The ARTS Council is proud to announce that we’ve provided fiscal sponsorship to seven artists selected for Support for Artists grants funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Each artist will receive $10,000 to assist in the creation of new work that will be made publicly accessible to the greater community.
Congratulations to each of this year’s awardees!
Jess Humphrey
Steuben County Artist
Project: PRIMITIVE PAINTERS: Creating Closed-Form Hand-Blown Glass Collage
Area: Sculpture
Jess will incorporate collage and light into a series of large-scale, closed-form glass pieces.
Tony Moretti
Steuben County Artist
Project: Owl Nesting Sculpture
Area: Sculpture
Tony will create a larger-than-life sculpture of three owlets in a nest using bronze, stainless steel, and copper, to welcome visitors to Tanglewood Nature Center’s Exploration Area.
“This grant will allow me to create this piece using a blend of cast bronze and to experiment with forging bronze. I’m excited to have the chance to communicate the vulnerability and security of a nest of baby owls. The funding of this project will mark the start of a whole body of work that will be integrated into the elevated walkway project at Tanglewood Nature Center.” – Tony Moretti
“Tanglewood is thrilled to have Tony and Gwen/Crow’s Nest Artists work with us again! The newest project will be incorporated into our Treetop Walkway which means thousands of people a year will enjoy the owls they create! Thank you for making this possible and we look forward to the finished art in the woods!” – Elaine Smith, Executive Director, Tanglewood Nature Center
Alice Mischke
Tioga County Artist
Project: Across the Fallen Landscape: Journey of the Radiant Middle Path
Area: Painting
Alice will create abstract landscapes and impressionistic paintings for display in a 2026 solo exhibition at Tioga Arts Council.
James Ronner
Chemung County Artist
Project: Illuminated Histories and Speculative Histories: Slabtown
Area: Installation
James will employ neon to retrace the forgotten physical, psycho-social and economic histories of the city of Elmira, NY.
“Being awarded this grant is an incredible honor and will allow me to push the boundaries of municipal scale public art. I am eternally grateful for the financial and collaborative support that this grant facilitates. Thank you again!” – James Ronner
Apoorva Sonavani
Chemung County Artist
Project: Abhivyakti – Echoes of Indian Folk Art
Area: Folk & Traditional Arts
Apoorva’s will create 15-20 artworks across six major Indian folk-art traditions – Pichwai (Rajasthan), Odisha Pattachitra (Odisha), Madhubani (Bihar), Kalamkari (Telangana), Warli (Maharashtra), and Phad (Rajasthan).
“Receiving the NYSCA grant has been deeply empowering for me as a visual artist, opening new avenues for creative exploration and encouraging me to advance my artistic practice with greater purpose and responsibility. This recognition and support enables my project, ‘Abhivyakti’, to bring these ancestral artistic traditions to communities across New York with integrity, honoring their history, heritage, and cultural significance.” – Apoorva Sonavani
Kari Varner
Broome County Artist
Project: Eutrophia
Area: Photography
Using living algae as a photographic medium, Kari explore the cycle of growth and decay within New York State’s freshwater systems.
Wynn Yarrow
Chemung County Artist
Project: Freedom Redacted
Area: Installation
Wynn will create an installation of politically themed calligraphy as contemporary art.
“New York’s arts and culture sector is a cornerstone of the state’s identity, and we’re making bold investments to ensure it remains strong,” Governor Hochul said. “These grants will lift up artists and organizations in every region, fueling local economies and expanding access to the arts. Congratulations to all the grantees – your talent and dedication help power New York’s future.”
