Submitted Photo Chautauqua County artists and organizations are invited to submit applications for awards from the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County's 2020 Projects Pool Grants Program. One of last year's recipients, Audubon Community Nature Center, commissioned local artist Debra Eck to create characters with face cutouts for their Dragons, Fairies, and Elves, Oh My! Festival.

JAMESTOWN — The United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County (UAA) is now accepting applications from Chautauqua County artists and organizations for its 2020 Projects Pool Grants Program.

Grants up to $500 are available to quality arts programs and organizations as well as individual artists. Artistic disciplines can include but are not limited to crafts, dance, film, fiction, poetry, printmaking, sculpture, painting, video, play writing, performance, music composition and photography.

Awards to individual artists, who must have been a Chautauqua County resident for at least one year, are based on creative excellence and are to be used for artistic development.

Eligible organizations must have non-profit status and may include libraries, municipalities, churches, and other community groups.

Applications are submitted online and must be received by midnight on Wednesday, April 15.

After applications are screened for eligibility and fulfillment of application requirements, they are reviewed by an advisory panel of Chautauqua County residents who are knowledgeable in the arts. The panel’s recommendations are presented to the United Arts Appeal board for approval.

Artists and community organizations interested in applying for funding through the UAA’s Projects Pool Grants Program can obtain application information and funding criteria online at the Grants page at UnitedArtsAppeal.org.

In 2019, UAA grants were awarded to:

Audubon Community Nature Center: Fairy Festival Cut-Outs

Citizens for a Better Cassadaga: Summer Concert Series on Cassadaga Lake

E2CCB Educational Foundation: Fredonia Mini Maker Faire

Great Lakes FX: Fur, Fish, and Feathers

Jamestown Parks, Recreation and Conservation Dept.: 2019 Summer Bandshell Concert Series

Patterson Library: Music Together with Kay Barlow

Sinclairville Free Library: Write Circle Anthology “Road Trip”

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: St. Luke’s Community Messiah Sing-Along

The United Arts Appeal also provides operating support for seven of the larger arts organizations in Chautauqua County: Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, and Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

The UAA is supported by Chautauqua County, local foundations, corporations, businesses and individuals throughout the county.

For more information about the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County, call 222-1602 or visit UnitedArtsAppeal.org, with links to each of the member organizations’ websites.

To support the arts in Chautauqua County, your contribution to United Arts Appeal, PO Box 754, Jamestown, NY 14702 would be greatly appreciated.