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Arts & Culture Advisory Board

The Arts & Culture Advisory Board is a volunteer group that works to support thriving arts, cultural, and community institutions, in an all-inclusive environment that fosters the creative economy, community pride, Downtown revitalization, and a myriad of diverse year-round offerings in Saranac Lake.

Before and after for Raining Poetry with ACW

Photo of the streetlight pole on the sidewalk that is decorated at the base with color and at the to Streetlight painting with ACAB Member Kathy Ford

About

The purpose of the Arts & Culture Advisory Board is to make recommendations to the Village Board of Trustees on plans and project implementation for the arts community of Saranac Lake. The board works to make recommendations to the Saranac Lake Village Board of Trustees regarding policies and actions to implement the Arts and Culture Master Plan. On March 3, 2018 the Village Board created the Arts & Culture Advisory Board, whose overall purpose is to help Saranac Lake foster and grow a shared culture through Village initiatives and support of arts organizations and events. The Arts & Culture Advisory Board works to: 

  • Make recommendations on capital improvement projects, entertainment venues, educational programs/plans and other Village programs and projects that relate to the arts and entertainment.
  • Establish funding priorities for grants.
  • Act as a liaison between the public and the Village Board of Trustees for any initiatives or support provided to the arts and entertainment of Saranac Lake.
  • Promote more public and private cooperation in support of the arts and culture.

Meeting Information

The Arts & Culture Advisory Board meets about once a month. Check the calendar for the next meeting date and time. Meetings typically last an hour.

If you want to be on the agenda for any upcoming meeting, contact the Village of Saranac Lake Community Development Department at (518) 891-4150 ext. 235 or email [email protected].

Advisory Board Members 

The Board consists of nine volunteer members, appointed by the Board of Trustees. 

 
Board Member Term Expiration
Kirk Sullivan, Chair 5/31/25
Elaine Taylor-Wilde, Secretary  5/31/26
Echo 5/31/25
Julia Csanko 5/31/26
Kathy Ford 5/31/25
Charlie Reinertsen 5/31/26
Nathalie Thill 5/31/25
Aaron Hobson 12/23/26
Alex Krach 12/23/26
Trustee Brunette Ex-Officio

 

 

The Arts & Culture Master Plan

The Arts & Culture Advisory Board will work to implement the Arts and Culture Master Plan. This will be done in part by addressing its five goals:
  1. Arts and Cultural Community Engagement
  2. Master Plan Funding Acquisition
  3. Targeted Arts Marketing Campaign
  4. Organizational and Artist Support
  5. Arts and Culturally Driven Economic Development

Current Projects/Initiatives

The Arts & Culture Advisory Board has recently worked toward creating more opportunities to share art with the community:

  • Arts & Culture in Saranac Lake Facebook Group
  • decidedlyarts.sl Instagram page
  • Adopt-A-Bench Program- New Call for Artists, submission deadline is Monday, May 1st
  • Pop-Up Galleries- centered around the Third Thursday ArtWalks, for lesser-known area artists to set up their art work in empty storefronts downtown. This program was established to help diversify the local arts scene, offer an opportunity for local artists without current access to gallery space, and utilize empty spaces to beautify and add to the creative character of Saranac Lake. 

For more information regarding the Arts & Culture Advisory Board, contact the Community Development Department:

Phone: 518-891-4150 ext. 235 

Email: [email protected].

 

Arts & Culture Master Plan

Advisory Boards Annual Report 2020

Advisory Boards Annual Report 2021

Arts & Culture Board Member Description

Arts & Culture Master Plan

Arts & Culture Master Plan Appendices B-H

Arts & Culture Master Plan Facilities Assessment

Arts & Culture Advisory Board Bylaws

Agendas&Minutes

 

Saranac Lake has been a home to organizations over the years that value the arts and culture of this historic hamlet. These organizations are vast in number, but to get a glimpse of what makes up the fabric of Saranac Lake's community culture, visit the place that has been documenting it all from the start. Click on the image above to go to the 'Organizations' listing on HSL's website.

2023 Advisory Board Report

Call for Artists: Public Art Mural

The Arts and Culture Advisory Board of the Village of Saranac Lake in New York is seeking proposals for a small mural in Downtown Saranac Lake. Artwork may reflect the Village’s “Decidedly Different” brand, the culture and/or history of Saranac Lake or the Adirondacks, but it is not required.

About Saranac Lake

The Village of Saranac Lake is the largest community in the Adirondack Park, boasting a population of over 5,000 residents and hosting thousands of visitors every year. Known for its rich historical relevance, its majestic natural beauty and its lively artistic culture, Saranac Lake is often referred to as the “Capitol of the Adirondacks”. First settled by Europeans in 1819, logging and hunting were the primary industries until Dr. Edward Trudeau founded a tuberculosis sanitarium in 1884. The clean, dry mountain air that soothed the patients led to the “Cure” Cottage, still to be seen in the Village with their many porches. Today, Saranac Lake is known for the Winter Carnival and Ice Palace, its picturesque setting, and its vibrant “Decidedly Different” community.

About the Project

The Arts and Culture Advisory Board of the Village of Saranac Lake is seeking an artist or team of artists to create a mural or mosaic artwork to be installed on the outside of the public restrooms at Berkeley Square in the heart of downtown, Saranac Lake. The dimensions are 56” h x 57” w (4.6 ft x 4.75 ft). Artwork should be painted or mounted on MDX and be ready to be attached to the brick by the Village.

Budget

The budget for the artwork is $1,000 all-inclusive for artist’s fees, materials, fabrication, delivery, transportation, liability insurance and any other costs associated with producing and installation.

The Proposed Site

In the heart of downtown Saranac Lake, a thoughtfully designed brick structure has recently been completed. The single-story structure houses two bathrooms and has a brick wall that faces the street with an area specifically designed to feature public art that prominently faces vehicle and foot traffic.

The proposed site is used by the public, including children, and subject matter should be appropriate. All public artworks in Saranac Lake are exposed to extreme weather variables and physical stresses and could be subject to vandalism.

Application Requirements

Applicants will submit up to 10 digital images of at least 1200 pixels on the shortest side, with 2-5 similar completed artworks, a CV, and a statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters. An image of a proposed work for this project is helpful but not required, as works in progress or concept images are acceptable. From these applications, the selection panel will choose up to 3 semifinalists for Village Board assessment. The selected artist or artist team for the project will confer with and get approval from the Art and Cultural Advisory Board and Saranac Village Board on final design issues.

Eligibility

This call is open to national and international artists and teams. Applicants should have a record of successfully completed projects; however, emerging public artists will be considered if their demonstrated work and proposal are strong. Applicants should be 18+.

Selection Criteria

A committee consisting of SLACAB members and local arts experts will review proposals and select a finalist to be approved by the village board. The selection panel may seek public input after narrowing down finalists. 

Timeline

Postmark Deadline for Proposals:  April 15, 2025

Selection of Finalist:  May 15, 2025

Installation Complete: July 31, 2025

Email materials to [email protected] or mail to Arts & Culture Advisory Board, Village of Saranac Lake, 39 Main Street, Suite 9, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-1733