News Briefs: October 2020

Applications Open for Annual Rutsch Award
This juried competition, which honors the memory and artistic achievement of artist Alexander Rutsch (1916-1997), is open to U.S.-based artists aged 19 and older. The winner is awarded a cash prize, solo exhibition and printed catalog at Pelham Art Center. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pelham Art Center and acknowledge the financial hardship affecting many artists during these challenging times, the 2021 Rutsch Award prize was increased to a total of $10,000 in artist stipends, with the winning artist receiving the $7,500 prize. Deadline: December 15. For questions, contact shilpi@pelhamartcenter.org.[

Peekskill Embarks on $10 Million Revitalization Grant Initiative
Peekskill has received a $10 million grant from New York State for downtown improvement. A planning committee, which consists of local politicians, business owners, school board representatives and more, recommended 19 projects to be included in the revitalization efforts, including several arts-related initiatives. These include one million dollars for the revitalization of the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, a $1.6 million Peekskill Art Center to develop a vacant building into a theater and gallery space, $500,000 for public art and one-million for the expansion of the Field Library. The committee received feedback from the public; however, the State will decide which of the proposed projects will receive the grant funds

Bedford Playhouse Appoints News Executive Director Michael Hoagland
Bedford Playhouse has announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Michael Hoagland, who has a 30-year career in entertainment. Most recently, Hoagland, known as “Hoagy,” was Senior Director of Brand Advancement and Events at the USO in New York City. According to the Playhouse’s Board Chair Sarah Long, “Hoagy joins Bedford Playhouse at a critical time…He is a strategic thinker who brings a diverse skill-set to [the] organization.” Says Hoagland: “I know first-hand how critical a thriving arts organization is to a community. As a steward for the next generation, I am eager to leverage my industry experience to engage with our members, expand our exceptional programming and welcome the community back through our Playhouse doors.”

Armonk Outdoor Art Show Goes Online
The Armonk Outdoor Art Show (AOAS), originally scheduled for the weekend of October 3-4 and subsequently canceled, will have a new life online. Though the annual show won’t be outdoors this year, it will still provide the opportunity for its 160 juried artists to show their work to a wide audience. Guests will be able to tour artist studios through videos, as well as LIVE programs on Facebook, Instagram and Zoom during the same weekend for which it was initially planned. According to Anne Curran, Executive Director of AOAS: “We decided to go virtual, in order to support our community of talented artists who have suffered from a long season of canceled shows.”

Local Businesses Pledge to Safeguard Westchester’s Residents and Visitors
A new Westchester County Tourism & Film initiative, Westchester With Care, is enlisting area businesses and nonprofits to help fight COVID-19 and safeguard the health and wellbeing of all individuals in Westchester County. Participating organizations are required to take an online pledge to:

Follow CDC and New York State Department of Health guidelines for cleaning
Provide employees with training in health, safety and sanitizing best practices
Monitor employees for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure and mandate they stay home if there is cause for concern
Use protective equipment, including face coverings
Encourage or require customers and visitors to comply with guidelines
Reduce capacity and maintain social distancing in accordance with government mandates
Complete the statewide NY Forward reopening plan

More than three dozen Westchester County organizations have already enlisted, including ArtsWestchester, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, White Plains Performing Arts Center, Historic Hudson Valley.

A version of this article first appeared in the October issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNewsis distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue.