June 2023

Clayton, NY (June 8, 2023) – The Thousand Islands Arts Center (TI Arts Center) announced a grant award totaling $2 million from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s new arts facility construction. This grant is part of a record large capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $90.5 million distributed to 19 projects across New York State.

“We are ecstatic! On behalf of TI Arts Center’s Board and staff, I would like to thank Governor Hochul and the New York State Council on the Arts,” said Chris Murray, TI Arts Center Board Chair. “Our facility at 314 John Street is not sustainable or suitable for the organization long-term.  Establishment of a new arts center is necessary to properly preserve and exhibit the textile collection, provide welcome access to the fiber arts library, handweaving studio, and classrooms.”

“The TI Arts Center is located in a house constructed in the late 1800s,” added Executive Director, Kathleen Ferguson. “It’s costly to maintain and limits our ability to serve our community. We rent off-site space because we have an insufficient number of classrooms. One of our classrooms and our fiber arts library are located upstairs and we have no elevator. Our handwoven textile collection is vulnerable because we lack a climate-controlled environment for storage. We are thrilled that the New York State Council on the Arts is providing funding for a new arts center.”

As a multi-purpose arts and cultural facility, the new center will operate as a local and regional venue for artists and artisans to showcase their work, collaborate, and foster civic engagement. A new energy-efficient and ADA compliant facility will be constructed at 321 James Street (current home of the TI Arts Center’s Finders Keepers resale shop).  The cottage on James Street will be razed. The anticipated start date is 10/1/2023 and completion date is 6/1/25. The Board and staff are identifying opportunities and making final decisions about the project. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available and, the organization will be soliciting feedback from the community.

Founded in 1966, the TI Arts Center’s programs offer a year-round opportunity for visitors of all ages and socioeconomic status to engage with art and explore their creativity. Each year, more than 600 attend classes and more than 1,000 visit their galleries. Attracting locals and tourists alike, they highlight over ten disciplines including weaving, drawing, fiber arts, painting, photography, pottery, and basketry. The TI Arts Center’s mission is to advance art, craft, and, their unique handwoven textile collection through education and exhibition.

“From New York City to the North Country, we are investing in our state’s robust arts and culture sector to ensure all New Yorkers, regardless of their background, have access to the transformative power of art,” Governor Hochul said. “Our unprecedented support for this shared vision of accessible and sustainable cultural spaces will result in a stronger economy, more jobs, and improved community and personal health for New Yorkers and our visitors from around the globe.”

NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said, “We are immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for this historic level of capital grantmaking. These critical investments will support visionary expansions, essential facility improvements, and community-building strategies that will promote health, safety, and accessibility. We commend the Thousand Islands Arts Center for their bold and inspirational project that will deliver the measurable benefits of the arts to New Yorkers and our visitors for generations to come.”

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said, “Capital projects for the arts are an investment in our communities, our health, and our prosperity for decades to come. On behalf of the Council and staff, I congratulate the Thousand Islands Arts Center on its vision and dedication to serving the residents and visitors of New York and we look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this initiative.”

NYSCA’s Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture support arts and cultural institutions across the state that are undertaking impactful, large-scale capital improvements. Grants range from $2 million to $10 million for projects with a total cost of $4 million or more. This funding will support investments to expand cultural programming, reach new and diverse audiences, and promote accessibility. These grants will also help advance the State’s goals around diversity, equity and inclusion and will require all grantees to commit to social equity initiatives and access plans that serve all New Yorkers. NYSCA’s Large Capital Improvement Grants program is administered in coordination with Empire State Development, which reviews applications to evaluate the potential for projects to support local placemaking, community development, and downtown revitalization efforts.

About the New York State Council on the Arts                                            

NYSCA preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, NYSCA will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts.

NYSCA further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit http://www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.