Author: Arts Services Inc. (ASI)

The arts are not just a conduit for creativity and expression; they are a robust economic engine driving growth and prosperity. Arts Services Inc. (ASI) has illuminated this truth with undeniable clarity through their recent impact report title Arts & Economic Prosperity 6. In 2022 alone, nonprofit Arts & Culture organizations in Western New York were responsible for generating a staggering $381.4 million in economic activity, supporting over 8,000 jobs, and contributing $121 million in tax revenues across local, state, and federal levels. Yet, this flourishing landscape faces a threat—a proposed budget cut that seeks to halve the New York…

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As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of African Americans in various fields of endeavor. But we also look ahead to the future and support the ongoing work of black artists, creatives, and cultural leaders in our community. We’d like to introduce you to three black arts leaders in Western New York who are making an impact in their respective mediums and domains. They are Princessa S. Williams, the first Afro-Latina gallery owner in WNY; Jessica Miller aka Sum’er Daize, the first black, woman-owned tattoo studio owner in WNY; and Malcolm Rankin-Jeter, a…

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Arts Services Inc. congratulates the 18 Western New York artists who have been awarded a $10,000 grant each from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The grants, part of the Support for Artists program, will fund various artistic projects to be completed in 2024 through Fiscal Sponsorship. These grants represent a portion of the $46 million in NYSCA grant awards to support more than 500 artists and over 1,000 arts and cultural organizations across the state. Grant funding for individual artists is often scarce with most large pots of arts funding available only to nonprofit organizations. Through…

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We know that you have your choice of awesome things to do and see here in Western New York, especially when it comes to festival season. But we have over 20 reasons why you NEED to check out the Hertel Alley Mural Fest on June 10 and 11. The 20+ artists were chosen to participate in Hertel Alley Mural Fest from a pool of 99 applications for their strong artistic voice and their excitement for the community engagement element of the festival. For some, this will be their third or fourth time painting a mural but for many this will be their…

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Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace’s Office, invites artists in all appropriate mediums (2-dimensional and 3-dimensional) from throughout Western New York to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project located in Cayuga Creek Park in Lancaster, NY. The park is located off of West Main Street within the Village of Lancaster. The public art will be placed on a concrete slab located within the park. Project Background and Goals Assemblymember Wallace and Mayor Ruda of the Village of Lancaster would like to further the development of Cayuga Creek Park by…

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You could receive up to $5,000 in funding for your community arts projects. That’s right, we’re excited to re-open the portal for a second round of Statewide Community Regrant (SCR) applications for individual artists, collectives and nonprofits in Erie, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties. The deadline to apply is May 26, 2023. This second round of SCR funding is open to new applicants as well as applicants who did not receive funding if they applied for the first deadline. And, in 2023, applicants can apply for 100% of their project’s cost up to the grant max with no fund matching requirement. We have scheduled several in-person and…

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The new work should celebrate the town’s Polish heritage Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace’s Office, invites artists in all appropriate mediums from throughout Western New York to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project located at Cheektowaga Town Park on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga, NY. This project has been updated with new guidelines and an updated submission deadline of February 10th, 2023. Assemblymember Wallace’s Office is seeking a sculpture (of any type of material, size, and base) that celebrates the town’s Polish heritage. This public art work is meant…

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A commission of up to $36,000 is available for the chosen artist to create and install their work. Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI), on behalf of Assemblymember William Conrad’s Office, invites artists in all appropriate mediums (2-dimensional) from throughout Western New York to submit proposals for an outdoor public art project. The selected mural will provide the front and side façade of the building which can be seen by Sheridan Drive and will be the back drop to future outdoor activities in front of the Center, as well as a welcoming indicator into the building. Project Background…

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Murals are springing up around Western New York all the time, but do you ever sit and wonder where they come from or how they came to be? We can’t speak on behalf of all the murals around town, but we’ve been at the helm in a few of them and thought it might be fun to shed a little light on our mural creation process as well as share our brand new mural trail map which lays out the 30+ murals that we’ve had a hand in creating. This new interactive map also has driving directions for 5 different mural trails that you…

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At Arts Services Inc., we believe that the arts are for everyone. Recently, some of the staff spent a couple of days out of the office, taking time to check out a few arts and cultural attractions that are close by. Just a few hours spent exploring the neighborhood made us remember what we too often forget; that beyond the impressive economic impact that the arts have, they also have a profound social impact that is unmeasurable but just as important to the welfare of all Western New Yorkers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEfaFc8Lmw&ab_channel=ArtsServicesInc. Americans for the Arts, the national arts advocacy organization, recently…

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