Local artists invited to apply for ECAC Sunburst Awards

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Arts Council (ECAC) has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 Sunburst Awards, a grant program designed to help individual artists in Essex County take the next step in their creative careers. Grants of $500–$1,000 are available to help offset the costs of a project, opportunity, or investment that will help an artist grow. That might mean attending a training or workshop, purchasing supplies, printing or producing new work, investing in promotion, or pursuing another opportunity that moves an artist's practice forward. The Sunburst Awards are truly for all kinds of artists. Past recipients have included painters, textile artists, filmmakers, composers, performers, arts teachers, and folk artists working in such distinctive traditions as taxidermy and fly tying. If you are an artist living in Essex County, ECAC wants you to apply. Artists of all ages and working in any artistic genre are encouraged to apply. "We want to encourage Essex County artists to grow their careers, which in turn grows the presence and vibrancy of the arts throughout our county," says ECAC Arts Administrator Casey Galligan. "If you make art, you're an artist, and the Sunburst Awards are for you. We've made this year's application short and straightforward, so don't overthink it—apply!" Applications and eligibility guidelines are available at EssexCountyArts.org. Applications are due by Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. Awards will be announced in November, with funds available shortly thereafter. Applicants will be asked to provide up to two work samples (ex: photos of in-process or finished work, performances, sound files) and one document verifying their Essex County address as part of the application process. ECAC staff will be available to answer application questions through Oct. 1. Funding for the Sunburst Awards comes from individual donations to ECAC and grants from The Cloudsplitter Foundation, The Meredith Johnston Creative Arts Award Fund, and Stewarts Shops. A Growing Investment in Essex County Artists ECAC launched the Sunburst Grant program in 2018 to recognize and support the individual artists whose work contributes so much to the cultural life of Essex County. Since then, the program has awarded more than $23,500 to 38 individual artists working independently across a wide range of creative disciplines. Supporting individual artists is an important part of building a thriving arts community. Artists contribute to the character and vitality of our communities, create opportunities for connection and inspiration, and help make Essex County a compelling place to live, work, visit, and explore. The Sunburst Awards are one part of ECAC's broader commitment to strengthening the arts throughout the county. In addition to the Sunburst program, ECAC administers the CAP Grant program, funded by the Essex County Board of Supervisors, and provides networking and training opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout Essex County. The Essex County Arts Council's mission is to support and elevate the artists and arts organizations that make Essex County, New York, a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. For more information about the Sunburst Awards, ECAC programs, and opportunities for artists and arts organizations, visit EssexCountyArts.org or contact Arts Administrator Casey Galligan at Admin@EssexCountyArts.org.

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Local artists invited to apply for ECAC Sunburst Awards

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