Utica, N.Y. — Munson has received a $200,000 grant from MetLife Foundation to support access to community programming, including the Arts Festival, Art Alive! Family Days, and free summer Community Arts classes for children in 2026 and 2027.
For decades, Munson has offered Community Arts and performing arts programs that have served hundreds of participants each year. Many of the Museum’s most dedicated members and donors first connected with Munson through those programs. In recent years, however, the organization has expanded its focus to reach community members facing economic barriers, including Utica’s growing refugee population. Through support from private donors, public funding, and foundation grants, Munson has reduced or eliminated participation fees, making its programs accessible to a broader audience. MetLife Foundation has been a key partner in that effort.
The two-year grant will support the Arts Festival and Art Alive!, helping fund art-making materials, performers, infrastructure, and promotion. Additionally, the grant will support expanded access to free summer arts classes for children.
“This grant builds on the continued support of MetLife Foundation who previously provided funding that allowed us to offer summer arts classes and our Art Alive! family program free of charge,” said John Murphy, director of development at Munson. “The impact was immediate. Participation in both programs grew substantially, and those gains have continued each year.”
Support from this grant and other funding sources has allowed Munson to add class sessions, nearly doubling the number of local students who can participate at no cost. In 2026, Munson served 520 students, up from 200 four years ago.
Munson has also broadened participation in its annual Arts Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors during its week-long run and features a diverse range of programs, performances, and exhibitions, most offered free of charge.
“This signature Munson program draws the largest and most diverse audience of any event we host throughout the year,” said Murphy. “MetLife Foundation’s support helps ensure that a wide range of arts experiences remain accessible to everyone in our community.”
Community engagement is a strategic priority for Munson, reflecting the values that inspired the Munson-Williams-Proctor family to establish the art center more than a century ago. Support from key partners like MetLife Foundation will help to ensure vital programs will continue to grow and evolve with our community.
For media inquiries, please contact Katie Voce, communications manager, at 315-797-0000 ext. 2147 or via email at kvoce@munson.art.
###
Munson is at 310 Genesee St. in Utica. For more information, visit munson.art.
About Munson
Munson is an internationally recognized fine arts organization in Utica, serving diverse audiences through a renowned Museum of Art, live performances and events, community arts classes, and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, the upstate extension campus of the prestigious Pratt Institute.
