EssEx county Arts counciL

ARTS IN THE PARK • SUMMER/FALL 2022 - 7

Essex County Arts Council increases support to artists of all disciplines

The arts are vital to building strong, resilient communities. They help us to relax, inspire us, give us courage, bring us joy. Essex County is rich with creative vision and the Essex County Arts Council supports a wide spectrum of activities including performing, visual, historical/heritage, music and literary arts. 2021 was a year of rebuilding and reconnecting with audiences. After 2020, a year of virtually no (or at least very few) cultural activities, the artists and arts organizations of Essex County have struggled to find their way back into our lives. Essex County Arts Council was there with them all the way, through a financial expansion of both regrant programs, and with a major increase in a social media presence.

In 2021, ECAC funded 38 organizations with CAP (Cultural Assistance Program) grants. Thanks to the Essex County Board of Supervisors and loyal ECAC donors, each group received 85-90% of requested amounts. For 2022, the Essex County Board of Supervisors have expressed their support of the arts in the county with an increase in county funding for this invaluable regrant program. This year, 42 organizations have requested CAP funds for a wide variety of projects. Check our events calendar on the website, www.essexcountyarts.org, and follow ECAC on Facebook: facebook.com/essexcountynyarts/ and Instagram: essexcountyarts. The Google map, added to our website in 2021, shows just how many arts and cultural organizations exist in Essex County. You’ll find it at www.essexcountyarts.org/content/arts-map.

This year, the Essex County Arts Council is excited to announce a newly reimagined microgrant opportunity for artists of all genres. Now called the Sunburst Award, this program supports creators of art in Essex County by providing a stipend of up to $500 toward a project, training or an activity that will further an artist’s careers. Do you have a pet project you’ve been dying to try but are a little short on materials, money for PR, or do you want to learn a new technique that could take your art to the next level? Through this program —previously called the Artist Career Development Grant — ECAC has funded projects that included musical composition, publishing an art portfolio, the creation of musical instruments, creative fly fishing lures and taxidermy. A simple, straightforward application is available, as is assistance in preparing a request. Application deadline is Oct. 1.

ECAC is a non-profit organization. Your support will help us to promote and advocate for the Arts here where you live and vacation. Please ask any grant recipient how important their grant was to them and consider making a donation to strengthen our outreach.

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