Four Peekskill Arts Groups Receive State Grants

Sixteen arts organizations in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, including four in Peekskill, have received a total of $244,789 in grants from the New York State Council on the Arts. The council made the announcement in conjunction with State Senator Terrence Murphy of the Fortieth Senate District.

This direct-funding grant money is in addition to the arts decentralization grants provided to organizations to support local programs.

"Investing in the arts increases the economic, cultural and educational value of our communities," Senator Murphy said.

Four arts groups in Peekskill received grants. They are:

• Copland House, which will use an $8,000 grant to fund musical, public and educational activities, including ensemble concerts, in-school and onsite educational programs, composer residencies, lectures and master classes, film screenings, and other public presentations.
• Hudson River Healthcare, Inc., which will use a $7,000 grant to Latin American holiday events through three celebrations developed in collaboration with local Latino committees.
• Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (HVCCA), which received two $7,000 grants. One grant will fund Writing the Walls, a community project that will use poetry and words inspired by the "Indigenous Roots: The Threads that Connect" exhibit. The second grant will support artists, staff and materials for in-school programs at Peekskill High School. Students will create a project inspired by HVCCA's exhibition.
• Taconic Opera, Inc., which will use a $5,000 grant to fund two opera productions with each production being presented at two different venues. The grant also covers student performances of each production and two other opera events.

Other Westchester organizations that received grants include Friends of Music Concerts, Inc., Croton-on-Hudson; Hudson Stage Company, Croton-on Hudson; Hammond Museum, Inc., North Salem; Historic Hudson Valley, Pocantico Hills; Hudson Valley's Writers Center, Sleepy Hollow, and the Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville.