Public Art

LARAC ABSORBS GLENS FALLS ARTS DISTRICT, DRIVING DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

March 2, 2026 By Corey Aldrich

You may remember, back in August 2022 when ACE! put together a street fest / creative economy panel discussion at the Park Theater. We had some coverage at the time examining the interesting structure downtown Glens Falls had for arts and cultural support. (Glens Falls: A Winning Team Sharing Secrets to Success). Fast forward a couple of years and progress continues to be made collaboratively with the Downtown Arts District and its distinguished members in a newer arrangement that sees LARAC (Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council) as the oversight entity. I connected with Phil Casabona, Executive Director at LARAC for an update.

Please state your name, organization and title. Can you add a bit about your background experientially and educationally?

My name is Philip Casabona and I am the Executive Director + Festival Director + Gallery Curator for LARAC, the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, a mission driven, non-profit arts organization in Glens Falls, NY. Upon graduating SUNY Oneonta in 2009 with a BFA with a concentration in Photography, like many young people my age at that time, I immediately walked into my dream job making money faster than I could count it…oh wait, that’s the parallel universe me. I graduated college with the excitement of pursuing the arts, professionally, in some form. It was a longer road than expected, with a handful of torturous, non-art related jobs, but all teaching me something that has led to my current position. In 2012 at the age of 25, my wife a, who was my girlfriend at the time, and I, moved to Astoria, Queens, for a year. There I worked for a high-end clothing retailer, in their annex location in Tribeca, as their “Inventory Manager“. I was responsible for all locations day to day inventory, worked alongside the buyer’s department, as well as opened new store locations in other cities, like Boston, Atlanta, and a few others. This position, along with other managerial roles I had since I was 16, unknowingly taught me skills that would be most valuable in my current positions.

I have been with LARAC for 12 years, starting prior to that as a volunteer. Then, having support from my friend and the Gallery Curator at the time, I applied for an open part time position as LARAC’s Festival Coordinator, which I did for a number of years, before going full time and taking on the task of Gallery Curator. As LARAC struggled to navigate Covid-19, we managed to keep our doors open and our staff employed. When the opportunity came up to replace our previous ED, I entered the race. I have been acting Executive Director for the past four years as well.

Can you fill us in a bit about the mission of LARAC? Annual budget, number of employees? Also, I understand you expanded recently by absorbing the GF Downtown Arts District into your fold. Can you share a little bit about the history of that and what that means for LARAC and the artists you serve?

LARAC is a mission-based organization with a very simply mission. We are here to support artists and creatives, local, regional, and beyond, and nourish the positive cultural impact they make on our community. Financially, as a SCR site through NYSCA, we are able to support artists and organizations in Warren and Washington Counties. I am part of a three person staff, including fulltime employee Kori Albrecht, LARAC’sCommunity Outreach + Grants Director, and part time employee Diane Swanson, LARAC’s Program’s Director. The three of us are standing on the shoulders of giants that helped grow LARAC from a volunteer organization to a paid staff with a building that we own. We are beholden to our members and our community for keeping us in operation. As of 2025, we are operating on an annual budget of $360,000. This includes the $100,000 worth of NYSCA funding that Kori distributes to grantees within the counties we support.

Glens Falls Arts District Downtown Bike Racks | Image: Corey Aldrich

In 2025, LARAC also became the umbrella non-profit organization for the Glens Falls Arts District. GFAD, is a committee of local arts related non-profits that have been moving the needle, contributing as economic driving forces, and sculpting the landscape of the City of Glens Falls for decades. I firmly believe the arts are the foundation of Glens Falls. Recently the City, the Counties, and the region have begun to view us in the same light. Glens Falls is such a unique city. We are only roughly 15,000 people, yet we have such a strong arts scene. Thus, the AD was born. A collective effort to help solidify DRI funding from NYS, which GF was awarded 10 years ago. In the past few years, we have seen all the planning of that DRI to the tune of $10 million, come to fruition. The infrastructure efforts on South Street are accompanied by the public art, which is where the AD came into play! The AD consists of LARAC, the Park Theater, The Hyde Collection, the Charles R. Wood Theater, the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, the World Awareness Children’s Museum, the Chapman Museum, the Crandall Public Library, the Adirondack Theater Festival, North Country Arts, and The Shirt Factory. All arts entities in the city limits work together to beautify our city, encourage arts interaction by local and visiting populations, drive economic value to our city, and help each other all stay viable. These efforts have helped strengthen all of our relationships with each other and with the governing body of the City of Glens Falls, the EDC, and Warren and Washington Counties.

