EARLVILLE – The Earlville Opera House (EOH) is pleased to announce a continuation in funding from the New York State Council on the aAts (nysca) for the 2021 Broome, Chenango and Otsego decentralization (dec) grant program.

Through the DEC Program, funding is available to non-profit organizations and artists who partner with an eligible non-profit for cultural initiatives in 2021. 

Funding is available for grants up to $5,000 each to support Community Arts (CA) and Arts Education (AE) grants in Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties. Additional funding in the amount of $15,000 has been provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation of Binghamton to further support Broome County DEC projects.

Founded in 1977, the Decentralization Program was developed by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to ensure that New York State’s cultural funding reaches every part of the state. Decentralization has since become one of NYSCA’s most effective means of making arts support available to geographically, economically, and ethnically diverse segments of the state’s population. The program serves each of the state’s 62 counties and funds volunteer community organizations as well as established non-profit corporations with paid professional staff. In addition, grants are available to artists in the service area who partner with an eligible non-profit or school.

The Broome, Chenango and Otsego DEC Program serves as a catalyst for local cultural development engaging children, adults and seniors in events that enrich and enhance their lives. Funding provided through these programs helps to strengthen our communities by reaching the most rural of our townships and villages, providing increased access to a greater quality of life through the arts. DEC has been administered in Chenango County since 1986 and the Earlville Opera House began administering the program in 2020. 
The Broome, Chenango & Otsego DEC Program offers support in the following categories:
Community Arts grants provide support for arts and cultural projects to community-based organizations, groups, collectives, or individual artists.

Arts Education grants offer two funding categories: Pre K-12 In-School Projects and After-School & Community-Based Learning. These grants support nonprofit organizations, cultural groups and/or individual artists in providing in-depth, arts education projects to participants of all ages.

Applicants can receive assistance with the grant writing process from the Earlville Opera House Decentralization Coordinator.

Visit www.earlvilleoperahouse.com/decentralization for DEC Program guidelines, intent to apply form, application form, and contact information for grant writing assistance. Opportunities are for projects through December 31, 2021. The deadline for 2021 grant applications is Friday, January 15, 2021, at 11:59 PM.

-From the EOH