Long Island Arts Leaders Meet with Legislators in Albany
HUNTINGTON, NY, 2 March 2010 - A group of artists and arts organizations representatives went to Albany last Wednesday to tell their legislators to "hold the line" on the funding for the New York State Council on the Arts.
Huntington Arts Council Executive Director Diana J. Cherryholmes stated, "We are asking of our legislators that they keep the NYSCA budget at its current level of funding, $41.6 million. The arts provide a $27.5 billion economic impact in New York State. The budget request of $41.6 million for NYSCA is only 1/300th of 1% of the State's $134 billion budget."
The group met with Assemblyman Andrew Raia, Senator John J. Flanagan and Assemblyman James Conte. The Long Island arts advocates included: Huntington Arts Council Executive Director Diana J. Cherryholmes, Georgette Grier-Key, Rene Bouchard, Michael Kornfeld, Folk Music Society of Huntington, Walter Wenzel and Dylan Skolnick of the Cinema Arts Centre. Also: Charlotte Koons, Northport Arts Council, Art League of Long Island Executive Director Tom Stacey, Lauren Paige, Northport Arts Council, and Nancy Solomon, Long Island Traditions.
Founded in 1963, the Huntington Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization which enriches the quality of life of Long Islanders with programs and services that address the needs and interests of artists, cultural organizations and the community. The Council's programs reach over one million Long Island residents, and it serves the entire region with its cultural listings at www.huntingtonarts.org. The Huntington Arts Council has been designated a "Primary Institution" by the New York State Council on the Arts, a title meaning "vital to the cultural life of New York State." The Council is the official arts coordinating agency for the Town of Huntington, and serves as the primary regranting agency on Long Island for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), in addition to its services to over 600 member cultural organizations and individual artist members.
