Funding for the Consortium was provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Andy Warhol Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. The work of the Consortium began with the visionary notion of one individual, Elizabeth Marena the Director of the Visual Arts Program at NYSCA. The Consorium is a networked peer group of 10 organizations that share and promote a common purpose, learn from each other, fundraise jointly, create new opportunities, and problem-solve together. They believe that they have a greater positive impact on the individual artists and the visual arts field by working collectively and cooperatively. Members: Carriage House at the Islip Museum, CEPA Gallery, Center for Photography at Woodstock, Papermill, Harvestworks, Sculpture Space, Socrates Sculpture Park, Smack Mellon, WOmen's Studio Workshop. www.nysawc.org