Beth Pedersen, winner of this year's Spark Award for Unsung Hero, has practiced art for decades. Beth's work explores nature and pertinent environmental issues through a variety of materials and mediums, from oil painting to print-making, which she expresses through both abstraction and representation. She has exhibited extensively regionally, nationally, and internationally. Once a realist [...]
We are very excited to announce that local artist Tara Sasiadek has been selected to create a mural at 1702 Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls. This was an extremely competitive selection process that saw dozens of proposals from talented and experienced artists from across Western New York. Tara's work was chosen by a panel of [...]
We are entering challenging and unprecedented times, especially for our region’s many creative communities. “The familiar refrain of ‘the show must go on,’” writes Mark Sommer for The Buffalo News, “can't compete with a more sobering declaration: a state of emergency.” With news of theater productions, literary readings, concerts, and more being postponed every day, [...]
[Please note that ASI is closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 and its potential impact on this year's Spark Awards on May 13. In the meantime, we still feel it's important to spotlight the important work of our many honorees.] Vincent O'Neill is the winner of this year's Spark Award for Lifetime Achievement, an award [...]
DUE TO THE RECENT COVID-19 SITUATION, THE LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS CONCERT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE TRALF VENUE TO RESCHEDULE A NEW DATE. THANK YOU. Arts Services Initiative of Western New York (ASI) is excited to announce that this year’s Lawyers for the Arts fundraiser will be presented by Hodgson [...]
Like many of our community partners, Arts Services Initiative is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on arts and cultural activity in Western New York. With news of the outbreak evolving daily, we will continue to share resources geared toward impact and challenges for our region’s arts community. We recommend following information provided [...]
As part of our 2020 resolution to ignite conversations related to accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and equity in Western New York, every month ASI will spotlight a new local leader in the arts whose initiatives are creating important and lasting impacts. Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Art Center has a mission to continue a legacy of [...]
Now that Black History Month has come to a close, it’s important to remember that Black American culture and history can and should be celebrated year-round. Below is a sampling of Western New York’s many arts projects and organizations that provide creative and critical programming on Black American art, culture, and history all year. [...]
As part of our 2020 resolution to ignite conversations related to accessibility, diversity, inclusion, and equity in Western New York, every month ASI will spotlight a new local leader in the arts whose initiatives are creating important and lasting impacts. danceability, recipient of the 2014 ASI Spark Award for Rising Star, is an individualized dance, [...]
We are very excited to announce that Kyla Kegler, Alexis Oltmer, Derek Roland, and Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology have been selected to receive funding through our Global Warming Art Project granting program. The program support projects created in response to the rising dangers of global climate change, and administers grants to a selection [...]