LARAC becoming the umbrella non-profit of the AD means the AD answers to the LARAC Board of Directors. However, what it really means is that it gives the AD a new opportunity to continue working together to positively impact our city. With the DRI initiative complete, we now have a new avenue to look for, and secure funding for future projects and have a collective voice stronger than any one of us does alone. This inherently helps LARAC further our mission of supporting our local and regional artists.

LARAC’s June Arts Festival 2025 in Glens Falls NY | Image: Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce

I really like your approach to getting your members art into hands of the general public. Between your full-time retail store and events like the annual LARAC ARTS FEST, how have you been able to leverage your relationship with the city and local businesses to advantage your members?

Part of our mission, in more detail, is to help artists become financially stable, grow their passion and abilities into potential income streams and help them start to take the next steps to becoming part-time or full-time professional artists. Helping artists get seen, whether it is in our gallery, our shop, our festivals, or our live music stages at the festivals…these are all avenues to get them in front of the general public.

Coincidentally, these same avenues to get the artist in front of the public also work as a platform to showcase and educate the public on the different forms of artistic expression. A venue to show our patrons obtainable local art, creating an environment for them to support these creatives. One of the biggest and most recognizable LARAC events that does this and truly showcases our wonderful relationship with the City and Warren County is our Annual LARAC June Arts Festival. An Annual event that started in 1972, this year will be our 56th event and will showcase over 165 artists, 10 non-profits, and 8 food trucks, all juried in from across the country to sell their handmade goods. June 13 – 14, 2026, LARAC will bring 15,000+ people from all over to the City of GF, creating the single biggest weekend economic driver event in the city and county. This event is made possible by our relationship with the City of Glens Falls, Warren County Tourism, and the local business which directly and positively impacts our members and our community.

Gallery Shop at LARAC in Glens Falls NY | Image: Corey Aldrich

Speaking of the city…you mentioned a group you are a part of called MOSAIC that includes the city and the IDA as I recollect. Can you tell us more about this group and where you see that going. It sounded like some really innovative stuff!

As I mentioned earlier, it is amazing what the city had going for it prior to intentional efforts to collaborate. In the recent present, as the organizations within the AD started working together in a calculated effort to improve our individual organizations by strengthening ourselves as a collective and beautifying the city, some wonderful opportunities have come up. Doors started to open in places we didn’t see coming. We started to build and strengthen relationships with our governing bodies and other entities that see the value in our efforts. One of those people, recently, has been Jim Siplon, the President and CEO of the Warren County Economic Development Corp (EDC). Jim and his office have created a collective group, many faces of the AD, as well as others from outside GF. This includes members of the IDA and leaders of non-profit groups and organization in Washington County who share a table and create a safe space to build ideas. Jim sees the value of the arts in GF and the potential we have as a springboard for positive growth and economic and cultural impact. Together we are working on ideas to unify and rally for future funding.

There is an inherent and immeasurable value in the positive impact of the arts and the culture it encourages. It is an effort worth our time, and LARAC, the AD, and MOSAIC understand this assignment.

LARAC Member Art Gallery Examples | Image: Provided

EXTRA CREDIT: Anything you would like to plug and additional things you would like to share beyond above?

LARAC is for everyone, join us in our Gallery, at our Festivals, and in our city.

WEB: larac.org | IG: @larac_arts

Experimental Creativity as a Form of Inquiry w/ Exec Director Dena Beard

January 26, 2026 By Corey Aldrich

Long known as an organizational asset for resident artists and campus related endeavors, there is a new focus on finding ways to incorporate EMPAC (At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy) into the fabric of the downtown Troy community and beyond. Find out what is in process and in store from a recent conversation with newish Executive Director, Dena Beard.

Dena Beard : Executive Director at EMPAC in Troy NY | Photo : Emma Marie Chiang

Please state your name, organization and position. Can you share a bit about your experiential / academic background?

I’m Dena Beard, Executive Director of the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I support artistic projects that challenge habituated forms of perception and invite new modes of engagement—across performance, sound, time-based media, and research-driven art.

