GLOVERSVILLE, NY – The Lexington Foundation, which operates the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, announced a grant award totaling $49,500 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded over $80 million since spring 2023 to over 1,500 artists and organizations across the state.

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Research confirms what we’ve always known here in New York: arts and culture are a powerhouse, with a staggering return on investment for our economy and our communities. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity nationwide in 2022 and New York’s unparalleled arts and culture sector is leading the way to benefit our residents, our students and our visitors every day. I commend these grantees on their achievements and look forward to their contributions in the coming year."

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls added, “Thanks to the unwavering support of Governor Hochul and our Legislature, NYSCA is so proud to support the work of organizations and artists from all across New York. Spanning the entire breadth of the arts and culture sector – from world-renowned performers to after-school programs, from long established museums to community arts collectives – these organizations and artists together are a powerful driver of health, tourism, economy and education for our residents and visitors. On behalf of Council and staff, congratulations to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts and thank you for your perseverance, your creativity and your tireless service to New York State.”

Wally Hart, Executive Director of the Lexington Foundation said, “We are extremely grateful for this award and the support of NYSCA. We applied for grant funding to assist with the expansion of the operations and to broaden the offerings at the Nigra Arts Center. When the pandemic restricted the ability to offer in-person classes, the Nigra Arts Center quickly offered virtual classes and helped to connect to all who were interested in participating in art classes, workshops and performances. Our primary goal is to engage the community in the arts and to bring people together in-person to explore, learn and create. The grant funding will allow the Nigra Arts Center the opportunity to expand staffing, classes, resources and experiences for everyone with a goal to bring more people into the fully accessible facility. We want to reengage our broader community and expand programming that will allow more people of all abilities to enjoy our programs, classes and events.”