ART$WCHALLENGE $300,000 COUNTDOWN - Westfair Communications

PJS Jazz. Nioka Workman of Firey String Sistas (left) and WCM Gandesh Workshop (right)

The Art$WChallenge, a unique public/private partnership among ArtsWestchester, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Board of Legislators has made available $300,000 in matching grant money to benefit arts and cultural groups in Westchester County through Dec. 31. More than 120 arts organizations are eligible for between $1,500 to $7,500 in matching funds based on their ability to raise private monies before the year”™s end.

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam explained, “Community support has enabled us to keep the arts alive and vital in Westchester in good times””and in not so good times. Right now is one of those not so good times.” In a recent ArtsWestchester study of Westchester cultural organizations, 87% of organizations reported they were not faring well during the pandemic.

Fifty-five groups have already made their Art$WChallenge match, together raising $485K in new private donations, of which $237K were eligible for the match.

Latimer said, “Despite the havoc caused by Covid-19, the Westchester arts community has rallied in a way that continues to provide engaging virtual and in-person cultural programs for county residents”¦.”

Benjamin Boykin, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators said, “The Art$WChallenge program is a powerful example of a public/private partnership that pays dividends for the economy. Since the inception of the Art$WChallenge in 2007, a total of $3.9 million in private money has been raised and invested in Westchester County”™s cultural sector”¦.”

Through Dec. 31, new or increased donations made to any eligible Westchester arts group will be matched by ArtsWestchester with support from Westchester County government.

Kinga Lesniak of the Nowodworski Foundation said, “For the first time, we are allowed to participate in the Art$WChallenge. Our main source of funding is our yearly fundraising gala and it can”™t happen this year. So far we”™ve collected almost $5,000 in donations. That may be small money for big organizations, but for us it”™s really important.”

Visit: https://artswestchester.org/grants/artswchallenge/ and make a difference today.