Before coming to EMPAC, I served as Director of the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College and spent nearly a decade as Executive Director of The Lab in San Francisco, working on projects rooted in experimental music, performance, and cross-disciplinary practice. Earlier in my career, I worked as Assistant Curator at the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

Across these roles, my focus has been on creating conditions for artists to work rigorously and experimentally, while also building organizations that are legible, humane, and porous—places where process is visible and audiences feel invited into how work is made, not just asked to consume finished products. I’ve been shaped by how powerfully art can activate space, community, and imagination. That’s why I do this.

EMPAC : Studio 1 at Rensselaer Polytech Institute in Troy NY | Photo : Provided

You have an interesting diversity in institutional leadership between your time on the west coast with THE LAB in San Francisco and in NYC at Brooklyn College’s Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts. What made you decide to take on EMPAC and how is that background informing you in your approach?

EMPAC is unlike any other arts institution in the country. RPI made a once-in-a-generation investment in experimental art, research, and technology—and that ambition is real, not rhetorical. Over the years, EMPAC has supported more than 700 artists whose works now circulate internationally and enter major museum collections. What drew me here was the opportunity to steward a program that operates simultaneously as a performance venue, a research laboratory, and a civic space in Troy.

My prior work taught me that institutional frameworks can either obscure creativity or make space for it. At The Lab, we foregrounded artists’ ways of seeing and making, creating conditions for experimentation rather than containing work within predictable program structures. That included commissioning artists meaningfully, offering $25K to $150K and forms of support still rare in the field: healthcare, legal representation, full access to space. What emerged was an adaptive ecosystem: when artists were trusted, they shared resources and reshaped the organization itself.

At the Tow Center, I worked within a large public academic institution, supporting Brooklyn College’s Conservatory of Music and Department of Theater while bringing local and international artists into deep conversation with students and New York publics. That work taught me how to bridge academic environments and professional artistic practice without flattening either.

Coming to EMPAC was about merging these two approaches, one rooted in generosity and adaptability, the other accountable to a complex academic institution and a broader public. My goal isn’t to change EMPAC’s identity, but to make its extraordinary work more legible, more durable, and more connected to the people who live and work in Troy and across the Capital Region.

EMPAC : TOPOS Remote Peformance at the Gasholder Bldg in Troy NY | Photo : Patrick Dodson

EMPAC has been largely misunderstood by the public historically. I see you have been working on raising awareness not only about what it is but also finding ways to bridge the gap, creating a more inclusive interaction with the regional arts community and general public. Why do you feel that is important for the institution? What challenges are your facing in the implementation of that approach?

EMPAC was founded on the idea that art and research aren’t separate activities—that experimental creativity is a form of inquiry, and that technological innovation often requires imaginative leaps we don’t always recognize as artistic. Nearly two decades in, that premise still holds. The question now is how EMPAC carries this work forward in ways that offer models of imagination and resilience to people living in this region.

EMPAC has sometimes been perceived as opaque or inaccessible—not because the work isn’t compelling, but because the processes behind it haven’t always been visible. I think experimental work benefits from context, from gracious welcome, and from trust.

Hanae Utamura Performs at EMPAC in Troy, NY | Photo: Tara Holmes

For me, accessibility doesn’t mean simplifying the work. It means offering tangible points of entry: clear language, open doors, a public space for informal gathering—for food and drink, for conversation, for being together. Anyone who comes here should feel it’s their public park, a place to meet friends, go on a date, step away from screens for an hour, or even just take a nap between commitment

The challenge is doing this without flattening complexity. The initial capital funding for EMPAC expired more than a decade ago, and today over 80% of staff time and resources currently support campus projects. We’re figuring out how to offer more to the broader public without overextending staff or compromising EMPAC’s standing in the arts. That requires careful pacing, discipline, and a willingness to listen—to students, to artists, and to our neighbors in Troy. It’s slow work, but it’s essential if EMPAC is going to function not just as a laboratory and campus auditorium, but as a cultural anchor for the Capital Region.

Victoria Shen and Mariam Rezaei Performance at EMPAC in Troy NY | Photo : Michael Valiquette

What’s a typical day in the life look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day, which probably explains why I love this work!

A day might include a technical walk-through with engineers and artists, a budget or infrastructure meeting with RPI leadership, a rehearsal, a conversation with faculty, and a late-night performance. In between, I’m thinking about long-term strategy: how EMPAC’s research mission aligns with RPI’s, how we care for a very complex building, and how we support a brilliant staff who are doing deeply specialized and deeply weird work.

