Our Mission
CNY Arts’ mission is to promote, support, and celebrate arts and culture in Central New York.
What We Do
We provide support and assistance to individual artists and arts and cultural organizations through access to grants, capacity-building assistance, education and training, and promotional services. We serve the counties of Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego. Our goal is to enhance a greater appreciation for the arts and cultural vibrancy of the region
Who We Are
At CNY Arts, we believe that a healthy arts industry is essential to the quality of life and community in Central New York. We strive to connect the general public to the rich array of arts and cultural opportunities in the area.
Statement on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access
CNY Arts, the regional Central New York arts council, has begun a process to look back through its history and evaluate and improve its own programs and services to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusivity, and access in our creative communities are fundamental values and central tenets of our work. We believe:
- Art and creative expression are a universal language.
- Art moves society and creates long-lasting change.
- Art inspires empathy and understanding.
- Art gives voice to and creates spaces for those who have been marginalized.
- Art brings our communities together so we can begin the healing process.
Through our work, we will continue to amplify the voices of our minority and marginalized artists. We will work to listen to minority artists and address their needs.
As the movement for justice and equality continues, CNY Arts is committed to the ongoing practice, reflection, and assessment of being anti-racist and ensuring equity, access, and inclusivity among our diverse artists, audiences, and community.
To ensure that we offer the highest standard of service possible, CNY Arts endeavors to cultivate a staff who embrace the lived experience of the diverse communities whom we serve. Our Board of Directors reflects demographic, geographic, and disciplinary variety, of whom 72% are women and 22% persons of color. 66% of our staff are aligned with a protected class of employment, as defined by the New York State Department of Labor, including ethnicity, orientation, age, and differently-abled team members. CNY Arts resolutely believes in opportunities for career advancement and professional development among our staff. It is our privilege to advance access and equality in the arts and culture sector of Central New York.
History of CNY Arts
2020/2021
Distributed over $690,000 in COVID-19 Arts Impact Fund regrants to artists and arts organizations in the 7-county Central NY region
2020
Creates the COVID-19 Arts Impact Fund, which received $175,000 in matching challenge grants from area foundations
2019
CNY Arts publishes Arts & Entertainment District Master Plan for five CNY cities: Auburn, Cortland, Oneida, Oswego, and Syracuse
2018/19
CNY Arts establishes the Innovation Group of CNY Arts, LLC to administer $4.88 million in film incentive and short film competition grants
2018
CNY Arts begins work on Master Plan to establish five Arts & Entertainment Districts with support from an Empire State Development Grant through the Regional Economic Development Council
2018
Establishes the Arts Leaders Fellowship Program
2017
CNY Arts awarded the National Ovation Stand for the Arts Award
2015
Receives a $100,000 Empire State Development Grant through REDC and a $40,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to support ENGAGE plan implementation
2014
Premieres Dasher’s Magical Gift, an original holiday ballet. Completes a six-county, ten-year Regional Cultural Plan (ENGAGE) and raises $174,000 from NYSCA and the Empire State Development Corporation through REDC to support plan implementation.
2013
Receives NYSCA Grant for $150,000 through the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) in support of a Regional Assessment and officially launches gotocnyarts.org
2012
CRC offically becomes CNY Arts.
2011
CRC begins Decentralization service to Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties.
2009
CRC begins Decentralization service to Cortland County.
2006
CRC begins Decentralization service to Oswego County.
1997
CRC becomes NYSCA Decentralization Site with service for Onondaga County.
1968
Renamed The Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc.
1962
Renamed The Metropolitan Council of Art & Sciences, Inc.
1957
The Cultural Center of Syracuse & Onondaga County, Inc. is created.
1953
Cultural Center Committee of the City Planning Commission is organized.
1945
Post War Council recommends formation of the Council of Education & Cultural Agencies.
1943
Syracuse Mayor Thomas E. Kennedy appoints a Post War Planning Council.
CNY ARTS Past Highlights
September, 1951
Helped plan, fund and build the War Memorial Building in downtown Syracuse, New York.
Throughout the 1970’s
Helped fundraise and build the performance spaces in the Mulroy Civic Center.
Up until the early 1990’s
Operated Civic Center Theatres.
1990’s to the present day
Began regranting funds to arts groups and presenting One My Own Time – A Visual Arts Showcase, The Michael Harms Theatre Festival, Folk Arts Roundtable and Youth Theatre productions.