The Broome County Arts Council (BCAC) announced $261,059.00 in 2022 United Cultural Funds (UCF) to 21 local artists, arts organizations and community non-profits - a substantial increase from the number of awards granted in 2021. Applicant statistics in Broome County reflect a nationwide picture: a greater number of medium and large arts organizations sought deeper levels of grant support to counteract loss of revenue due to COVID lockdown in 2020. However, more individual artists and small arts organizations seemed to demonstrate a renewed faith in the recovery of the Arts by launching fresh, new programs. “Altogether, this paints a very positive picture of creativity and economic recovery through the Arts in Broome County,” says Deb Colón, BCAC Board Chair. In the next several months, look for virtual writing workshops, events, and publishing opportunities, a production of the musical The Bridges of Madison County, a Haudenosaunee Festival, a ceremony and celebration for Twelfth Night, an urban farm mural, and much more.

2022 UCF General Operations awards were granted to Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, Bundy Museum of History and Art, Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, Endicott Performing Arts Center, Goodwill Theatre & Firehouse Stage, LUMA, Roberson Museum and Science Center, and Tri-Cities Opera. 2022 UCF Project awards support the work of thirteen individual artists and smaller, community arts projects with Grants of $1000 each. 2022 UCF Project recipients included the following: The Center for Gender, Art, & Culture, the Kopernik Society of Broome County, the Vestal Museum & Coal House, Binghamton Community Orchestra, Binghamton Downtown Singers, The Binghamton Poetry Project, Binghamton Theater Organ Society, Cornell Cooperative Extension, First Presbyterian Church, Jenna McIntosh,The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton, The Nanticoke Valley Historical Society of Maine, NY, and SRO Productions. Additionally, Broome County Arts Council received 15% of UCF Campaign totals, reserved for BCAC’s general operations & programming.

Major donors whose charitable gifts helped make UCF grants possible include: the Stewart W. & Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Broome County Government, the Dr. G. Clifford & Florence B. Decker Foundation, the Miller S. & Adelaide S. Gaffney Foundation, IBM, Eugene & Judith Peckham, Columbian Financial Group, NBT Bank, Mediabrush Marketing, Sentry Alarms, Chianis & Anderson Architects, Dr. Pamela Smart, Visions Federal Credit Union, and other local businesses and individuals who believe in the value of arts investment.

Since 1987, the Broome County Arts Council’s United Cultural Fund has distributed over $11 million to the Arts in Broome County, while serving over 100,000 residents. UCF grantees typically return $3-$4 million dollars to Broome County’s economy, annually. The economic impact of revenue loss due to COVID has been hard-felt in the Arts community since March of 2020, but with an 18 month recovery period predicted (AFTA, 2020), United Cultural Campaign funding continues to be especially critical to the health and vitality of our County. As ever, we are grateful for the generosity of all who supported the recovery and sustainability of the Arts in Broome County with their donations.