A lot of my time is spent translating: between artistic and technical languages, between academic culture and public-facing programming, between ambition and sustainability. It’s demanding, but incredibly generative.

Leslie Cuyjet in Ephemeral Organ Festival at EMPAC in Troy NY | Photo : Michael Valiquette.jpg

SHAMELESS PLUG: Anything on the horizon that you have planned that you would like to share?

Absolutely. EMPAC is entering a really exciting phase.

This year we’re hosting three festivals that invite audiences from Troy and across the region into different ways of experiencing contemporary work: staging grounds (February 20–28), focused on time-based visual art; Corpus (April 23–25), dedicated to dance and movement-based practices; and Topos (September 3–5), centered on music. Each festival premieres new work we’ve produced alongside projects we’re eager for audiences to encounter—sometimes at early, evolving stages.

We’re also developing Interface, a more informal series designed to bring people into EMPAC through conversation, experimentation, and social exchange, hopefully with a drink in hand.

EMPAC is very much a living instrument, and I’m excited to invite more people to play it with us.

The Revolution WILL BE…In Person!

January 26, 2026 By Corey Aldrich

2026 is really kicking off with a bang. ACE! was on location for the grand re-opening of three major regional institutional arts organizations including The Egg (Albany), Saratoga Arts (Saratoga) and a new and expanded space for Albany Center Gallery (Albany). This represents some major investment in our region in community arts, culture and entertainment, and helps drive the Capital Region as a creative economy hub for work and play with an investment to the tune of well over $20M collectively. Find out what each organization was able to add and refresh with their reset and how that will impact future forward programming for our region.

THE EGG | YOUR EGG IS SERVED (ALBANY NY)

The Egg Staff Celebrates at the Grand Re-Opening Event | Photo: Megan Mumford

After a six month closure, state and local leaders cut the ribbon this month for a $19.5M renovation at The Egg. Though the project predates Governor Kathy Hochul’s $400m Championing of Albany’s Potential initiative, it complements the overall mission and direction being mapped out for Albany by her office.

The Egg : Crowd Shot at the Grand Re-Opening Event | Photo: Elissa Ebersold

The Egg : Dancing to DJ Hollywood at the Grand Re-Opening Event | Photo: Elissa Ebersold

The Egg is a performing arts center located in Albany, N.Y.’s Empire State Plaza. An unmistakable feature of the capital city’s skyline, the venue houses two theatres encased in a domed, egg-like concrete structure that took 12 years to construct and was completed in 1978. The Egg presents music, art, theatre, comedy, dance, and family entertainment year-round.

“The Egg is a meeting place for New Yorkers and visitors looking to immerse themselves in the thriving creative industries that are integral to our state’s bold identity,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “As part of Downtown Albany’s revitalization, this long-awaited renovation modernizes one of the Capital Region’s most distinct cultural landmarks. This new chapter of The Egg showcases the value of spaces where the arts and culture converge...”

OGS (New York State Office of General Services) oversaw a project that modernized the interior of the building while honoring its original design and mission. Work included replacing seating and carpeting throughout both the Kitty Carlisle Hart and Lewis A. Swyer theatres and all public areas; installing a state-of-the-art, fully automated LED theatrical lighting system; and adding new dimmable LED house lighting that better showcases the building’s unique architecture.

The Egg : Hart Lobby Before Renovation | Photo: Megan Mumford

The Egg : Hart Lobby After Renovation | Photo: Megan Mumford

“The Egg is a place where art happens with no straight lines, and these renovations make it possible for us to serve Albany and all of New York in a bigger way. We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for believing in this building and making this investment in the arts possible ” said Diane Eber :Executive Director The Egg

The renovation also expands accessible seating in both theatres, upgrades restrooms, and adds an induction loop assistive listening system to improve the experience for guests who use hearing aids or cochlear implants. Public spaces have been refreshed with restored mid-century finishes and new custom furniture designed to complement The Egg’s ellipsoidal structure, aligning the interior with the boldness of the exterior for the first time since the venue opened in 1978.

“Updating The Egg reaffirms the importance of the arts scene in the Capital Region and supports our efforts to reconnect Downtown with its residents and visitors. ” Senator Patricia A. Fahy

The Egg : New Seating and Carpet | Photo: Megan Mumford

The renovation supports a renewed vision for The Egg as a statewide performing arts center and destination, where the building itself is an integral part of the artistic experience. The upgrades will enable more complex productions, improve comfort and accessibility for audiences, and ensure the venue can continue to serve as a gathering place for decades to come.

