The New York State Council on the Arts aims to provide local support for widespread participation in community arts and arts education initiatives, fostering the exploration of art and the artistic process across all disciplines. This effort is part of NYSCA's Decentralization grant program, which strives to decentralize funding and increase accessibility to arts funding across New York State.
The grant offers Arts Education opportunities in two main strands: In-School K-12 public school programming and After School and Community-based Learning, available in Columbia, Greene, and Schoharie Counties. It's designed for artists or arts organizations partnering with K-12 public schools or community-based senior learning programs through certified non-profit organizations. The aim is to enrich and enhance students' experiences through the arts and creative process without replacing certified art teachers. All projects must provide a minimum of three contact sessions between the artist/group and participants, focusing on in-depth exploration of art and the artistic process.