Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, photo by Leslye Smith
County Executive George Latimer, photo by Leslye Smith
ArtsWestchester will celebrate the economic impact of the arts and honor NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Westchester County Executive George Latimer at its annual gala on November 14 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
The arts council’s Board of Directors will celebrate the Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the Hon. George Latimer for their leadership and support of arts and culture that have positioned Westchester County as one of the most creative economies in New York State contributing more than $182 million in economic impact annually.
“Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and County Executive Latimer have been instrumental in the recovery and growth of the arts and cultural community in Westchester and Rockland Counties,” said Janet Langsam, ArtsWestchester’s CEO. “They understand that investment in the arts sector is not only good for communities, but is great for business and cultural tourism in New York State.”
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has been widely recognized as a trailblazer in local and state government and a champion for both progressive action and the arts. In her first year as Senate Majority Leader, Stewart-Cousins led the most productive legislative session in the state’s history. In 2012, she became the first African American woman to lead a New York State legislative conference. In 2019, she shattered the glass ceiling when her peers elected her as Temporary President and Majority Leader of the State Senate.
Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins has been honored with hundreds of awards for her extensive legislative work and community service in the state. Now, Westchester County’s cultural community joins ArtsWestchester in thanking the Majority Leader for her extraordinary leadership and investment in the arts in the county and throughout New York State.
At a most critical time, when the arts were shuttered due to the pandemic, Stewart-Cousins had the vision to invest in the recovery of the arts sector by allocating $1 million to ArtsWestchester for its arts and cultural regrant program. She has maintained this investment in Westchester’s arts community for three years and expanded her commitment to New York State’s arts community by allocating $10 million to arts councils like ArtsWestchester in Syracuse, Buffalo, the Capital Regions and others in other counties throughout the state. ArtsWestchester salutes Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her vision and leadership in arts and culture, for being a bright light who has helped to keep the arts alive and vibrant, and for (literally!) dancing in the streets with us as we work to share the joy and power of the arts with the residents and visitors to Westchester County.
For more than 30 years, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has been working to enhance Westchester County’s economy and quality of life for residents and visitors – and the arts have always been on his agenda. Since his early days as a County Legislator, later as Chairman of the Board of Legislators, a New York State Assemblyman and New York State Senator, County Executive Latimer has been vocal about his belief that the arts are part of what makes Westchester unique and successful. As a resident of Rye for 35 years, he has always considered the Sound Shore cultural community his “spiritual home,” often frequenting exhibitions at The Rye Arts Center, enjoying music at the Emelin Theatre and attending arts events at the Mamaroneck Artists Guild.
During his administration, County Legislator Latimer has increased the County’s support of the Art$WChallenge Grants program, a public/private partnership that provides matching grants to arts groups that raise new private funds, and he has also increased his investment in other key ArtsWestchester programs, including the ArtsMobile. The County Executive and his colleagues on the Westchester County Board of Legislators agree that the future of America, and of Westchester County, comes when we invest in programs and opportunities for residents that address their quality-of-life aspirations. Thanks to decades of leadership and support by County Executive Latimer, Westchester County is poised to become one of New York’s most creative economies, with fast-growing employment in the arts & culture sector and an economic impact of more than $182 million annually.
ArtsWestchester’s gala event—begins at 6 p.m. on November 14 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Guests will walk a red carpet into the theatre and enjoy live music, food and drink in this iconic cultural venue. Funds raised will support ArtsWestchester’s cultural programs and services.
Tickets and further information are available here: https://artswestchester.org/gala/