“When people come to visit our great City of Albany, The Egg is the first building they see on our skyline. This exciting renovation helps to solidify this structure as an icon of our downtown, and I am thrilled to celebrate its completion. ” Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs

WEB: theegg.org | IG: @theegg | ADDRESS: EMPIRE STATE PLAZA

ALBANY CENTER GALLERY | MORE ART EVERYWHERE (ALBANY NY)

Albany Center Gallery : Ribbon Cutting Event for the New Digs | Photo: Provided

Located in the old Pizza 54 space on North Pearl Street (Known by many back in the day as Pizza Timmy’s!). Albany Center Gallery has significantly expanded their space from 1700 sqft at their previous location to 6600 sqft. The new space features offices, storage, a kitchen, a larger education space that can also be used as a secondary gallery, and a large street front main gallery that currently is showcasing over 200 works in it’s annual member show.

Jankow Companies oversaw the fit up in conjunction with Platt Construction. This was partially funded with a grant from Capitalize Albany for build out costs. Additional funds to underwrite the move where funded via specific donations and / or were covered via a specified funding campaign.

Albany Center Gallery : New Location Opening Night Crowd | Photo: Michael Joyce

“With more space, we are able to support more artists, present more ambitious exhibitions, and bring even more of the community together under one roof. Our new home at 48 North Pearl Street allows us to expand our programs, activate the gallery with evening events, and create dynamic, welcoming experiences where art becomes part of everyday life in downtown Albany.” stated Tony Iadicicco, Executive Director at Albany Center Gallery “It’s a big step forward for ACG and for the artists and community we serve. As we move forward, we remain committed to our mission, uplifting, showcasing, and advocating for the creative community while ‘Bringing Art Everywhere.’”

Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs marked January 16, 2026 as “Albany Center Gallery Day” inaugurating the day in City of Albany history.

Albany Center Gallery : Tony Iadicicco Executive Director | Photo: Corey Aldrich

WEB: albanycentergallery.org | IG: @albanycentergallery
ADDRESS: 48 N. PEARL ST.

SARATOGA ARTS | YOUR COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER (SARATOGA SPRINGS NY)

Saratoga Arts : Re-Opens After Upgrades | Photo: Spencer Sherry

I recently caught up with Amy Bloom, Executive Director at Saratoga Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY for an update on their renovation efforts. They just finished up a $2M+ space renovation / upgrade and recently re-opened to the public after a 6 month build out period. Funding sources included $1M from the City of Saratoga Springs, $766K through a capital grant from NYSCA (New York State Council of the Arts) with the remainder fundraised by Saratoga Arts’ board members, donors and a few other local foundations.

The renovation has resulted in several key improvements – a new gallery with programmable, energy efficient lighting, 2 renovated bathrooms, an upgraded theater (including a sound booth and new projector/sound equipment), and replacement windows throughout much of the building — in particular the curtain wall (The windows that face the carousel in the back of the building).

Saratoga Arts : *Shown* Allan Weatherwax (Board President), Amy Bloom (Executive Director) and Spencer Sherry (Grants and Community Outreach Coordinator) | Photo: Corey Aldrich

On the lower level you will find new lighting and ceilings throughout most of the classrooms, including a door from the main classroom providing direct access to Congress Park. To follow, a patio will be installed in collaboration with the City of Saratoga, slated later in spring 2026. The printmaking studio has new plumbing and a new sink was added in the smaller classroom. Additional improvements include upgraded wifi (especially on the lower level where there was none prior), a new boiler, new gutters, and electrical panels throughout much of the building.

“As a supporter of Saratoga Arts for over 30 years, NYSCA is proud to be a part of this extensive renovation project, which has created a multi-use facility to serve thousands of visitors. This new sustainable space will serve as a catalyst for creativity and collaboration for the entire region. Congratulations to the entire Saratoga Arts team, we look forward to decades more of your innovative and accessible programming.” Erika Mallin : Executive Director of NYSCA (New York State Council of the Arts)

Per Amy, the renovations will significantly improve Saratoga Arts ability to fulfill their programmatic mission to the community and provide an enhanced experience for community engagement.

