CFOC Gathers Arts Organizations, Announces $100K in Funding

SPRINGFIELD—Representatives of various Otsego County nonprofit arts organizations met on Friday, March 7 for a breakfast at SUNY Oneonta. The focus of the gathering, hosted by the Community Foundation of Otsego County, was to talk about new and innovative ideas for the arts in Otsego County, to help understand what the nonprofit arts groups need to thrive, and how CFOC can assist, officials said.

About 20 arts organizations participated, breaking out into small group discussions to talk about their needs and various opportunities.

“The energy in the room was high,” said CFOC Executive Director Jeff Katz. “Ideas to improve integration of the arts and to market them better were central to the overall discussion.”

According to a CFOC press release, as the meeting came to a close, participants suggested the group should stay connected moving forward. There was discussion as to how to create an umbrella arts organization to promote arts throughout Otsego County, and further gatherings are planned.

CFOC also announced that it has allocated $100,000.00 for 2025 Spring Awards to local arts organizations. According to officials, this is the largest amount CFOC has offered to the arts community to date. The program is funded in part by the Mildred Parish Foundation Donor Advised Fund.

“The Otsego County arts scene is essential to our quality of life,” Katz said in an e-mail on Tuesday, April 8. “CFOC is pleased to be able to provide Otsego arts organizations with this Spring Awards Cycle of $100,000.00. Working the Mildred Parish Foundation Fund to double our usual allocation will allow us to make a greater impact.”

Grant awards can be put toward general operating support, capacity growth, feasibility studies and programming. To access the application, and to learn more, visit https://cfotsego.org/spring-2025-award-cycle/. All Otsego County arts organizations are urged to apply, Katz said.