Council searches for ways to promote the arts

By MARTIN WILBUR

Encouraging a vibrant arts scene is the goal of many communities, particularly in Westchester County. On Tuesday, local leaders gathered for the Mount Kisco Arts Council’s first arts summit to exchange ideas and search for ways to address ongoing challenges toward achieving that goal.

Council leadership discussed key hurdles facing the 10-year-old organization and how those can be mitigated by connecting local stakeholders with one another as well as promoting its current offerings.

“We want to explore ways with all of you on how to work together, how to combine our resources, how to create and support programs that celebrate the Mount Kisco creative community,” said Arts Council President Jessica Colón. “We want to connect people and we want to strengthen our community.”

The summit, held at Monarca Restaurant, identified a few of the major obstacles facing the council, including the lack of a permanent home, money and publicity for ongoing and future arts-related events. Steps such as the upcoming launch of a digital calendar of arts events within the next few months and inviting more community members to collaborate though the council’s monthly Art Hub gatherings were offered.

“You don’t have to be a member to come to an Art Hub,” council Co-Vice President Alex Smoller said. “It’s basically a gathering of people who have an interest in the arts and artists to get together, do an activity focused around some kind of art and then we talk. We explain what we’re working on. It’s just kind of an open discussion to collaborate, to get information from everyone about what they want to see with the arts council.”

Barbara Schainman, once of the council’s board members, said while the group is grateful for the support from the village government with the annual $10,000 in funding that it provides, that hasn’t increased since it was first established in 2016. But an even greater problem is the lack of visibility, she said.

“The most important thing I can say we need, we really need a permanent home so we can truly impact an entire community to share the arts and enjoy the arts in a place for artists,” Schainman said.

Mounting fiscal pressures due to a variety of large projects in Mount Kisco is likely to limit the funding help from the village, but officials can assist in other ways, Mayor J. Michael Cindrich told attendees. He encouraged the group to seek a wide assortment of arts grants that are available, including from ArtsWestchester. The village stands ready to help complete those applications, if needed, he said.

Cindrich said the arts play a vital role in the community, and helps bring visitors into the downtown, which helps the business community and ultimately the taxpayers. 

“Funding is always a challenge,” Cindrich said. “One thing, with all the talent in this room, the education in this room, I don’t understand why the grant money isn’t flowing into Mount Kisco, and are we applying for the grant money, and if we’re not, we’d love to assist.”

Some of those who attended the summit also took the opportunity to let others know of some of the arts offerings that are occurring in the village. Michelle Guerrero Henry, a council board member who organizes its literary events, and Duke Covone, who produces music programs at K1 Speed Mount Kisco, pitched their programs. Mount Kisco Historical Society and Conservation Advisory Council member, John Rhodes, urged people to attend the CAC’s upcoming tree art exhibit from children in the community next month at the library. 

On Saturday, there will be Open Stages Kids, a music and art showcase, at the St. Mark’s Church parish hall. The free summer concert series will continue this year with some more music variety that is family-friendly.

Samantha Legato, who owns and operates Mount Kisco House of Music with her husband, teaches music to mainly children, appealed for help in finding places to hold kids’ open mics and other events in the village while offering their lobby for children’s art.

“We would love to just be able to bring out our performances,” Legato said. “We have a bit of studio space, a nice lobby space. I would love to host any kind of kids’ visual art. So, anybody who needs room for that we’re happy to have.”

Colon said she has heard the stories from older longtime residents of how alive with arts and culture and hopes to replicate that for the community to serve the residents today. 

“We want to bring back that culture, we want Mount Kisco to be that vibrant hub again like it was when I read all the different history of Mount Kisco and the wonderful things that’s been done here,” Colon said.

The council encouraged written feedback from those who attended.

For more information about the Mount Kisco Arts Council, visit mountkiscoartscouncil.com.