Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Awarded $3.4 Million by the New York State Council on the Arts for Music Hub
TROY, NEW YORK: Troy Savings Bank Music Hall announced today a grant award totaling $3.4 million from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s $12 million capital campaign to update the iconic venue, repurpose the banking floor, improve accessibility, expand the mission of the Music Hall and continue preservation of the structure.
This grant is part of a record large capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals more than $90.5 million distributed to 19 projects across New York State.
"From New York City to the North Country, we are investing in our state's robust arts and culture sector to ensure all New Yorkers, regardless of their background, have access to the transformative power of art," Governor Hochul said. "Our unprecedented support for this shared vision of accessible and sustainable cultural spaces will result in a stronger economy, more jobs, and improved community and personal health for New Yorkers and our visitors from around the globe.”
“To say we are excited and extremely grateful would be an understatement,” said Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of the Music Hall. “We have long hoped and planned to make improvements and offer more programming and a broader spectrum of experiences to our community. This grant sets us on the path toward accomplishing our dream. We are very thankful to the Governor and the New York State Council on the Arts for supporting our vision.”
The focus of the capital campaign is the first floor of the building. The approximately 12,000-square-foot space was designed for banking when the building was commissioned in 1875 but has been vacant since 2012 when ownership of the bank changed. The board of the Music Hall saw an opportunity to transform the grand lobby into a multi-purpose space where artists in all stages of their careers could learn and grow; a place to provide affordable, accessible music and cultural education.
When complete, the Music Hub will feature a large multipurpose event space - a large community gathering space to support performance, educational, milestone, and fundraising events for up to 200 people. Also planned are classrooms, a community board room, rehearsal rooms, a recording studio and support spaces.
“Once complete, the building will be fully activated and available as a year-round event venue showcasing the Music Hall at its 150th anniversary in 2025 as a dynamic historic regional asset that has evolved to meet the needs of its community,” Elbaum said.
NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said, “We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for this historic level of capital grantmaking. These critical investments will support visionary expansions, essential facility improvements, and community-building strategies that will promote health, safety, and accessibility. We commend the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall for their bold and inspirational project that will deliver the measurable benefits of the arts to New Yorkers and our visitors for generations to come."
NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “Capital projects for the arts are an investment in our communities, our health, and our prosperity for decades to come. On behalf of the Council and staff, I congratulate Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on its vision and dedication to serving the residents and visitors of New York and we look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this initiative.”
NYSCA's Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture support arts and cultural institutions across the state that are undertaking impactful, large-scale capital improvements. Grants range from $2 million to $10 million for projects with a total cost of $4 million or more. This funding will support investments to expand cultural programming, reach new and diverse audiences, and promote accessibility. These grants will also help advance the State's goals around diversity, equity and inclusion and will require all grantees to commit to social equity initiatives and access plans that serve all New Yorkers. NYSCA's Large Capital Improvement Grants program is administered in coordination with Empire State Development, which reviews applications to evaluate the potential for projects to support local placemaking, community development, and downtown revitalization efforts.
About the New York State Council on the Arts
NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.
NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.
More information on the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and upcoming programs is available on the website at www.troymusichall.org.