More grants for the Arts in Queens

The most diverse borough in the city is quickly becoming a leading source of support for local artists. The Queens Community Arts Fund (QCAF), the grant-making arm of the Queens Council on the Arts, will increase the number of grants to individual artists and organizations for 2008.
The program is part of a greater initiative to provide funding for the arts in New York. Due to a major reform in the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs funding process supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Speaker of the City Council Christine Quinn, the City Council body and all Borough Presidents, additional monies are being sourced to the Greater New York Arts Development Fund. The New York State Council on the Arts was also encouraged to increase its budget for the state and local partnership program.
The QCAF program is now able to award more grants in 2008 than in previous years to artists and organizations with a cultural message. Individual artists who live in Queens are eligible for grants to fund new creations that interact with the citizens of Queens County.
The increase in arts funding for such a diverse community cannot only lead to greater arts awareness for its citizens, but will give emerging artists and cultural programs more resources to explore their own creativity right at home.
Non-profit organizations must be based in Queens, in existence for one year, and provide cultural programming in the same borough. Judging will be competitive, with grants reviewed through a peer panel process.
As submissions are expected to increase, all new applicants are required to attend one of the available application information sessions.
Organizations can visit the September 17 session at LaGuardia Community College, 31-10 Thomson Avenue, Room E-500, Long Island City, from 6 to 9 p.m. or the September 24 session at Flushing Library, 41-17 Main Street, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Individual artists must visit the September 18 session at the Chocolate Factory Theater, 5-49 49th Avenue, Long Island City, from 6 to 8 p.m. or the September 19 session at the offices of Dr. Geraldine Chapey, Trinity Services, 104-02 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Park, from 6 to 9 p.m. Technical writing assistance will be available for both artist sessions.
The application deadline for organizations is on Friday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 17 for individual artists.
For more information visit the website for the Queens Council on the Arts at www.queenscouncilarts.org where applicants can download forms and view schedules.