Thousand Islands Arts Center Campus Capital Campaign
CLAYTON, NY (May 27, 2025) – For nearly six decades, the Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum has served as a vibrant hub, connecting individuals with the transformative power of the arts. Embracing its vision of “Weaving Our Future Together,” the Arts Center is thrilled to announce the public phase of its Campus Capital Campaign, inviting the community to join in building an even stronger foundation for creativity and connection for generations to come.
In August 2024, the Arts Center broke ground on a new 13,000 sq. ft. facility located at 313-321 James Street, after securing a $2 million angel investment and a $2 million matching grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The Capital Campaign kicked off late last year with a quiet phase, raising $6.5 million from private donors and foundations, including the Northern New York Community Foundation. The public phase of support has now begun.
Targeted for completion in early 2026, the more than $8 million project is already 77% funded and will expand our campus, enhance access to our valued programming, and ensure the arts continue to thrive in the Thousand Islands region for generations to come. The new Arts Center and Museum will include a permanent handweaving exhibit, collections storage, library, and research area that complement our existing historic home on John Street. The expanded campus will also feature an art park and enhanced access to our pottery studio. This project addresses the surging demand for arts and culture while enhancing sustainability and reducing energy impact.
Enhancing the community through arts and culture and bolstering regional tourism, the Arts Center maintains year-round exhibitions, a permanent handwoven textile collection and library, and two dedicated studios for pottery and weaving. Over 90 classes, children’s after-school arts programming, and summer camps are offered annually. Programs highlight over 10 disciplines, including drawing, fiber arts, painting, photography, pottery, and basketry.
The Arts Center’s permanent weaving collection of over 20,000 textiles represents a broad scope of American handweavers with a particular focus on the weavers of the handweaving revival of the 1920s-70s. The museum’s library of more than 2,250 titles is considered to have one of the most comprehensive collections of books, manuscripts, and periodicals dedicated to handweaving. The Arts Center annually hosts around 20 researchers from across the country who come specifically to examine the collection and library. Investing in the Arts Center isn’t just about a new building; it’s about enriching the very fabric of our community. The expanded Arts Center will provide a vibrant hub of creativity and inspiration for residents and visitors of all ages. The expanded campus will be a welcoming space for shared experiences, cultural exchange, and a deeper sense of belonging for everyone. Arts Center members, fans, and sponsors are invited to join the campaign to help fund the project through legacy gifts and donations. Community members will be invited to purchase pavers that will be installed in walkways throughout the Arts Center campus. Details of the “Step
Up for Art Paver Initiative” will be announced next week.
To learn more about the Arts Center Campus Expansion Campaign, contact Robin Lucas at (315) 430-9729 or Campaign@TIArtsCenter.org. For information about the Arts Center, visit www.tiartscenter.org.
