Preservation League of New York State

The Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to announce its biennial listing of the most at-risk historic sites around the state. The 2025-2026 Seven to Save list includes buildings and landscapes, represents communities both urban and rural, and showcases many eras of our state’s history. The listings themselves are both singular and representative — illustrating pervasive issues impacting not just these sites, but sites like them across the state and beyond.

The Preservation League of NYS drafted a statement decrying recent actions by the federal government to rewrite and censor history, notably by removing all mention of Transgender and Queer people from the Stonewall National Monument website. We aim to show a united front by joining our voice with our colleagues to condemn this erasure — and historic erasure of any kind.

We hope to see you at Wethersfield Estate & Garden next Wednesday for a workshop to learn about grant opportunities. We'll be presenting about our New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) partnership programs alongside our colleagues at Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN), Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY), Hudson River Valley Greenway. Register: https://lnkd.in/eTFM_KWB

Time is Running Out - Zabar Scholarship Deadline is this Friday, February 14: Thanks to the Zabar Family Scholarship Fund, the Preservation League of New York State is pleased to offer three academic scholarships of $2,500 each to the best and brightest preservation students in New York. These are competitive scholarships, intended to help defray the cost of a student’s education. Scholarships are available to students enrolled in college or university or pursuing a post-graduate degree in historic preservation and related fields at a program in New York State.

There is no preservation without folks who are skilled in traditional trades. The people who do the physical work of preserving and restoring historic buildings and structures are essential — and this skilled workforce is dwindling. In an effort to shine a light on what a career in the preservation trades looks like, we’ve launched a video series to highlight individual tradespeople who represent a small snapshot of the future of this workforce. Funded through a grant from the Historic Preservation Education Foundation with additional support from the Peggy N. & Roger G. Gerry Charitable Trust., Trade Stories features six individuals who have all traveled their own paths to a career in the trades. https://lnkd.in/efbbcz5G

Applications are now open for both Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants! Our signature?New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)?partnership grants are now running concurrently, both with an application deadline of April 18. If you think these grants might be right for your projects, we hope you’ll join us at one of our upcoming in-person grant workshops. TAG and PNY Grants are available to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and municipalities. TAG and PNY support historic preservation planning studies that jump-start preservation projects. These programs fund consulting reports only and will not fund capital repairs or construction costs, architectural plans and specifications, schematic designs, or construction documents. Additional support provided by ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC and Hudson River Valley Greenway.

The Preservation League of New York State and our program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2024 Technical Assistance Grants. During this grant cycle, 20 projects representing 13 counties across the state have been selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $75,290 was awarded. Additional support for these grants was provided by ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Pictured: FLUX FACTORY https://lnkd.in/e24M9ry3

The power of preservation is transformational. Bringing vacant buildings back to active use can reinvigorate neighborhoods. Adaptively reusing old buildings creates much-needed affordable housing, community gathering spaces, art studios, and homes for cultural organizations. Every building that is repurposed instead of being torn down is an environmental win, preventing demolition waste from contaminating neighborhoods and ending up in the landfill. Preserving the past helps us learn from our history and build a more sustainable future. Historic places are not frozen in time — our built environment and the cultural heritage it embodies matter for people today, linking us to our past as we all move forward together. If you value this work, please consider joining us today: https://lnkd.in/e8Ws7y8M

Covering July 2023-June 2024, our recently released annual report features highlights of our work over the past year. Inside you'll find program highlights, our donor list, and financial statements.?As the opening letter from our Board Chair and President says, "Upstate and downstate, in cities and rural villages, the League is committed to a preservation movement that is truly for everyone. And your support makes that work possible – so our past has a future."

The Preservation League of NYS will welcome five authors as part of our ongoing Preservation Book Club program in early 2025. These virtual author talks will take place via Zoom and are free and open to the public.