Broome County Arts Council's Cultural Fund gets $45K injection

The arts are food for the soul, yet it can be challenging to rally support during tough economic times.

That's the outlook of Judith Peckham, executive director of the Conrad and Virginia Klee Foundation, Inc., who was an honored attendee Wednesday at the Broome County Arts Council's United Cultural Fund Campaign Kick-Off.

The foundation gave the Broome County Arts Council a $45,000 general operations grant. With those funds, the council will be able to continue its day-to-day operations, while raising money for the 2011 United Cultural Fund.

The council administers the United Cultural Fund, the only locally-funded combined campaign for the arts in the Southern Tier. It's one of only about 56 active campaigns of its kind in the country, and provides support and project grants to eligible artists and nonprofit organizations in Broome County, according to Sharon Ball, the council's executive director.

The Roberson Museum and Science Center, Endicott Performing Arts Center, Cider Mill Playhouse, Tri-Cites Opera, Binghamton Philharmonic, Art Mission & Theatre and the BC Arts council were the major recipients of United Cultural Fund grant money in 2010, with the remainder going to community projects and individual artists.

Money raised for the 2011 fund to date is $268,925. That's about 75 percent of the council's goal of $356,626, said Mike Neal, 2011 campaign chairman for the fund and district manager of Weis Markets.

Reed Smith, general director of the Tri-Cities Opera, said the $71,000 received last year from the United Cultural Fund was about 8 percent of the opera's budget.

"Without the funds we would either be out of business or would have to cut way back," he said. "Certainly, we wouldn't be viable."

A similar sentiment was shared by Stephen Wilson, executive director of the Binghamton Philharmonic, who said the fund is about 8 percent of his budget.

Ball and Broome County Arts Council Board Chairman Fred Xlander said they hope the fund would reach its goal by Feb. 1.

"With the economy the way it is, we didn't expect this level of commitment," Ball said.

"As a board, we are grateful to the individuals, businesses, foundations and the Broome County government for all of their support," Xlander added.

According to research done by the council, United Cultural Fund grant recipients return nearly $4 million to Broome County's economy every year.

Original article at pressconnects.com.