Thousand Islands Arts Center Receives Northern New York Community Foundation Grant
Clayton, NY (February 19, 2025) – The Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum (TIAC), announced today that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation. The grant will be used to support the Arts Center Campus Project, which includes construction of a new museum and arts center in the Village of Clayton, and to increase the TIAC endowment fund held at the Community Foundation.
“We are extremely grateful to the Northern New York Community Foundation for this very generous grant,” Kathryn B. Elliott, TIAC’s newly elected Board of Trustees chairwoman, said. “The Arts Center has had a decades long partnership with the Foundation, and we share common goals — among them to improve the quality of life for North Country citizens by enriching the art and cultural experiences in the North Country.”
The Foundation will provide a $150,000 grant in support of the capital campaign with an additional $50,000 to be awarded as the campaign reaches certain benchmarks. An additional $50,000 will be added to TIAC’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation.
“This project has the potential to be transformational for the Arts Center and will position it as a hub for the advancement of arts and culture in our region,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Building upon our past investment in their work, we are hopeful this grant will help propel them forward to reach their goal and provide longterm support of their mission through our endowment partnership.”
The Arts Center Campus Project is made possible by a foundational $2 million capital grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, and a matching grant by an anonymous donor. Construction is now underway and on schedule for completion in the spring of 2026 followed by a Grand Opening Celebration in the summer of 2026.
The Thousand Islands Arts Center is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional arts and handcrafts through educational programs, classes, lectures, and exhibitions. Home to a nationally renowned permanent collection of handwoven textiles and an extensive weaving library, the Arts Center also offers a wide variety of classes for all levels of students — from beginners to professional artists. The Thousand Islands Arts Center’s mission is to advance art, craft, and our unique handwoven textile collection through education and exhibition.