POTSDAM -- Since 2008, SLC Arts has administered the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Decentralization Program in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

Statewide, this regrant program distributes $4,000,000 to individual artists, municipalities, libraries, and non-profit organizations for the purpose of funding community-based arts and cultural projects.

For 2019, the tri-county region will receive over $60,000 in Decentralization funds, to offer three grant opportunities: Public Art Fellowship, Teaching Artists’ Fund, and Community Arts Grant.

A list of 2019 grant recipients in St. Lawrence County is as follows.

• Public Art Fellowship -- a $2,500 fellowship, available to individual artists funds the creation of new work that engages a segment of the community through a public program, such as a public exhibition or performance, and/or the inclusion of community involvement in the project’s development and creative process.

Soliciting input from the local community, artist Patty VanPatten of Waddington will redesign and recreate the entryway at Madrid Waddington Central School, to commemorate the school’s past theater productions and highlight students’ artwork.

Artist Sara Lynch (Potsdam) will work with students from the Canton Central School’s Technical Theater class and theater program (Canton), to design and create backdrops to be used in the school’s two theatre productions.

• Teaching Artists’ Fund -- a $300-$5,000 grant, available to artists working in partnership with K-12 public schools or community organizations, to actively engage students in arts education and appreciation.

Artist Patty VanPatten of Waddington will work with 8th through 12th grade students from Madrid-Waddington Central School (Madrid), to teach techniques of building and painting moveable sets and backdrops for the school’s theatrical productions.

Artist Bill Newman of Canton will work with students from the Canton Central School’s Technical Theater class and theater program (Canton), to design and create backdrops to be used in the school’s two theatre productions.

• Community Arts Grant -- a $300-$5,000 grant available to individual artists and organizations that create community art experiences through classes, performances, and other artist interactions. The Community Arts Grant is available to municipalities, libraries, or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations; it is also available to individual artists and arts organizations who partner with a local, fiscal sponsor.

2019 Community Arts Grant recipients are:

The DeKalb Historical Association (DeKalb Junction) presents its 2019 Performance Series, featuring two summer concerts that reflect community heritage and traditions.

The Morristown Gateway Museum (Morristown) presents its 2019 Concert Series, a series of summer music events that feature local musicians.

The Norwood Public Library presents Arts Around the World, a series of six hands-on, artist-led, children’s art classes. Each class focuses on a different culture and feature an art project from that geographical region.

The Colton Historical Society (Colton) presents its Sunday Rock Legacy production of The Tavern, by George M Cohan, a staged performance that combines local history and education with live, musical theater.

The Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce (Massena) presents Concerts in the Park 2019, a series of 11 family-friendly, summer concerts, featuring a line-up of popular, local performers.

WPBS-TV (Watertown) presents Songs of the Season, a special holiday concert, featuring local high school select choirs from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties, to be broadcast in December 2019.

The Potsdam Public Library (Potsdam) presents The Music of Culture Performance Series, a three-part series of performance and interactive workshops for children of all ages, facilitated by a local artist. Each program begins with a performance, and is followed by a hands-on learning experience for audience members.

Chippewa Bay Community Club (Chippewa Bay) presents its Backyard Concert Series, a series of five summer concerts by musicians who make their home and living in the area.

The Heuvelton Historical Association (Heuvelton) presents its International Concert Series, a series of three concerts, featuring Irish, Canadian and American music.

The Yellow Barn Concert Series (South Hammond) presents its summer concert program, a series of seven diverse musical experiences that celebrate the power of music; presented in a unique gallery setting.

The Potsdam Public Library (Potsdam) presents Play with Clay, a series of hands-on, multidisciplinary art lessons, designed and taught to bring a unique art and science experience to the patrons of area libraries.