Legislators and art leaders joined forces today calling for a million-dollar recovery fund to support local arts organizations.

The funding would assist ArtsWestchester in maintaining its art programs. News 12 is told the programs have suffered tremendously due to loss of funding during the pandemic.

Organizations such as Yonkers’ Youth Theater Interactions believe the funding is essential to helping kids who need outlets amid the pandemic.

“On a good day the arts is a nice thing to do. On a bad day, arts is medicine and we are really in that space right now," says Youth Theater Interactions executive director Brooke Demme.

According to ArtsWestchester, the arts has a $172 million dollar impact in the county and provides over 5,000 jobs.

Lawmakers say they hope to include funding in the state budget, which is due on April 1.