The St. Lawrence County Arts Council is critical of their state funders for stalling longer and longer in recent years in delivering the funds.

It’s gotten so bad that one workshop leader had to take out a personal loan to cover expenses while waiting.

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has awarded SLC Arts over $115,000 for their 2014 services to the North Country. Almost half of that money will be headed directly back out to other local organizations in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. The question is, when will they actually receive these funds?

“Prior to 2011, we could consistently expect grant funds in December or January so we could cut checks to other local organizations that depend on these funds to provide services to their communities,” says Suzy McBroom, SLC Arts’ Grant Coordinator.

However in 2012 the funds did not arrive until March, in 2013 only a third of the funding arrived by July, and the last installment for 2013 came just before the end of the year.

This was a problem, according to a press release from the council, because organizations had to find other ways to cover those expenses during the year until the funds arrived. “One of the local grant recipients taught art workshops for children in January, and took out a personal loan to cover the supplies for the classes so those kids wouldn’t miss out,” McBroom said.

NYSCA has since moved up their own deadlines so earlier decision making could help speed the process along, but the grant contracts are still stuck in state bureaucracy, McBroom said. If the delays continue, SLC Arts can expect payment after most of the work the grants are supposed to cover is already complete.

In 2014, SLC Arts will receive $51,115 for administration which includes mileage and other expenses for the three grant programs they administer. $59,500 will be distributed to local artists and organizations like local libraries and municipalities through these grants. These grants are funded by the state council, through legislation approved by the Senate and Assembly and signed by the governor.

The remaining $5,000 will help support a Special Arts program which serves teens and adults with developmental disabilities.

SLC Arts says it will continue to issue updates about state funding delays as information becomes available, so those who are affected by these community resources can be kept abreast of progress.

Community members can visit SLC Arts on Facebook, www.facebook.com/StLawrenceCountyArtsCouncil or their web site at www.slcartscouncil.org to stay up to date.