BRANCHPORT, N.Y. — Saunders Finger Lakes Museum (SFLM) recently announced receipt of a grant award totaling $1.8 million from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s continued construction of its main exhibition hall. The museum, located in Yates County in the Finger Lakes region, received its grant as part […]
BRANCHPORT, N.Y. — Saunders Finger Lakes Museum (SFLM) recently announced receipt of a grant award totaling $1.8 million from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s continued construction of its main exhibition hall.
The museum, located in Yates County in the Finger Lakes region, received its grant as part of New York State funding of 134 capital projects across the state, totaling more than $86 million.
SFLM said its mission is to foster appreciation and celebrate the rich cultures and diverse ecology of the expansive Finger Lakes region. While the museum is currently under construction, its mission is already coming to life through hands-on programming and outdoor features such as a natural playscape, an accessible kayak and canoe launch, and wetland trails, it stated in its announcement.
This grant funding will support the continued development of a more than 15,000-square-foot building that will house SFLM’s immersive indoor exhibits and experiences focused on the region’s cultural and ecological heritage. The facility will feature engaging, interactive elements for visitors of all ages, a flexible community room/traveling exhibit area known as the Finger Lakes Story Lounge — available for special events — and an educational center designed to deepen understanding of the region’s historical and cultural narratives, SFLM said. Each space is intentionally designed for flexibility, inclusivity, education, and future expansion.
The mission of the NYSCA is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York state’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across the state, the organization will award more than $161 million in FY 2026, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 New York regions.
