The Spark Awards celebrate and recognize outstanding individuals and organizations from across the Western New York arts community for their dedication, talent, and impact on the arts and cultural sector. This year’s presentation will be streamed for free on our YouTube page on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Click here to learn more about the Spark Awards. Patrick Fagan is a well-respected leader in the arts and entertainment field. As president of Shea’s Performing Arts Center, he successfully led the growth and renaissance of this venerable institution, transforming it into one of the premier stops on the Broadway…
Author: Arts Services Inc. (ASI)
The Spark Awards celebrate and recognize outstanding individuals and organizations from across the Western New York arts community for their dedication, talent, and impact on the arts and cultural sector. This year’s presentation will be streamed for free on our YouTube page on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Click here to learn more about the Spark Awards. Nicole Cooke is the Executive Director at the WNY Book Arts Center, an arts education & cultural nonprofit dedicated to printing and book related arts. Prior to leading the organization, Nicole had been a Book Arts volunteer for several years including service…
The Spark Awards celebrate and recognize outstanding individuals and organizations from across the Western New York arts community for their dedication, talent, and impact on the arts and cultural sector. This year’s presentation will be streamed for free on our YouTube page on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Click here to learn more about the Spark Awards. Aitina Fareed-Cooke was told at a young age that she would be a “failure to thrive” as a result of her biological mother’s addiction to drugs. At 14 months old her and her 2 siblings were placed into foster care and diagnosed…
The Spark Awards celebrate and recognize outstanding individuals and organizations from across the Western New York arts community for their dedication, talent, and impact on the arts and cultural sector. This year’s presentation will be streamed for free on our YouTube page on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Click here to learn more about the Spark Awards. Joan Fishburn, Unsung Hero Originally from Philadelphia, Joan Fishburn began playing violin in 3rd grade. In high school she added the playing of the trombone in bands to her musical life. From there, she went to Penn State to pursue a degree in music education.…
Authors: Tessa Pszonak and Jess Trainor We all know the pandemic has negatively affected people’s mental health and created new barriers for those already suffering from mental illness. For April’s spotlight, we wanted to highlight the work of those who are using the arts to help alleviate general and mental health challenges within the community, including our veterans and active duty military personnel. The Healing Arts Program at Oishei Children’s Hospital provides pediatric patients and families with services through an emotional, mental, and physical healing experience. They understand the importance and impact art has on someone’s health and are implementing it wherever they…
We are excited to announce our 2021 DEC grant recipients! This year, we have awarded $122,500 in New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Decentralization (DEC) grants to individual artists and arts organizations in Erie and Niagara counties for the production of 46 arts projects in 2021. The projects span nearly every artistic discipline, including music performances, theatre productions, workshops, visual art exhibitions, literary projects, and more with many serving marginalized and under-resourced communities. 2021 Grant Recipients: 13 Players Inc. Artpark & Company Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Foundation Boys & Girls Club of East Aurora Boys & Girls Club of…
We are very excited to announce the finalists and honorees of the eighth annual Spark Awards presented by M&T Bank! ASI’s annual Spark Awards celebrates and honors outstanding individuals and organizations from across Western New York for their dedication, talent, and impact on the arts and cultural sector. The honorees and finalists are selected every year through an open nomination process by a panel of peers in the field. Artist of the Year: Finalists Chantal Calato Jalen A. Law Stephen Solook Arts Organization of the Year: Finalists Buffalo Opera Unlimited CEPA Gallery Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes Arts Integration Thembi Duncan, Shea’s…
Author: Tessa Pszonak, Jess Trainor, and Holly Grant In honor of Women’s History Month, we took some time to speak with four incredible WNY women who are paving the way for other women in and through the arts. Brazen-Faced Varlets, a woman-owned theatre company here in Western New York, is breaking down the barriers of the stereotypical gender roles and paving the way for women in theatre to advance their careers. Varlets co-founder Lara Haberberger spoke with us about their mission to challenge, provoke, and delight their audiences through their work. The Varlets have also partnered with organizations in the…
We are excited to announce the 25 Give for Greatness (G4G) grant recipients for 2020! This year, we had 25 grants in the amount of $1,000 each to award to arts and cultural nonprofit organizations based in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. The 25 recipient organizations were selected from 57 total applicants for their work and accomplishments in 2020 by a panel of local leaders from the industry. Our G4G grant program awards vital community-based arts and cultural organizations for their important work by providing general operating support that can be used in whatever way they need. These critical…
The fight against social injustice that rose onto the international stage in 2020 implored us to find a way to help amplify the voices of marginalized communities and artists who are often left behind, unheard, or ignored.. That is why we are adjusting the focus of our 2021 monthly features to highlight arts and cultural organizations, collectives, and individual artists representing specific overlooked communities. Our first monthly spotlight of 2021 highlights two organizations whose missions are to educate, inform, and advocate for Black and African American history, heritage, and rights. By Tessa Pszonak Black History Month recognizes the success and…