ArtsWestchester Champions Accessibility at 2025 Arts Awards

Underscoring its ongoing commitment to ensuring the arts reflect Westchester’s diverse communities, ArtsWestchester will present $30,000 in grants to artists who champion inclusion and belonging at its annual Arts Awards on April 9.

This year’s celebration, coinciding with ArtsWestchester’s 60th anniversary, will recognize outstanding contributions to the arts in Westchester County. Two Advancing Equity Awards will be presented: $25,000 to Ballet des Amériques of White Plains and $5,000 to Flor Bromley of Croton on Hudson. The awards highlight the ballet’s and Bromley’s dedication to making the arts accessible and inclusive.

“As our organization celebrates 60 years of service, we are proud to recognize exceptional leaders and organizations who are committed to ensuring the accessibility of the arts for all area residents,” said Kathleen Reckling, CEO of ArtsWestchester. “The National Endowment for the Arts and ArtsWestchester were founded in the same year. This is not a coincidence but rather testament to a nationwide understanding of the vital role the arts play in our communities. At a moment when the freedom of artistic expression is under threat, it has never felt more necessary to champion the essential work of our local artists, patrons, and cultural organizations.”

Founded in 2011 by director-choreographer Carole Alexis, Ballet des Amériques is a nonprofit comprising a professional dance company and a pre-professional ballet conservatory. The multicultural dance company has performed Alexis’ work in hundreds of productions throughout the greater NYC area and internationally. The company was founded with the express purpose of making ballet accessible to everyone. Their mission is realized through active partnerships across the arts and with other community-based organizations, through choreography that expands beyond traditional ballet by drawing on the revolution of dance in the 1920’s and the choreographer’s roots in Africa and the African Diaspora, through free and low-cost performances, and programs that invite participation from diverse audiences. For example, their Ballet is Not Pink initiative seeks to encourage boys and children from communities historically underrepresented in ballet to pursue this artform through a series of performances and presentations in public schools and libraries.

Flor Bromley is a Latin GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer/songwriter from Peru who is dedicated to creating family-oriented bilingual music that celebrates Latin culture and raises awareness around environmental justice. Through her musical work she seeks to teach global citizenship by inviting families to dance through diverse musical genres while learning about their origins. “My environmentally-focused album and show Pachamama emphasize the importance of caring for our planet, honoring Indigenous roots, and uniting communities around shared values,” says Bromley. She continues, “By using music as a bridge, I aim to educate children about the beauty of diversity while empowering them to see themselves as active participants in shaping a better world.”

Since its inception in 1976, the Arts Awards have celebrated vision, commitment, and leadership within the arts community. This year’s honorees represent a diverse range of talents and contributions:

-Barbara & Paul Elliot: Patron Award
-Paul Adler: Impact Award
-John Patitucci: Artist Award
-Bethany Arts Community: Sophia Abeles Arts Education Award
-Caramoor & Tarrytown Music Hall: Milestone Awards
-Kwame Anyane-Yeboa & Anna Sirota: Larry Salley Photography Awards
-Ballet des Amériques & Flor Bromley: Advancing Equity Awards

The Arts Awards luncheon will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Sonesta White Plains, 66 Hale Ave. For tickets, visit the registration page.

About ArtsWestchester: Founded in 1965, ArtsWestchester is New York State’s largest private not-for-profit arts council. The leading funder and advocate for the arts in Westchester and Rockland Counties, ArtsWestchester works to create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable community in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. Building on its 60-year legacy, ArtsWestchester advances arts and culture by providing grants, bringing artists into schools and community centers, advocating for the arts, and building audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. ArtsWestchester enriches the lives of everyone in the community and operates a multi-use gallery and home for the arts at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains, New York. artsw.org

Join us for the 2025 Arts Award Luncheon on Wed. April 9th.