J 571: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of ArtsWestchester on April 9, 2025

 Senate Resolution No. 571 BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS COMMEMORATING the 60th Anniversary of ArtsWestchester on April 9, 2025 WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes great pride in recognizing and celebrating institutions of historical and cultural significance that have played an essential role in shaping our communities; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of ArtsWestchester of Westchester County, New York, to be celebrated at its 2025 Arts Award ceremony on Wednesday, April 9, 2025; and WHEREAS, Guided by the admirable mission to create an equitable, vibrant, and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life, ArtsWestchester has been a pillar for artists, art appreciators, and community members from various walks of life in Westchester County; and WHEREAS, At its core, ArtsWestchester is founded and operated upon the belief that the arts are for everyone, and that art can offer countless opportunities for advancement, personal growth, and community empowerment; and WHEREAS, Despite starting as a mere conversation amongst arts advocates and volunteers in a living room in 1965, ArtsWestchester was recognized as Westchester County's designated arts council only ten years later in 1975; this designation allows the organization to better serve the county's communities, cultural organizations, and artists in-residence through grants and technical support; and WHEREAS, In 1998, ArtsWestchester's community and cultural impact was amplified through its acquisition of a renovated, nine-story, neo-classical bank building in White Plains, New York, which the organization repurposed into both its headquarters and a local resource center for artists and members of the community; and WHEREAS, Since its inception, ArtsWestchester has become New York State's largest private, not-for-profit cultural service organization; through its partnership with the Westchester County Government, the organization has invested more than 35 million dollars over the years in arts and culture in the county; and WHEREAS, The dedicated staff and volunteers of ArtsWestchester have worked tirelessly to uphold its longstanding reputation, and together they have committed to supporting all individuals that engage with their organization and programs; and WHEREAS, For 60 years, ArtsWestchester has served as a testament to the important connection between art and community, and this noble organization has proven the undeniable impact that art can have on residents and visitors in Westchester County; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of ArtsWestchester of Westchester County, New York, recognizing its cultural significance and its continued service to the community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to ArtsWestchester.