NARROWSBURG, NY — Seventeen Sullivan County non-profit organizations have received $17,920 in Decentralization Grants (DEC) for 2011 cultural programming at a special awards ceremony held on Saturday, February 5 at the Delaware Arts Center in Narrowsburg. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther was on hand to present the award checks.

Allocated by the New York State Council on the Arts, the funding is administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA). The granted organizations represent 10 Sullivan County towns: Tusten, Delaware, Callicoon, Liberty, Fallsburg, Lumberland, Forestburgh, Rockland, Thompson and Highland.

Grant recipients are the Callicoon Center Band for a summer concert series; Callicoon Creek Park Association for a concert series; Cornell Cooperative of Sullivan County for art workshops; Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra for a local composers series; Delaware Youth Center for art and theatre workshops; Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center for a theatrical production; Friends of Sunshine Hall Free Library for winter cultural program; Icehouse Arts for three youth video workshops; Liberty Free Theatre for theatrical production; Liberty Museum and Arts Center for a jazz festival; Livingston Manor Free Library for a Johnny Darling Frolic; Roscoe Free Library for watercolor workshops; Shandelee Music Festival for a family outreach series; Sullivan County Community Chorus for two concerts; Town of Fallsburg for two free Chamber Music at St. Andrews programs; Town of Lumberland for an architecture workshop for children; and Western Sullivan Public Library for theatre classes for young people.

DVAA seeks candidates to serve on future grant review panels. A likely panelist is a citizen informed about the arts and/or county cultural events. Duties consist of reading applications and participating in two meetings. Call 845/252-7576.