In response to the release of the proposed 2025 Erie County budget, ASI Executive Director Jen Swan-Kilpatrick, with guest speakers from the Erie County Legislature, will present information on next steps for successful advocacy to the Erie County arts organizations that were recommended for funding by the County Executive.

  • Date: Monday, October 21 2024
  • Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
  • Location: Tri-Main Center (2495 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room, Buffalo, NY 14214. Entrance is on Halbert Street, not Main Street)

As the leader of arts advocacy in Erie County, Arts Services Inc. offers this advocacy workshop annually to all arts and cultural organizations within the county in response to the release of the proposed county budget. The workshop will be a walkthrough of the important events and dates that will occur before the final version of the budget is adopted. ASI will also provide advocacy tips for organizations seeking new or additional funding as well as tips for speaking at the public budget hearing. This workshop is considered essential for all new or first-time applicants who have applied for Erie County funding.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz released his 2025 Proposed County Budget on October 15, 2024. If your organization applied for 2025 funding, your recommended allocations will be found within this budget.

All current and historical Erie County Budget information can be found HERE!

Attached below are the pages specific to line items for each cultural/arts organizations that applied for 2025 funding from the County.

NOTE: The County Executive is recommending a total of $8,176,446 for arts and cultural funding overall.

This is $119,275 less than what was distributed in 2024 (a grand total of $8,295,721). However, it actually is $580,225 more than what the County Executive proposed in 2024. This ‘discrepancy’ is due to Legislative add-ons through the budgeting process. In 2024 the Legislature approved the grand total of the County Executive’s proposed amount ($7,596,221), PLUS added to the overall pot an additional $699,500.

Meet the Presenter:

Jen Swan-Kilpatrick is the Executive Director of Arts Services Inc. (ASI), which empowers the region’s artists and arts organizations with connections to funding, learning opportunities, and community access to the arts.

Jen also serves as the Vice President of Arts NYS, a statewide arts advocacy network for the arts. She has participated in Americans for the Arts’ Arts Advocacy Summit annually since 2011, and from 2015-2017; 2021-present served as NYS Federal Captain for those advocacy efforts.

Arts NYS provides a support network and source of information for the field, fosters relationships between arts/cultural leaders and those in other sectors, promotes inclusiveness, diversity, and accessibility, and leads state-wide advocacy efforts.

Since 2011 Jen has lead ASI to be a resource hub for artists and arts and cultural organizations in Western New York. ASI provides assistance through arts funding, professional development training, bookkeeping services, and advocacy efforts on local, statewide, and national levels.

Jen has been in the field of nonprofit arts management for over 15 years and has been supporting thriving arts and culturals through her community-minded focus and involvement in grassroots production. She has provided guidance and consultation to arts leaders and artists, and understands the tools needed for creative entrepreneurs and arts administrators.

Jen was named Buffalo Spree Magazine’s 2018 Best Arts Administrator and has a MA in Arts Management from the University at Buffalo and a BA in Communications/Broadcasting with a minor in music from Buffalo State College.

Guest Speakers from the Erie County Legislature TBD