Friday.

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council, the only Genesee County-based agency to receive funding in this round, was given the $32,775 for a project to continue improving its culinary arts kitchen at 201 East Main St., Batavia.

Not that the kitchen hasn’t been spruced up over the years, because bit by bit, artwork by artwork, local students have helped to add a new visual dimension to the place. With a monster theme firmly in tact, there are hand-painted scenarios on the walls, cupboards and — thanks to volunteers from Make A Difference Day — ceiling tiles. 

This new infusion of money adds to the aesthetics with infrastructure. 

Work is to include updates of a roof replacement, a kitchen exhaust hood fan replacement, and installation of an ice machine, convection oven, flat top grill, mixers and point-of-sale system, according to the grant application details. 

GO Art! Executive Director Gregory Hallock was not available for comment Friday.

“The New York Main Street program ensures that resources will be available for municipalities and nonprofit organizations working to revitalize downtown neighborhoods across the State,” HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said in the release. “This $5 million in funding will strengthen on-the-ground initiatives, further economic development, generate more employment opportunities, and create new housing options. Thanks to our local partners for spearheading the types of projects that will elevate the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come.”  

A total of 23 grants were awarded through New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Main Street program, which provides financial resources and technical assistance directly to nonprofit organizations and municipalities to strengthen the economic vitality of the state's traditional Main Streets and neighborhoods through targeted commercial and residential redevelopment. 

Additional information about the New York Main Street program is available HERE.  

Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council wil be hosting a Local Authors Night from 6 to 9 p.m. at 201 East Main St., Batavia, organizer Sammy DiSalvo says.

"Come support local authors with a night of meet and greets, readings, Q & A's, and book signings," DiSalvo said. "This event features five authors -- Greg Van Dussen, David Neth, Sammy DiSalvo, Andrew Freeman, and Mary Ellen Reardon -- from the Western New York community, and some of their most recent works."

GO Art!’s cash bar will be available during this event.

Go HERE for a full list of events for the evening. To learn more about GO Art!, call 585-343-9313.

 

The executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is seeking multiple county support to develop a comprehensive plan, of sorts, to expand arts and culture programming and tourism throughout Western New York.

Speaking at the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee meeting on Monday afternoon, Gregory Hallock pitched his proposal to apply for a National Endowment of the Arts grant that would partially fund the development of a “cultural plan” for nine WNY counties and possibly for the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.

He said foundations in Buffalo and Rochester are supporting the effort, with the goal of drafting plans for specific regions (including the GLOW region of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) plus “an overall, arching plan that combines all of them.”

Hallock said he hasn’t determined the cost of this initiative yet, but is applying for $150,000 – with the NEA contributing $90,000 and the affected counties allocating the remaining $60,000.

“The Western New York Foundation and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo both said they would only do this if there was a buy-in from all the counties,” he said. “I want this because this is my ‘next step.’ We’ve built and done a lot of stuff, but now I need to get people coming to our area for arts and culture. So, this is a big thing.”

Erie County has committed $10,000, Hallock said, adding that he is hoping that Genesee County would provide the same amount as a “one-time contribution.”

Hallock said the grant application is due by the end of the week, with the time period for implementation starting next July and running through June 2024.

“It will be a year’s worth of working on this,” he said, advising the committee that the goal is to hire a program administrator at a salary of $50,000.

He asked the committee to submit “a letter of support” at this time. GO Art! and Orleans County are the lead agency and county, respectively, for the project.

County Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein informed the committee that County Manager Matt Landers is supporting the bid, while “not wanting to be the big dog in the fight,” and added that Wyoming County also will be signing a letter of support to apply for the grant.

Landers said the planning document is meant to show the area’s arts and culture strengths and weaknesses and where time, energy and resources should be dedicated.

“This is an opportunity for a study to be done,” Landers said. “The studies are not cheap and to get a grant to provide one is not only beneficial but essential.”

The committee agreed to issue a letter of support – moving the proposal up the line toward a vote by the full legislature.

Although delayed, the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council reportedly will be receiving the full amount of its state funding that has been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving Executive Director Gregory Hallock reason to believe the agency will be able to provide all of its services and programs in 2021.

“We just received word that we will be getting the full $127,000 (mostly from the New York State Council on the Arts), we just don’t know when the money is coming in,” said Hallock during an agency review Monday for the Genesee County Legislature’s Human Services Committee.

