The Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA) will be awarding grants of up to $5000 to organizations that are interested in presenting or creating an arts-based project in the year 2009. A community-based panel will allocate the funds, which are granted by the New York State Council on the Arts. Not-for profit-organizations, artists, and art groups based in Livingston County are invited to apply.

Those interested in creating a project should plan to attend one of the mandatory seminars held on the following dates:

Aug. 13, 7 p.m.: Big Springs Museum- 3095 Main Caledonia
Aug. 19, 7 p.m.: West Sparta Town Hall- 8302 Kysorville Rd Dansville
Aug. 20, 7 p.m.: Lima Library- 1872 Genesee Lima
Sept. 6, 10 a.m.: GVCA Office- 4 Murray Hill Drive Mt. Morris

The seminars are beneficial in understanding how to effectively and efficiently write a grant application. Grants for individual artists will also be discussed at the information seminars.

Groups and individuals with projects in drama, dance, visual art, video, music, literature and culture are encouraged to apply. All projects must demonstrate community support, and individual artists must be sponsored by a not-for-profit organization.

Additional assistance regarding application procedures, eligibility requirements, and application draft-reading is available from the GVCA office at 243-6785 or email at mail@gvcaonline.org.