Arts in Orange

For the past two years I have had the honor of serving on a committee within Arts in Orange that oversees the allocation of state grants to artists within Orange County. Artists of all types submit their applications in the hopes of receiving a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts so that they may promote their work. It is an extremely rewarding experience and has opened my eyes to the incredible diversity of artists and programs that are right here in Orange County. From the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra to individual workshops where you can learn how to paint or to sculpt there is an enormous amount of artistic talent right here to enjoy.

Arts in Orange recently held a small get together for the recipients of the grants and I was glad to be able to attend. It was so nice to meet some of the people behind the applications. As part of the grant process we have the opportunity to attend events where the grants have been used and to see the artists in action. It has been wonderful and I have really enjoyed the performances of the artists whom I have been lucky enough to see. I hope to catch even more performances this year! One of the best parts about my participation is that I am helping to support the local artists. As a local artist myself this is extremely important to me because not only do I live here, but I work here as well.

So congratulations to all of those who were selected this year to receive a grant! It is always a difficult task of making the selections and unfortunately there is just not enough funding to cover everyone and many submissions just don’t quite make the cut. It’s not fun to have to make those choices because there are so many worthy artists and events and many times it can be quite a fight amongst the board members. Hopefully those folks who did not get selected attend some of the submission workshops and try again next year.

And if you are looking for something to do in the Orange County area, check out the Arts in Orange blog for the latest updates about events, I think you will be surprised at whats available right here in your own backyard!