Walk the Walk reaches over 1700
Last week’s Walk the Walk performances were a huge success, thanks to a talented cast of actors, generous sponsors, a dedicated group of volunteers, and three great audiences! The two school performances on Thursday and Friday mornings reached over 1500 city students and teachers. The free public performance on Friday evening had over 200 in attendance. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to the Rochester Police Department, who directed traffic for the school performances, getting students to and from their buses safely and efficiently.
Started in 1996, Walk the Walk has become one of Rochester’s premier Black History Month events, bringing to life some of Rochester’s richest characters in an entertaining, engaging and educational theatrical production. The performance is a must-see for anyone who appreciates history, theatre and the ribbons of experience that tie all humans together.
Preserve NY grant applications
Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to compete for funds through Preserve New York, a grant program of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Examples of eligible projects include: historic structure reports for cultural institutions and public buildings; historic landscape reports for municipal parks; and cultural resource surveys of downtowns and residential neighborhoods. The application deadline is May 7, 2012. Click here for complete information.
Preservation around the nation
Historic preservation under fire in the House Transportation bill – This week, it is expected that the U.S. House of Representatives will consider its transportation reauthorization bill – the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7). This bill puts preservation on the chopping block with a provision that eliminates historic preservation activities from eligibility within the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, one of the most successful preservation programs in existence.
The TE program has helped restore historic bridges and depots, reuse railroad corridors and revitalize historic downtowns nationwide. Elimination of these uses under TE would threaten important projects that create jobs and improve communities’ quality of life. You can read more about transportation and livable communities on the National Trust’s website.
You can contact your member of Congress and ask them to support the Petri/Blumenauer amendment which will keep historic preservation uses eligible in the Transportation Enhancements program by clicking here.
Help protect the historic tax credit – Despite its impressive track record, the historic tax credit program is now in danger. For more than 30 years, this little-known program has reenergized neighborhoods and towns across America, bridging financing gaps and making rehabilitation projects possible. Deficit reduction measures are currently being debated on Capitol Hill, and the federal historic tax credit (HTC) program is at risk of reduction or worse, elimination. You can read more and take action here through the National Trust’s website.