Hallock said that GO ART! had to “shut everything down” last March at the outset of the coronavirus outbreak, resulting in cancelled events, such as the July 4^th Picnic in the Park (it was held virtually) and the halting of renovations at the 201 E. Main St. facility.

“It was a scary situation, but we are seeing the light,” he said, adding that the agency currently has about $70,000 on hand, twice as much as he expected.

With the assurances of its usual monetary support – and through the utilization of Payroll Protection Program grants, GO ART! is ready to transition its two employees back to full time later this month and is “planning to be fully open on September 1st,” Hallock said.

He said he is excited about the new features at the building, including a dance studio – “we even have a disco light,” he said – as well as a film studio, podcast studio with soundproofing windows, a hair studio, remodeled kitchen, and library with a grand piano.

GO ART! is looking to open Tavern 2.0.1 in September, Hallock said, disappointed that it was in operation for just two and a half months in 2020.

“We’re ready to make a ‘big bang’ when we get the go-ahead to start that back up,” he said.

The executive director’s report pointed out the value of a cultural component, noting there is a 7:1 return on dollars spent both directly and indirectly.

“Indications show that in our very region, arts/cultural tourists spend an average of 50 percent more than residents do per event, with an emphasis on indirect spending in the restaurant and hospitality sectors,” he stated.

He said GO ART! is able to support local organizations and individuals through the NYSCA Decentralized Re-Grant Program.

More than $43,000 in grants funded by the NYSCA, namely “Reach,” “Ripple” and “Spark” grants, were awarded in Genesee County in 2020, he said.

“Reach” grant award recipients included the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble’s concert season, Genesee Symphony Orchestra, Arc of Genesee/Orleans, Holland Purchase Historical Society, Elba Betterment Committee, Woodward Memorial Library, Genesee Chorale, ACORNS music in the park, Gillam Grant Community Center and the Batavia Concert Band.

Individual artists receiving “Ripple” grants were David Burke, Bart Dentino, Mandy Humphrey and Eric Zwieg.

Hallock said GO ART! spent $20,000 toward facility construction prior to the shutdown, and is set to resume the exterior and interior renovations, which are estimated to cost $218,000. Work will be done on the main entrance awning, kitchen roof, gutter system, storm windows and chimney.

GO ART! has received six grants for this project, totaling $199,500, he said, and is seeking grants to install an elevator, update the central air system and create a cultural garden.

The agency also is working on a partnering grant with the arts councils in Wyoming, Livingston and Monroe counties to share a full-time marketing director, Hallock said. Currently, GO ART! shares a full-time folklorist with Wyoming and Livingston counties.

Hallock said plans including offering the building for long-term room rentals, artist nights and other programs. Despite the pandemic, he said the agency assisted other organizations by using the building as a distribution site for food and clothing, and distributed 16,000 art kits to youth in Genesee and Orleans counties.

In legislative action, the Human Services Committee recommended approval of a resolution to allocate $6,500 to GO ART! for 2021. This is the same amount of funding that was appropriated in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is calling for artists to submit work in all media for its debut Members Exhibition, which will run from March 5 through April 27 (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment).

Works will be displayed in the GO ART! Bank of Castile Main Gallery, Seymore Place, 201 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia. (Note: the gallery is equipped with the "Walker Hanging System.")

The show will coincide with Arts Awareness Month in March, the GO ART! Salon kick-off, and the DEC Awards Ceremony.

All current members are eligible to enter three pieces of artwork, any media, in the exhibition. Artists may join or renew their memberships at the time of drop off, which is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 27, 28 and 29.

Two-dimensional work MUST be framed, wired and ready to hang. (No sawtooth hangers.)

There are some pedestals available for 3-D work. Check with the GO-ART! office.

GO ART! reserves the right to accept or refuse pieces. All questions should be directed to GO ART! 585-343-9313, or via email <info@GOart.org>

For publicity purposes, GO ART! says it would be helpful if artists could email or call with the size and number of pieces (max is three) by Feb. 17. If the work is to be created or is in progress, simply provide a general idea of size and medium. If you have an image available digitally, that would be helpful to have as well.

There is a registration form that should be completed and should accompany art when it is dropped off. All works should be labeled on the back with name, title, medium and price (if they are to be offered for sale. If sold, GO ART! will get a 10-percent commission). Insurance is the artist's responsibility.

The artist is responsible for providing round-trip shipping, packaging and postal insurance, if applicable.

The exhibiting artists' reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16.

Art work can be picked up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. May 1 and 2. Art left after June 1 becomes the property of GO ART!