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Area Arts Council To Change Name; First Arts Awards Are Presented For Ulster County

Courtesy of Dutchess County Arts Council

The first arts awards for Ulster County are being handed out Tuesday in Kingston. And the organization behind the awards is about to change its name to reflect its reach.

The Dutchess County Arts Council has been working with Ulster County for years, and will soon change its name to better reflect that work. Linda Marston-Reid is president of the Dutchess County Arts Council. She says the name has been a barrier to having communities understand who the council serves.

She says the council is still expanding its reach, working with Orange County as of this spring. While Orange County does have an arts council, Marston-Reid notes it has limited staff, so the Dutchess County Arts Council will assist with grants for arts programs in Orange for the New York State Council on the Arts.

Marston-Reid says the idea for arts awards in Ulster County originated from Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, who suggested that with years of arts awards being handed out in Dutchess County, why not Ulster?

She says that number far exceeds nominations received in Dutchess County, where the arts council has been handing out annual arts awards for 26 years. The first Ulster County Executive’s Arts Awards recognize five winners. Marston-Reid says the Arts Organization Award goes to Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville.

Brendan Burke is Shadowland Theatre’s producing artistic director. He says he appreciates the theatre being recognized after two winters of renovations, increasing attendance, and a pay what you can policy.

The business award goes to R&F Handmade Paints, in midtown Kingston. Established in 1988, the company manufactures encaustic paints and pigment sticks. Richard Frumess is the founder and president of R&F Handmade Paints.

Again, the council’s Marston-Reid.

Frumess says he hopes the spotlight on the arts community and revitalization continues to shine.

A hope for the Council’s Marston-Reid as well.

The third award goes to Shelly Hamilton, an art instructor at Onteora High School in Boiceville since 2002. She receives the Arts in Education Award. Two special citations are being awarded. One is for Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, celebrating 100 years; the other is for The Falcon, a concert venue and gallery in Marlboro.