Shea’s Performing Arts Center receives nearly $1.2 million in public funding

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — State and community leaders are pulling back the curtain on a major investment to support the arts across the state.

Lawmakers are receiving more than $5,000,000 in state funding from the “Alive Downtowns!” » initiative, thus helping to support 13 cinemas.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center is one such theater, receiving approximately $1,200,000 million from this program.

Shea President and CEO Brian Higgins spoke about what this means for the community.

“The arts and culture community has a huge economic impact throughout upstate New York and especially in Buffalo,” Higgins said. “If you look at the overall growth of the economy, you look at the overall growth in employment, it’s exponential. The arts and culture community and its impact in that community.”

Higgins says Shea’s is a significant economic driver, generating $35 million a year here in Western New York.

The New York State Arts Council also awarded funds to the Alleyway and Torn Space theaters, as well as the Buffalo Arts Studio.