Finger Lakes Arts Grants and Services will stop at the $750,000 in state money it helped distribute throughout the region and close its Geneva office July 27, organization officials announced Monday.

The 12-year-old nonprofit funneled several small grants from the state Council on the Arts to organizations in a five-county area that includes Cayuga. In addition to four years of operating in the red, Executive Director Ethan Fogg said in a press release that it is time for FLAGS to step aside and make way for other organizations.

"In some ways this is a happy day," Fogg said. "FLAGS' mission has been to enhance the capacity of the regional arts community.

"To a great degree that mission has been accomplished," he said. "Many organizations that used to come to FLAGS for grants and services don't need us anymore."

The Aurora Free Library launched and supported its Family Arts Series with the $2,000 it received in each of the last few years through FLAGS.

"I feel like we've really established this family arts program," said Librarian Sandra Groth, who was surprised to hear about the closure. "It just seems to be such a great opportunity for this community to experience the arts."

The organization provided an important avenue for arts funding.

"It's really been a Godsend to have the opportunity to apply because without that our budget is extremely limited," Groth said.

In addition to grant administration, workshops and artist consultation, FLAGS helped established the Finger Lakes Arts Trail, a marketing and tourism initiative that promotes the region's creative professionals. The trail, state funding and programs like Bank on Art, an initiative to place local art in business lobbies, are expected to continue.

The FLAGS announcement said regional collaborators will continue the funding and services. The Cayuga County Arts Council has plans to coordinate workshops and assist with funding.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Citizen.