OUR IMPACT ON CULTURE
171 Cedar Arts Center
Corning’s 171 Cedar Arts Center offers thousands of people each year the chance to explore creative expression. Classes, lessons, performances, exhibitions, and much more attract Corning-area residents of all ages to come together in an inspiring and welcoming atmosphere. Grants from Corning Incorporated Foundation have helped 171 Cedar Arts defray often-expensive operating costs in their historic facility. Foundation funding also allows 171 Cedar Arts to expand its outreach programs. It enabled the arts center to partner with other local organizations in a seven-week program for at-risk youth integrating art and science.
Arc Otsego
Artists with intellectual and other developmental disabilities often face challenges in creating, exhibiting, and marketing their work. Corning Incorporated Foundation helps them break through those barriers with grants to Voice!, an annual juried art exhibition by Arc Otsego in Oneonta, N.Y. Each year, more than 60 artists participate in Voice! and demonstrate the power of art to transcend disability and stereotypes. The Foundation’s grant helps Arc Otsego offset many of the traditional costs of hosting an art exhibit. Voice! also provides an educational and inspirational experience for the viewer and creates a compelling awareness of what people with disabilities can achieve when given the opportunity.
Clemens Center
Over the years, the Clemens Center in Elmira has become a regional destination for Broadway-quality shows and hometown choral performances alike. At least 100,000 local residents attend more than 100 Clemens Center events each year. Consistent support from the Foundation has given the Clemens Center the ability to renovate and greatly expand its backstage. This, in turn, allows the nearly-100-year-old facility to host top touring productions with massive technical space requirements. With funding support, the Clemens Center is also building new, inclusive programming to more deeply engage with the community. A few examples: Sensory-friendly performances designed for children with autism spectrum disorder, and classical music with a hip-hop spin.
“The cultural not-for-profit organizations within Corning’s communities have a significant positive impact on the quality of life. Supporting the arts is vital to creating vibrant and attractive places to live.
Laura Coleman, Vice President, Law Department, Corning Incorporated