Company Overview
Art Lab was founded in 2004 by four local moms and their families; Beth Humphrey, March Gallagher, Sharon Penz, and Tara Schatz. Our board members are dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds in education and the arts.
As an organization, our strength is the commitment of our Board to bringing high-quality arts to the children of Saugerties, where they are. There is no pay for these positions; we do this job because we care. Our reward is seeing our outstanding kids succeed. The current Board consists of:
Katie Emerson-Hoss, President
Katie Cokinos, Vice President
Krista Munger, Administrative Assistant
Diane Congello-Brandes, Treasurer
Melanie Avallone, Secretary
Partnerships
Art Lab has enjoyed financial support from the Village of Saugerties and the Kiwanis Club each year of its operation. We have received grants from the Dutchess County Arts Council in 2006 and 2008 and the Puffin Foundation in 2008 for the support of local artist productions. In 2011, Art Lab recieved grants from Walmart and the Klock Foundation.
Since our inception in August 2004, we have established collaborative working relationships with the following:
Art Society of Kingston (ASK):
ASK agreed to serve as our fiscal sponsor to accept tax deductible donations for Art Lab from August 2004 until we received our 501(c)(3) status in May of 2005.
Dutchess County Arts Council:
2006, received a decentralization grant in early 2006 to create an “Art Lab Summer Celebration”
2008, received a decentralization grant for production of Shadows of the Catskills, a shadow puppet show by Gnomon Shadow Theatre.
Esopus Creek Conservancy:
In 2004-5 Art Lab offered two 6-week sessions of Life Science classes for kids 7-12 at the newly established Esopus Bend Nature Preserve.
HITS on the Hudson:
Art Lab served over 100 children at a free art table during Kids Day in the summer of 2004 and 2005.
Reformed Church of Saugerties:
The home of Art Lab for its first year and half. The reformed church rented Art Lab space at a reduced cost and was very accommodating to a community arts program for kids.
Saugerties Boys and Girls Club:
In the summer of 2005, Art Lab worked with the children to create two murals, one at the Saugerties Beach, and the other to be hung in the new Boys and Girls Club building. In the summer of 2006 we conducted a 2-week theater workshop and held a community performance of the story-play Abiyoyo. In the winter of 2007, we provided an artist-in residence, illustrator, Diana Bryan, to help develop the first Saugerties Kid’s Gazette.
Saugerties Farmers’ Market:
Art Lab has been a continued presence at the Saugerties Farmer's Market since 2004. In the past, we have conducted free t-shirt stamping workshops for children and created an Art Farm that offered children a free art or farm related activity every Saturday from June to October. In 2011, Art Lab received a grant from Walmart to fund its summer 2012 program at the market.
Saugerties Head Start:
Provide an annual artist-in-residence.
2006: Jessica Galkin worked on self-portraits (acrylic painting) with the children that hung in a two-week show at the Saugerties Library.
2008: Chaldea Emerson did wool felting with the children and produced a ‘nest’ of colorful ‘eggs’that was on display at the Saugerties Library for a week
Saugerties Jazz Festival:
Art Lab hosted a free mask-making table in 2004. In 2005, Art Lab offered an art tent and music tent for kids to create in.
Saugerties Kiwanis Club:
The Kiwanis Club has sponsored many Art Lab projects such as Art Farm, the Fourth of July Float, Artist-in Residence for Head Start and Cahilll Kindergarten, winter drop-in at Inquiring Minds and the ever popular Children's Tent at the annual Hudson Valley Garlic Festival.
Saugerties Public Library:
Collaborated with the library to provide an art show of Head Start children 2006+2008.
Saugerties Public Schools:
2005: Family Art Night at Riccardi Elementary.
2008, Spring: After-school 2nd grade painting class at Cahill Elementary 1x/week.
2007-8: Artist in Residence for Cahill Kindergarten classes.
Village of Saugerties:
Art Lab coordinated a Christmas decoration painting project with Cub Scout Troop #37. The scouts earned their community service badge while giving a face-lift to the decorations at Seamon Park for the holidays. Holiday in the Village 2005, 2007 we hosted arts and crafts activities in the village.
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