Visual Arts Grant Drives CNY Artists to the Finish Line

Written November 14, 2008

Most people find it difficult to get things done without a to do list.  Award winning artists have the same problem. Light Work, a non-profit visual arts organization, serves the community by giving Central New York artists that extra push.  Light Work premiered  its 34th  Light Work Grants Photography exhibit featuring three artists who were awarded $2,000 grants.  The recipients were Kathy Morris, Paul Pearce and Nancy Keefe Rhodes.

"The Light Works Grant is such a wonderful tradition in upstate New York," visual artist Morris said.  "It's the only one of its kind. It's valuable on a lot of levels."

Morris, who also won the award previously in 1986, said the grant encouraged her to complete her most recent project  on pain, surgery and healing.

"I have a very active, creative life so I start something and get interested in something else," Morris said.

Morris works as a wedding photographer, photo journalist and yoga instructor but won the award for her fine arts photography.

"The grant is keeping me focused on this project," Morris said. "And of course when you stay focused you go deeper and then you can realize it more on different levels."

Since completing this exhibit, Morris is now closer to self-publishing a book on her series topic of Spiral Diary she said.  She had been contemplating the idea for three years before she received the grant she said.

"The idea could've gone on for ten years," Morris said.  "Now, I have an obligation to Light Work to finish it."

Partners for Arts Education Connects Schools, Arts Organizations, and Funders

Written October 1, 2008

For nearly eight years, Syracuse Stage, Symphony Orchestra, The Everson Museum, The Community Art Center, Light Work and many other other organizations have received through Partner for Arts Education, a non-profit organization that matches funders with arts programs in need.

During a meeting in 1999, Laura Reeder, founder of Partners for Arts Education, noticed serious communication issues between arts organizations, Syracuse schools, and funders who were eager to donate money to arts education.

"I saw a major funder trying to bring arts education dollars to Syracuse and I didn't see anyone wanting to take their money," Reeder said. 

Reeder, with the guidance and support of a few friends, worked out the foundational elements for her organization, PAE.  Sh discovered a way to get money into the hands of Syracuse schools and cultural organizations.  PAE creates opportunities for schools and arts organizations to work together and how to utilize their funding to develop their arts programs.

"Our local arts and culture organizations have never wanted to stop being relevant to the schools," Reeder said.  "But it's an ongoing struggle to chase bureaucracy in education becaause they change it every year.  We're just trying to make it easier."