Utica, NY — Today, Thursday, December 4th, 2025, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-119) proudly announced seven local art centers in the 119th Assembly District have successfully been awarded a total of $189,000 in grant funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.
The funding, advocated for by Assemblywoman Buttenschon, will help to fuel local opportunities for artists and art organizations across the Mohawk Valley, keeping doors open, attracting new audiences, and enabling the launch of new programming and artistic ventures. “I was proud to advocate for this much needed funding for these outstanding art organizations. The arts bring creativity and soul to our community, and these organizations do phenomenal work by educating and uplifting our residents. I thank them for everything they do,” said Buttenschon.
Organizations that received grant awards include:
● Broadway Theatre League of Utica
● 4 Elements Studio, Inc.
● The Stanley Theatre
● Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute
● Rome Art and Community Center
● Sculpture Space, Inc.
● Uptown Theater for Creative Arts, Inc.
These grants were made possible through an investment for the New York State Council on the Arts in the 2025 Enacted Budget. Assemblywoman Buttenschon advocated for the inclusion of these funds in the budget during the 2025 legislative Session. “These grants will empower our local art centers to expand programs, reach more residents, and
strengthen the creative spirit that makes our region special. Art goes beyond entertainment, it’s about education, economic vitality, and bringing our community together. This funding recognizes that when we invest in the arts, we invest in the future of the Mohawk Valley. I commend these organizations for taking the initiative to highlight their great programming and congratulate them on securing these competitive funds.”
About Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon
Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon proudly represents New York’s 119th Assembly District, encompassing the cities of Utica and Rome as well as surrounding towns in Oneida County. A lifelong educator and former Dean of Public Service and Emergency Preparedness at Mohawk Valley Community College, she brings decades of experience advocating for equity, access, and opportunity across public health, education, and emergency services.
In the Assembly, she serves as Chair of the Committee on Small Business and as a member of the Agriculture, Education, Higher Education, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, where she champions bipartisan solutions to improve quality of life. Her work reflects a steadfast commitment to ensuring that every family in her district andbeyond can live with dignity, support, and a voice in their