WEB: saratogaarts.org | IG: @saratogaarts | ADDRESS: 320 BROADWAY

Tapping Into Creative Community Design with TAP’s Barb Nelson

October 8, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

If you have spend time in Troy in the arts scene you know her work. Breathing Lights, Uniting Line, Creative Crosswalks, Troy Alley Action…the list goes on. Barb Nelson is more than just a public arts instigator and supporter. Her firm TAP Inc has been at the forefront of the arts and affordable housing for decades. I caught up with her to hear about what she has percolating currently and it’s impressive. A public recreation space in Troys Little Italy neighborhood, an affordable for purchase condominium project, and a month long riff of NYC’s ARCHTOBER…a Troy Edition! with over 25 events in October ranging from lunch and learns, hard hat tours, TAPpy hours and a killer art exhibition. And this is just a small sampling of the projects currently in process, all done enthusiastically and with an on eye on community building.

Barb Nelson : Executive Director at TAP Inc in Troy, New York | Image: Corey Aldrich

Please state your name, company, title. Can you give us a bit of your back story as well? Education, the path to how you got here? Interesting tidbits welcome!

I’m Barb Nelson. I became the Executive Director here at TAP Inc. exactly 10 years ago. I first worked at TAP as an intern right out of school RPI from 1980 to 1986. I managed my own practice from ’86 to ‘91 then returned to RPI to work in Campus Planning. I spent 24 years with RPI as an architect, planner and adjunct professor. But I had never wandered far from TAP’s community development mission and as such, I jumped at the chance when they needed a director in 2015. Along the way I’ve married, raised 2 daughters, renovated 2 homes, painted a dozen public murals, produced some circus shows, and served on a dozen boards, task forces and commissions. I like how easy civic engagement is in Troy.

TAP Inc Office Building in Troy, New York | Image: Provided

What does a typical day look like for you?

What’s a typical day? Some days are quiet, focused on the work of running a business. Some days are anxious grant deadlines collecting and formatting data for applications. We are a storefront so someday’s are busy with unscheduled walk-ins. I spend a lot less time on project sites measuring or monitoring construction work these days. we have a strong focus on place-making through participatory public art so on any given day we could be painting bridge abutments! Whether I’m designing a stair detail or connecting a client with grant funding, every day involves creative problem solving. TAP is like that, there’s always something different to take care of.

Barb Nelson Review Plans with Stakeholders | Image: Courtesy of Breathing Lights

How many staff do you have and what disciplines do they represent?

We have an amazing team of eleven ‘Totally Awesome Professionals!‘ 3 architects, 1 construction admin specialist, 4 license track designers, 1 sustainability director, an operations wizard, and a director of finance. Among us we have dancers, musicians, runners, builders, makers, artists, cooks and performers!

The Arts Center of the Capital Region Facade Project | Image: Provided

Habitat for Humanity Housing Plan Rendering | Image: Provided

What is the mission at TAP and as a NFP architectural firm, how do you fit in compared to other architectural and design professionals, the overall ecosystem?

TAP has been restoring, rebuilding, and revitalizing historic structures and urban neighborhoods since 1969. Many architects develop specialties, like schools, hospitals, homes, or retail. TAP’s niche is bringing vacant, damp, burned, and deteriorated structures back to life. When you do that, you bring life back to a neighborhood. We are partly funded by NYS so we can reduce our fees for qualified clients. We also can help neighborhoods envision change through community design. We can assist other non-profits in accessing grant money for their facilities. We’ve helped Habitat for Humanity build about 90 homes in the region. We’re big on collaboration with other organizations. We believe that ‘Together Anything’s Possible.’ TAP is one of 8 regional non-profit partners that make up the Capital Region Clean Energy HUB, managing energy saving upgrades for low income homeowners, and promoting clean energy job training.

Left to Right: Mayor McCarthy (Schenectady), Mayor Sheehan (Albany), Barb Nelson, Mayor Madden (Troy) and Adam Freland | Image: Courtesy Breathing Lights

Breathing Lights Installation in Schenectady, New York | Image: Courtesy Breathing Lights

Uniting Line Project | Hoosick Street Bridge in Troy, New York | Image: Provided

Any projects you are especially excited about right now?

We have so many! We are working with Affordable Housing Partnership in Albany to disseminate hundreds of home improvement grants for Low to Moderate Income Homeowners. In Schenectady, we have vacant homes being renovated by Better Community Neighborhoods Inc.

Closer to home, construction will start soon at Troy’s Little Italy Market Park, where TAP helped obtain grant money to transform the asphalt lot into a pocket park. We always have accessibility projects, making homes more livable for people with disabilities. We also just completed the restoration of 140 historic window sash at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy.

