[Press release from OUN]

Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara’s Fine Arts Program was recently honored as the “DEC Program of the Year” at the Arts Services Initiative (ASI) of Western New York annual “Spark” Cultural Awards during a ceremony at the Hotel @ The Lafayette in Buffalo.

            The Spark Awards honor “those who ignite arts and culture” in our area. Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara was selected for excellence in programming which provided opportunities for creative expression to individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities over the past five years. Led by Marcia Ross, a New York State certified teacher in visual arts, numerous on-site and community-based workshops explored visual, music and theater arts.

The workshops were funded in part by the Niagara County Community Arts DEC grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) established the Decentralization Program (DEC) in 1977 following the mandate of the state Legislature to encourage increased participation at the local level in the state’s cultural funding process. The purpose of the DEC program is to foster the continued development of local cultural resources responsive to community cultural needs. DEC support enables emerging artists and organizations to grow professionally and to enhance the cultural climate in communities and neighborhoods where they live and operate.

DEC helps to ensure access to the arts and culture to the citizens in each of the 62 counties of New York State, especially to areas that are geographically isolated, economically disadvantaged or ethnically diverse. The DEC Grant is administered by Arts Services Initiative for Erie and Niagara Counties.

For 60 years, Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, the Niagara County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc., has provided habilitation and supportive services to people with developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. We are dedicated to maximizing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing them the resources to reach their greatest potential including training, employment, recreation, service coordination, fine arts, horticulture therapy and residential opportunities.

For more information visit www.opportunitiesunlimited.org or www.asiwny.org.