Creative Community Grants Announced
In May, Erie Arts & Culture proudly awarded $38,113 from the Erie Arts Endowment to support 3 arts organizations, arts programs, and 9 individual artists across Erie County.
These grants help bring creative projects, educational opportunities, exhibitions, performances, and cultural experiences to our community. At a time when arts funding faces increasing challenges, investments like these ensure that artists and organizations can continue creating work that inspires, connects, and enriches Erie County.
We are honored to carry forward the legacy of generosity established by supporters whose contributions form a significant part of the Erie Arts Endowment, including the McCain Family and Virginia Vieser. Their commitment continues to create opportunities for artists and strengthen the cultural life of our region.
We invite you to celebrate this year's grantees at Creative Crowd on July 14 from 5:30–7:30pm at the Girard Yellow House (436 Walnut Street, Girard). Creative Crowd offers a welcoming space for artists, culture-bearers, and community members to gather, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections.
As you learn more about this year's grant recipients, we encourage you to attend their programs, experience their work, and support their creative endeavors. Together, they reflect the remarkable breadth of talent in Erie County and help make our community a more vibrant place to live.
Congratulations to our grantees!
McCain Next Steps Grant - $15,000
The Lydia McCain Next Steps Grant for Arts Organizations provides $5,000 annually to four arts organizations that are prepared to take a strategic next step related to their mission, operations, or programs.This year, we supported:
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Check out their website here - Legal, accounting, and web development
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Check out their website here - Additional Iathes
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Check out their website here - Lighting Investments
McCain Artist Opportunities Grant - $18,713
The Lydia McCain Grant to Advance Artist Opportunities provides funding for artists in Erie County who have a strong artistic vision and a timely opportunity that will help advance their artistic career. Examples of such opportunities may include exhibitions and performances, visiting artist residencies, leading a community-centered arts-based project, and more.
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Performing, Folk and Traditional Arts
Laptop and equipment for residencies
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Click here to learn see the artist’s work
Literary and Performing Arts
Audio recording for 2027 production
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Click here to learn see the artist’s work
Literary Arts
15 day retreat to complete novel, The Adventures of Augustus Taylor and Marcel Duchamp
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Madison Wood
Adam Calfee
Rugile Morelli
Victoria Angelo
Vieser Fund for Arts Education - $4,400
Erie Arts and Culture uses the annual distribution from the Virginia P. Vieser Fund to award a $4,400 grant to one non-profit arts organization implementing a new and innovative arts in education project.
Interested in learning more about Erie Arts and Culture’s grants? Head to https://www.erieartsandculture.org/creative-entrepreneurship for more information about funding for organizations and individuals.
