Berger, Jaros win Falls arts funding
Two Niagara Falls artists and musicians are the recipients of this year’s Allister Young Arts & Culture Endowment Fund.
Acrylic painter Jana Jaros and singer/songwriter Aaron Berger will be recognized at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Each will receive a cheque for $500.
As an artist, Jaros has exhibited throughout the region, including the Rosberg Gallery and at the In The Soil arts festival in St. Catharines.
Berger has performed extensively in Niagara, creating his own one-man show Back From the Brink detailing his struggles with mental health. He’s a twotime winner at the Niagara Music Awards.
“I’m grateful to be recognized for my artistic work in Niagara,” says Berger. “I am lucky to have collaborated with lots of very talented artists here, and to have been born to parents who allowed me to follow my curiosity and passion.”
The fund was created in 1997 when Allister Young donated a 1932 Ford Roadster to the city’s Arts & Culture Commission (now called the Arts, Culture & Museum Committee).
The Commission raffled off the vehicle and the money was used to create the fund.
To be eligible, artists must be active Niagara Falls artists who have accumulated several volunteer hours in the local arts scene.
Past recipients include Emily Andrews, Sara Lou Stuart and Tristain Zammit.