Albany County discusses agreements with Advance Albany County Alliance to administer arts grant program

Albany County discussed authorizing agreements with the Advance Albany County Alliance Local Development Corporation to administer the Alliance Arts and Culture Grant program for 2024 and for 2025 at a recent meeting. Kevin O'Connor, director of the Advance Albany County Alliance, reported that the program awarded $502,650 in its first round to six projects and said applications for the next round are due March 31 by 4 p.m.

The county’s consideration matters because the program directs local arts funding toward public installations, cultural festivals and other community-driven programming intended to support Albany County’s cultural and economic development. O'Connor told the meeting that the first round’s recipients included the Albany Institute of History and Art, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Albany Waterway, the Alice Moore Black Arts and Cultural Center, independent artist…