TUSTEN - The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) recently celebrated the arts by awarding grants to 24 recipients at the DVAA Sullivan Arts Award Showcase.

“Art is about resilience and resilient communities,” NY State Senator Jen Metzger said. “The arts play such a critical role in our communities.”

The DVAA provides two types of grants: Arts for Sullivan decentralization grants, made possible through the New York State Council on the Arts, and Sullivan County Arts, and Heritage Grants, made possible by the Sullivan County Legislature.

“It demonstrates how the county understands the importance of arts to the community,” Metzger said. Metzger attended last year's Riverfest as she was running for her position, “I'm very grateful. You were my introduction to this community.”

Recipients were awarded grants that focused on community events, educational opportunities, performances, exhibitions and more. The DVAA also awarded two grants to individuals: Bizzy Coy, Artist Fellow in Writing - Fiction, and Bobbie Oliver, Artist Fellow in Visual Arts - Painting.

Grant Award winners included: the Bethel Council for the Arts; the Bethel Local Development Corp.; Bizzy Coy; Bobbie Oliver; Callicoon Business Association; Callicoon Center Band; Chamber Music at St. Andrew's; Delaware Valley Opera; Delaware Youth Center; ENGN; Icehouse Arts; Mamakating Library; Nesin Cultural Arts; North American Cultural Laboratory; Phillipsport Community Center; Rock Hill Business and Community Association; Sullivan County Community Chorus; Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop; Sullivan County Historical Society; Sullivan County Public Library Alliance; Town of Lumberland Cultural Series; Weekend of Chamber Music; Western Sullivan Public Library and Wurtsboro Arts Alliance.

“The arts are alive and well in Sullivan County,” DVAA Executive Director Ariel Shanberg said to awardees. “Today represents what you‘d call low investment, high yield. Your work is being recognized not only within the 76 square-miles of Sullivan County but statewide and beyond.”

Three showcases highlighted how the DVAA grants allow organizations and individuals the chance to focus on their work, and attendees were delighted by Cole Phillips of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, who performed William Duncan's “Betcha”; the Delaware Valley Opera's Mary Burkart and Ken Parks, accompanied by Ray Scheindlin, who performed Rossini's “Comic Duet for Two Cats”; and Bizzy Coy who read an original piece of her writing.

“The DVAA doesn't exist on its own. It's a community effort that spans the Delaware Valley Region,” Dan Hust, 2nd Vice President of the DVAA Board said. Hust provided a list from President Jeff Allison of free ways to support the arts from attending an opening of a show to volunteering and speaking to legislatures to protect or provide funding. “Thank you because you already are making a difference.”