Summary of 2023 MAD Activities
At the Kingston Midtown Arts District we know that the power of creativity manifests in a variety of art forms and serves as an agent of change to transform problems into solutions.
We originally came together with a shared vision to advocate for, educate, and celebrate the artists and art businesses in Midtown Kingston; it remains our mission. We work to open dialogue, generate conversation, support a vibrant arts economy, build relationships and bridges. As I approach the end of my first year as President of the Board of Directors the opportunities ahead continue to call us forward.
Help us meet our $30,000 fundraising goal.
If you’re receiving this letter there’s a very good chance you already know our work and have participated in one or more of our programs or events.
The good work of many has enabled us to dramatically expand our offerings. It was not that long ago our efforts were managed and executed by volunteers. We now have full and part-time staff led in their pursuit of excellence by Executive Director, Lisa Kelley. Lara Giordano continues to inspire us through the work of D.R.A.W., including the powerful opportunities that are opened up through the PUGG youth workforce development initiatives. If your time and effort tallies among those volunteer contributions, we offer a heartfelt THANK YOU; we still need you!
In addition to a growing spectrum of art classes and exhibitions for young and old at Energy Square, we opened the Neighborhood Print Studio in the Pajama Factory on Greenkill Avenue. This facility provides the capacity for silkscreen and intaglio printing and is rapidly becoming a hub for local artists. We continue to model art as a uniting force and a pathway to collaboration. Stop by and join in the fun.
Attached please find an abbreviated financial statement and charts that reflect our commitment to fiscal responsibility. Our financial picture is straightforward and we are happy to answer questions.
Our growth has been in response to the needs of the community and a growing demand for what we offer. We want to ensure MAD can inspire, educate, advocate for, and serve the community for years to come. We need your help.
See the list to the right for some of the ways your contribution will be applied.
Since MAD’s inception, a driving principle of our growth is to start small and grow organically. This practice allows our programs to grow in measured and impactful ways. Help us keep this good work going. Your gift ensures the continuation of MAD’s service to the people of Kingston. Whatever you can give, please donate today using the enclosed contribution form.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Margaret S. Inge
- Neighborhood Print Studio: Our biggest success of 2023! We acquired 3000 square feet at the Pajama Factory across the street from the DRAW Studio to develop a printmaking studio in Midtown.
- D.R.A.W. Arts Education: We offer unique and creative opportunities for people of all ages to make art, work with and learn from established professionals and teaching artists; we provide part-time employment to a cadre of 30+ artists.
- Equitable Participation: In order to ensure that D.R.A.W. programs are accessible to everyone in our community, we offer a sliding, pay-what-you-can fee schedule. This equalizes participation and bolsters a sense of dignity.
- PUGG Youth Workforce Program: Our paid arts industry work skills and management program-through which the students assist in classes, exhibitions, and events, and work as paid interns with local arts organizations and businesses. In 2023, we employed 17 students that clocked in over 3700 hours.
- DRAW-A-Thon: This year was our 3rd annual event, a 12-hour drawing marathon extravaganza at D.R.A.W. Studio in Energy Square partnering with the Midtown Business Allliance
- First Annual Steamroller Printing: As part of the grand opening of the Neighborhood Print Studio, over 28 artists participated for 6 weeks over the summer to create large 3 ft square linoleum plates that were printed with a steamroller in the street during this year’s DRAW-A-Thon
- 9th Annual Celebration of the Arts EXPO: Another fun-filled event that provided an opportunity to explore various art forms with local artists and arts organizations; it includes free workshops and demonstrations, combining arts education with sustainable practices. Employed 25 teaching artists to teach over 400 attendees throughout the day.
- 2nd Annual EcoArts Week: A free, week-long celebration of the arts, our planet, and our community.
- Ben Wigfall Programming and the Perpetuity Project:A collaborative program that connects youth to their shared history through work with a local museum, university, community printmaking studio, and culminates in a public exhibition to promote pride in the region and future growth as artists and community members.
- Community outreach and Language Justice work: As well as providing bilingual promotional materials and instruction, MAD has made crucial steps forward to understanding the nuances of language justice and is investing in training for our bilingual teaching artists and to provide simultaneous and consecutive interpretation services.
- Partnerships: We’re proud to be in meaningful partnerships with local government at every level and a growing number of peer organizations, including: The Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz, City of Kingston, Ministry of Maat, Kingston Library, O+Festival, Radio Kingston, CCE, Midtown Business Alliance, Unison Arts, Women’s Studio Workshop, CPW, BOCES, SUNY Ulster, Eureka House, Bard Center for Curatorial Studies, and more.
- Todd Samara Art Fund Award: Now in its 5th year, the award is designed to celebrate and support local artists, art educators, and/or curators for a City of Kingston-based project.
- Service to the Arts Community through fiscal sponsorship: We assisted 7 organizations and artists receive grant funding and tax deductible donations to support their project or event.
- DRAW Teaching Gallery: This year we established the ongoing exhibitions in the front half of the DRAW Studio and the Lobby at Energy Square. The program fosters a dynamic learning environment by teaching skills related to staging fine arts exhibitions. The program aims to inspire dialogues that will reach a broad audience within the Kingston community through exhibiting work that addresses universal themes of humanity. Through a rich variety of engaging exhibitions and educational initiatives, we are committed to empowering individuals of all ages and backgrounds to discover, explore, and appreciate the transformative power of artistic expression. Emphasis will be placed on encouraging young artists to pursue their artistic goals.
