Yonkers Public Library (YPL) has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. This is the second year YPL has received the grant, which increased by $15,000 this year after a successful year of arts and cultural offerings in 2024.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced over 2,000 grants totaling $62 million by the New York State Council on the Arts — supporting 1,497 nonprofit organizations and 509 individual artists, increasing access to arts funding and recognizing the substantial economic and social impact of New York’s vital arts and culture sector.
“As the unparalleled leader of arts and culture, New York’s creativity and innovation inspires the world,” Hochul said. “Our continued investment in our dynamic creative sector will further boost tourism, strengthen our local economies and continue New York’s success as a rich and vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
Executive Director of NYSCA Erika Mallin said, “On behalf of the council and staff, I am so proud that we are supporting the critical work of so many nonprofit organizations all across the state, including the work of the Yonkers Public Library. New York state’s art and culture nonprofits make us a global leader, strengthening our connections to each other and the larger world. I thank you for your dedication and service and look forward to all your work in the coming year.”
“…The increased award only reinforces that YPL has an important and growing role in Yonkers’ vital arts scene. We’re excited for the opportunity to make it easier to access, experience and appreciate art in Yonkers.” said Library Director Jesse Montero.
YPL’s Riverfront Library is the site of the Riverfront Art Gallery, which exhibits contemporary and acclaimed works from established and emerging artists, with a special emphasis on local artists and those that reflect the city’s diverse communities.
YPL also houses two of the largest public performance art venues in the city: the Riverfront Auditorium at Riverfront Library and the Joan M. Pincus Auditorium at the Grinton I. Will Branch Library, which both host large cultural programs and performances from local and regional artists.
In 2024, NYSCA grant funding supported operations at the Riverfront Art Gallery, free performances attended by thousands at both auditoriums, art workshops, art history lectures, the purchase of art panels to expand exhibition space, and the installation of a permanent work at Riverfront Library – a mosaic, “The Legend of the Four Crows,” depicting a Lenape creation story.
In 2025, YPL plans to use a portion of the grant funds to expand its popular
museum-pass lending program, making it easier and more affordable for Yonkers residents to visit the region’s world-class art museums.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said, “Congratulations to Yonkers Public Library on this prestigious NYSCA grant. By fostering arts appreciation in Yonkers residents at a young age, housing the finest library art gallery in the region, and championing our city’s talented local artists, YPL improves the cultural life of the city. The grant will help them expand that impact.”
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York state’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York state, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions.
Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch.
Yonkers Public Library is the largest library in Westchester County. Its mission is to change lives every day, help all the people of Yonkers find the information they need, the programs they enjoy, and the reading they love.
