For Immediate Release
February 5, 2008
Contact: Christy Post, Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning
(585) 473-4000, extension 206
cpost@artsrochester.org
Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester Awards $33,500 in Capacity Building Grants to Cultural Organizations in Six-County Region
Rochester, NY, February 5, 2008 – The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, in partnership with Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF), is pleased to announce the 2008 Capacity Building Grant awards. Eight area cultural organizations will receive a total of $33,500 for projects taking place in 2008.
“We are very grateful to Jennifer Leonard and the board and staff of Rochester Area Community Foundation for their ongoing support of the arts and cultural community, and for increasing their investment in the grant program this year,” said Sarah Lentini, President and CEO of the Arts and Cultural Council. “The need for this kind of funding is evident in the number of applications we receive and the impact is clearly demonstrated in the diversity of projects funded.”
The Arts & Cultural Council received a 40% increase in Capacity Building Grants funds from Rochester Area Community Foundation in 2008. This increase resulted in a 34% increase in funding to cultural organizations. The Arts & Cultural Council received 13 requests for Capacity Building Grant funds totaling $58,917.
An award ceremony for 2008 grantees will be held Thursday, February 28, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, 277 N. Goodman Street, Rochester.
The grant programs and recipients are as follows:
Capacity Building Grants
The Arts & Cultural Council administers Capacity Building Grants with funds provided by Rochester Area Community Foundation. Capacity Building grants are awarded through a competitive process and provide financial and technical assistance to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations with budgets over $500,000 in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne Counties. Grants are for projects that improve management, develop audiences, strengthen fundraising, and/or achieve operating efficiencies through shared resources. Priority is given to direct providers of artistic services.
Funds Awarded: $33,500 for eight projects taking place in 2008.
Awardees
- PictureFest International, Inc. : $5,000 to support hiring a marketing and public relations consulting agency to focus on increasing the film festival’s visibility and developing strategies for long term expansion of audience.
- Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus, Inc.: $3,900 to strengthen its market presence and increase brand awareness in order to expand audience size and increase support from private and public funders. GVOC will update and promote its website, and develop a presentation packet for sponsor recruitment.
- Friends of Bristol Valley Playhouse: $4,760 to hire a firm to redesign their website to 1) guide potential patrons more efficiently toward attending programs; 2) expand the site’s communication options; and 3) develop the site’s abilities to capture information about visitors to target marketing and content to that audience.
- The Rochester Children’s Theatre, Inc.: $4,800 to create a well-designed website that provides an engaging forum for families, teachers, and kids of all ages, support RCT’s mission, and increase audience. The site will contain information, games and blogs that enhance young audience’s appreciation for and understanding of RCT’s theatrical productions.
- The Baobab Cultural Center: $4,525 to produce an attractive window sculpture and portable sidewalk kiosk, incorporating signage about current offerings, to boost attendance and membership. Cheryl Olney will design the sculpture.
- Rochester Historical Society: $4,000 to build a website to disseminate information about collections and programs; provide a guide to local history research with key information and links to other local history museums and repositories; and offer significant interpretive content on Rochester’s history for a general audience.
- Borinquen Dance Theatre, Inc: $5,000 to hire a marketing consultant to develop a communications strategy to raise visibility in the Rochester region.
- South Bristol Cultural Center : $1,515 to increase annual revenue from fundraisers, sponsorships, enrollments and memberships by providing training to SBCC’s executive director. Training shall be customized and delivered by The Council of Community Services of New York State.
For more information about Capacity Building Grants and other grant progams, contact Michael Futter, Director of Development and Grant Programs, at (585) 473-4000, extension 202, or via email at mfutter@artsrochester.org.
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The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rocheste r is a nonprofit corporation serving arts and culture in the 10-county greater Rochester region. Our mission is to strengthen and promote the region’s creative sector through grant programs, constituent services, and special initiatives; and to act as an advocate, planner, and funder, supporting artistic vitality and cultural diversity throughout the region. For more information about our programs and services, visit www.artsrochester.org.
