The Children’s Guild Foundation Autism Spectrum Disorder Center at Oishei Children’s Hospital is the winner of this year's Spark Award for Arts Integration. The Center provides multidisciplinary evaluation, diagnosis, care, and support for families with autism spectrum disorders. In addition to the medical work done by the team at the center, the resources and programs [...]
The current state of emergency caused by COVID-19 has profoundly impacted Western New York's arts and cultural sector. With the cancellation of events, performances, workshops, and gigs, individuals and organizations who rely on event-based income are losing essential revenue that is key to their continued operations. We're in the initial stages of creating this fund [...]
Councilmember Joel Feroleto, winner of this year's Spark Award for Supporter of the Cultural Sector, serves on the Buffalo Common Council representing Delaware District and volunteers as a Board member for the Bair Foundation and Save the Michaels Organization. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, he attended Canisius College and the University at Buffalo [...]
Twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ASI will be sharing what the region's artists are working on while stuck at home. This effort is not only meant to uplift everyone's spirits but also to create a way for artists to find fiscal support for their work during these challenging and uncertain times. If you're [...]
Note: This survey is now closed. For information on how the results influenced our response to COVID-19, visit the WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund page of our website. Arts Services Initiative is in the process of creating the WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund for the region’s artists and arts organizations that have been severely impacted [...]
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 [...]