Adler Place Site Plan : Future Affordable Condominium Project | Image: Provided

Finally, our biggest effort these days is the development of Adler Place, 32 affordable courtyard condominium units in Troy. Our plate is full for sure but there’s always room for more. Our project list proves out our mantra, ‘Trusted Affordable Proactive.’

Shamless Plug: Anything we should know about that you have percolating?

Yes, we just kicked off a new initiative called ARCHTOBER: Troy Edition! A month-long festival celebrating architecture, architects and all the creatives responsible for our built environment. Did you know we have over a dozen architecture firms in Troy? Most are within a few blocks of each other downtown.

To find out more about this exciting series go to the TAP website and see the robust calendar line up of TAPpy Hours, films, trivia, hard hat tours, webinars, book talks, lectures, and a great closing party that will see us form a collaborative event with fellow arts organization Collar Works and their annual Mad Collar Party. Collaboration is a big part of this series and we have partnered up with several for profit architectural firms, and arts and cultural organizations including the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Tech Valley COG, the Hart Cluett Museum, 518 Film Network, Picture Lock One, WMHT, Architecture +, Mosaic Associates, ME Studio, Lightexture, the North Eastern New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and more!

If you know a young person who’s curious about the profession please bring them to ARCHTOBER one of our events.

BELINDA COLON’S IMMERSIVE WORLD OF ART AND COMMUNITY

August 26, 2025 By Corey Aldrich

I met Belinda Colón several years ago through founding Executive Director of ACE!, Maureen Sager. Belinda was working with her at Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs where she has now taken over the reins. Since then, we have crossed paths in many places including in Troy at the Arts Center of the Capital Region where where we both individually do freelance project work and The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls where she is a Trustee. She has to many irons in the fire in our region not to give her the talking stick for a spell and so…here we go!

Belinda Colón : Gallery Director and Freelance Curator of Exhibitions and Public Art | Image: Provided

Please state your name, title(s), and organization(s).

My name is Belinda Colón and currently I wear several hats. These vary between regular gigs and more project based freelance work. Currently I am involved as a Freelance Curator of Exhibitions and Public Art, Director and Curator at Spring Street Gallery. Owner and Founder at The Art Sheet, a Trustee at The Hyde Collection, a Member of the Saratoga Arts Commission and soon to be Owner at a Private Gallery in Troy.

Awakening Spring Exhibit at the Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga Springs New York | Image: Provided

Can you also tell us a bit about your history, including education, other jobs of note, and other special accolades?

I started my education at CUNY Hunter College with a focus on Theology and History. Being exposed in NYC to all its cultural resources and accessibility, my historical and religious research opened my eyes to the History of Art and its connection to the humanities. I continued my path to the arts at CUNY Queens College with a major in Art History. After moving North to Saratoga Springs, I landed a job at Palio Communications, a medical advertising firm, as administrative support, then as a project manager. Working with multiple types of artists at the firm, I was saddened to see so much amazing art being torn apart by clients. Becoming more aware of the exceptional talent at the firm, I decided that I needed to support artists like those at the firm who needed to be seen for how talented they are, outside of their day jobs, leading me to go back to school and finalize my Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on Gallery Management at Hudson Vallery Community College. I then enrolled in Empire State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a focus in Art History.

During my time in academia, I was given an opportunity at Spring Street Gallery to organize and install an art exhibition raising funds for the East Side Recreational Skatepark in Saratoga Springs, NY. The funds raised were to resurface the skatepark. After a very successful event, I was given the opportunity to be the Exhibitions Manager at Spring Street. After 13 years, I am still working at Spring Street Gallery, NO longer the Exhibitions Coordinator, now the Director and Curator.

Artist Royal Brown and Curator Belinda Colón : The Evidence of Things Unseen Exhibit
at the Spring Street Gallery in Saratoga | Image: Provided

Can you tell us a bit more about the Spring Street Gallery…your mission there and what you are doing to integrate into the community?

Spring Street Gallery was founded 31 years ago in 1994. Today, Spring Street Gallery is an award-winning not-for-profit art and performance space.

The Gallery’s mission is dedicated to providing exhibition and performance opportunities for local and regional artists. It fosters the arts as a vital resource for social engagement and educational connectivity.

