Courtesy Glens Falls Symphony
By Jennifer Farnsworth
There is a lot happening within the arts community in Glens Falls, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Arts District of Glens Falls. The group is working to connect and cross-promote the city’s arts organizations that are located within a mile of one another.
Kate Austin-Avon, president of the arts marketing firm Advokate LLC, said the Arts District of Glens Falls has been meeting since early 2014 and puts out a monthly arts bulletin of featured events.
The arts organizations involved include the Shirt Factory, LARAC, the Hyde Collection, Chapman Historical Museum, Adirondack Theatre Festival, Art in the Public Eye, Park Theater, the Charles R. Wood Theater, Glens Falls Symphony, Glens Falls Community Theater, Cool Insuring Arena, Crandall Public Library, World Awareness Children’s Museum, and NorthCountryARTS.
Austin-Avon said when the the group’s board of directors first began, they applied for a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to establish an arts trail connecting the venues. Although the application wasn’t accepted, the idea continued to take shape.
When Glens Falls received a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the Arts District was designated to receive $125,000.
Avon-Austin said that by working together, arts organizations in the area are able to accomplish much more than they could individually.
“In a time where funding sources for the arts are drying up left and right, we are much stronger together,” said Austin-Avon.
“The whole is more than the sum of its parts, and an entire Arts District has much more to offer the visitor than any single organization on its own. A willingness to share and collaborate is the solution to tough economic times. A rising tide lifts all boats, “ said Austin-Avon.
The Arts District is acceptng donations as part of an effort to raise more than $20,000. Donations can be made to the Arts District of Glens Falls, c/o LARAC, 7 Lapham Place, Glens Falls, NY, 12801.