Steve Hawley (R,I,C,-Batavia) today announced the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has awarded the LeRoy Historical Society a grant totaling $5,000.

The money comes as part of the New York State Council on the Arts’ (NYSCA) $5,386,303 in local assistance grants that provide opportunities for the public to participate in arts events and community celebrations throughout the state.

“The arts are a very important part of community identity and our children’s education,” said Hawley. “This funding will benefit the advancement of arts programs in our region while providing new forums for local artists to display their wonderful talents.”

NYSCA officials also say children benefit from its state funding through Empire State Partnership grants that support collaborations among schools and cultural organizations.

The LeRoy Historical Society maintains two 19th-century buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the LeRoy House and the Academic Building. These buildings, which were first used in 1898 as a high school, now house the Jell-O gallery, a permanent exhibit on the gelatin dessert first introduced by a LeRoy carpenter in 1897.