Currently, the gallery has partnered with Collar Works in Troy to facilitate a program developed by The Arts Sheet called Immersion. Immersion is a professional visual artist development program. It’s designed to provide emerging and mid-career visual artists with professional opportunities for open dialogue and critical conversations with peers, regional curators, and gallery owners.

The combination of critiques, gallery/residency visits, and professional development enhances learning. Critiques focus on individual improvement, while group experiences and professional development provide exposure, contextual understanding, and valuable tools. Together, they create a comprehensive framework for artistic growth.

Catching Air at the ON DECK Skate Park in Saratoga Springs New York | Image: Provided

Another Saratoga based project I know you have been involved with was the Saratoga Skate Park. Care to share a bit about that one?

ON Deck Saratoga was a project of the Saratoga Institute, a vehicle for promoting skateboarding, skatepark stewardship, and creativity through community-based events. My husband and I started this project with the intention of bringing more attention to and understanding of the culture of skateboarding, a non-conforming recreational sport. We’ve organized a multitude of programs, including yearly skate jams, free films in High Rock Park, exhibitions and fundraisers in Saratoga Springs and Lake George, NY, skateboarding lessons and camps, and more.

Historical Backround info:

Built in 1989, the East Side Recreation (Rec) skatepark is the oldest municipal skatepark in New York State. In conjunction with Jah Skate Shop, which was located at 8 Caroline Street from 1988 until 1993, the skatepark used to host many team demos, spawned a few professional skaters, and in the mid-90’s was an official stop for Vans Warped Tour skate contest qualifications. The skatepark is a highly respected piece of East Coast skate history, and its popularity has grown along with the popularity of skateboarding and other wheeled sports.

As its use grew, the skate park was due for a contemporary upgrade, and now a modern, poured-in-place concrete park has replaced the metal ramps that have been there for 20 years. The City of Saratoga Springs & Saratoga Springs DPW has proudly partnered with Pillar Skateparks to design the new park, in conjunction with feedback from the local skate community.

Construction needs for the park were in the range of $400,000, and donations were accepted through ON DECK Saratoga.

2021 FENCE Membership Show at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy New York
Image: Provided

I recently realized you are the brains behind the The Art Sheet event listing. Can you talk a bit about the history of this? What are the geographic boundaries? I have seen some pretty far flung listings!

The Art Sheet has been a passion of mine for over 7 years. After being very frustrated that there was a lack of press regarding art and cultural events in the Capital Region and Upper Hudson Valley. There was never any place to go to find out what was going on on any given day. It was frustrating, so I decided to create a website to promote local and regional arts events. It has been a labor of love. The Art Sheet is a free resource for arts administrators, organizations, and artists. The website provides a calendar of events, a space for artist grants and resources, calls for art and residencies, artist professional development programs, and job opportunities (Provided by ACE!). The Art Sheet is also available on Instagram at @theartsheet.

In Ply Exhibit and Interactive Skate Environment at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Jane Altes Gallery
Image: Provided

For a while you were working at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, and I see you are still involved in some public-facing projects. Can you give us an update about your Troy-based activities?

Currently, I am a Freelance Contractor for the Arts Center of the Capital Region as their Public Art Curator. Some of the public art projects that I have curated or project managed include: Franklin Alley sculptural murals by Joe Iurato, Troy Art Block, Troy Electrical Boxes, Troy Glow, Uniting Line, and From Troy to Troy. There is an upcoming large-scale mural being implemented this fall. Look out for more information provided by the Capital Region Arts Center.

Joe Iurato and Belinda Colón Hang Out in Franklin Alley, Troy New York | Image: Provided

As a person working across municipalities, I am curious to know what your thoughts are about the current state of the arts in our region. What should we be focused on?

The arts in our region seem to be segmented. I would love to see more collaboration between organizations, administrations, and artists. Networking events focused on sharing opportunities and events would be fantastic. Funding is always a challenge as well, since there are a lot of arts and cultural institutions, but not a large enough regional funding pool. This can make artists’ grant opportunities slim.

Troy Art Block Team : Church Street Alley in Troy New York | Image: Steve Alverez

Troy Art Block Opening Event : Church Street Alley in Troy New York | Image: Belinda Colon

Shamless Plug: Anything coming up you would like to share that we should have on our radar? There is a whisper of a private gallery opening in Troy in the future. Keep your eye out for Willow Gallery.

WEB: Spring Street Gallery | IG: @springstreetgallerysaratoga
LINKED IN: Belinda Colón