Arts Grant For Copland House In Cortlandt

CORTLANDT, NY — The Copland House in Cortlandt has been awarded a $15,000 grant to support a series of performances of American music by the Music from Copland House ensemble.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced a total of $90,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for six community organizations in New City, Cortlandt, Pleasantville, Ossining, Croton-on-Hudson, and White Plains. These federal investments will directly support local artists, performances, and arts education programs.

"At a time when arts programs face the constant threat of loss of funding or complete elimination, it is critical to invest in the local arts organizations that enrich lives and power the economy,” Lowey said in the announcement. “These welcome investments will give children and families greater access to the arts and foster creativity in communities across our region, country, and world. As Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to protect this essential arts funding.”

In New York’s 17th Congressional District, each grantee will receive an annual grant award between $10,000 and $30,000. Grantees in New York’s 17th Congressional District are:

• $10,000 for the Strawtown Art & Garden Studio Inc. (New City) to support a series of visual art workshops for youth and a culminating public art exhibition.
• $15,000 for the Copland House (Cortlandt) to support a series of performances of American music by the Music from Copland House ensemble.
• $30,000 for the Jacob Burns Film Center, Inc. (Pleasantville) to support The Power of Film, featuring curated film screenings and associated public programming.
• $10,000 for the Bethany Arts Community Inc. (Ossining) to support an artist residency program and associated community engagement activities.
• $10,000 for the Festival of New Trumpet Music, Inc. (Croton-on-Hudson) to support artist fees for program curators and performers at the Festival of New Trumpet Music.
• $15,000 for the Westchester Arts Council, Inc. Arts Westchester (White Plains) to support an outdoor sculpture exhibition installed in partnership with the City of White Plains, and the White Plains Business Improvement District.

One of the awardees, Copland House, is an award-winning creative center for American music based at Aaron Copland's National Historic Landmark home. Their grant will support music from Copland House’s concerts in several Westchester locations, including Copland's National Historic Landmark home in Cortlandt Manor and the John Jay Homestead in Katonah, as well as a new series of mini-concerts for families and children slated to debut in Fall 2020.

“Support from the National Endowment for the Arts ratifies the importance of the singular work we do, bringing American music to every corner of Westchester, and across the U.S., from 2nd graders to seniors,” said Michael Boriskin, Copland House Artistic and Executive Director. “The NEA has long been a cornerstone in our funding base, and we are very grateful for its continuing confidence in our efforts to celebrate and ignite American musical creativity and innovation.”

“We are grateful to the NEA for awarding this generous grant that allows us to continue our program The Power of Film: Community Engagement and Dialogue, which represents our commitment to building connections that spark dialogue and social change,” said Brian Ackerman, Programming Director at the Jacob Burns Film Center. “The Power of Film includes a number of our ongoing curated series: REMIX: the Black Experience in Film, Media and Art, Global Watch: Crisis & Human Rights, and Contemporary Arab Cinema, providing us with opportunities to foster empathy and cross-cultural awareness.”

Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester) has been stalwart in her support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and served on the prestigious National Council for the Arts. Each year, Congresswoman Lowey celebrates local artistic talent through the Congressional Art Competition, a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.