named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Conservation & Stonemasonry Program
Conducts ongoing conservation of the sculpture through resident stonemasons and a Stonemasonry Committee, including public workshops and repair initiatives.
Educational Programming
Provides arts, environmental, and interdisciplinary educational experiences using the site’s natural and artistic resources, guided by an Education Committee.
Events & Cultural Programming
Hosts a robust six-month season of curated events, performances, and public programs in collaboration with artists, curators, and local communities.
Legacy & Archives Project
Preserves and shares the history of Harvey and Barbara Fite through archival work, oral histories, and public programming led by family historian India Richards.
Public Visiting Program
Offers daily public access to the 6.5-acre earthwork sculpture, quarry trails, gallery, and Quarryman’s Museum, enhanced by a free digital guide via the Bloomberg Connects app.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Conduct oral history project documenting Opus 40 and Harvey FiteRuns an oral history initiative to collect stories, photographs, and memories related to artist Harvey Fite, Opus 40, associated individuals, and events. Includes gathering visitor impressions and seeking contributions from those who attended past concerts or events at the site.
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Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Initiatives 1 activity
- Develop land acknowledgement and engage in reparative actions with Indigenous communitiesInitiated development of a land acknowledgement statement with guidance from historian Heather Bruegl, including a collaborative work-retreat at the Swimming Hole Foundation and two formal conversations with the Cultural Affairs Department of the Stockbridge Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Host public events including concerts, performances, and seasonal programsHosts an annual event season from April to November featuring concerts, theater performances, wellness classes, and environmental workshops. Notable past performers include Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Cliff, Sun Ra Arkestra, and productions such as The Tempest and Hair. The first large public performance was by Richie Havens, and Orleans performed annual Labor Day concerts drawing over 10,000 attendees each year for nearly two decades.
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Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Maintain and conserve the Opus 40 earthwork sculpture and natural environmentConducts ongoing conservation and sustainable stewardship of Harvey Fite’s Opus 40 earthwork, including regular maintenance and repair of paving, retaining walls, and the surrounding 60-acre landscape. Hosts approximately 35,000 visitors annually through tours, events, and educational programming.
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Offer guided nature walks and citizen science education programsProvides guided nature walks across 50 acres of historic quarry trails focused on wild food foraging, mushroom hunting, birdwatching, and pollinator viewing. Participants are engaged in citizen science by learning to document biodiversity using field notes and the iNaturalist app.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Operate public visiting hours and access to Opus 40 siteProvides regular public access to the 6.5-acre earthwork sculpture and 60 acres of surrounding natural landscape in Saugerties, NY, with visiting hours from Thursday to Monday, 10am to 5pm, last entry at 4pm. The site includes walking trails, bluestone quarries, and the Quarryman’s Museum, opened to the public in 1978.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Present art exhibitions and support local artists through the Richards GalleryOperates the Richards Gallery in the Quarryman's Museum to showcase and amplify local artists and continue Harvey Fite's artistic legacy. The gallery was dedicated in 2025 and has hosted solo, joint, and group exhibitions in 2026, including works by Anne Leith, Nancy Azara, Darla Bjork, and others, in partnership with Cross Contemporary Art Projects and curator Jen Dragon.
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Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
- Provide digital visitor resources and accessibility discountsOffers a free digital guide via Bloomberg Connects that includes historical content, multimedia, and visit planning tools. Provides discounted admission for groups of 15 or more and individualized discounts for schools and libraries.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$972K
Contributions & grants$522K54%
Program service revenue$394K41%
Investment income$160%
Other revenue$56K
expenses
Total expenses$676K
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$251K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.76M
Cash$18K
Investments$0
Liabilities$283K
Net assets$1.48M
Liquid reserves0.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE MITHCELL | Director | 40 | $45K |
| CAROLINE CRUMPACKER | DIRECTOR | 40 | $19K |
board members · 10
- ALAN WANZENBERG — CO-CHAIR
- AMARAH SEDREDDINE — MEMBER
- BRIGID WALSH — CO-CHAIR
- INDIA RICHARDS — MEMBER
- ISABEL SOFFER — SECRETARY
- JENNIFER BROWN — TREASURER
- JOHN CEDERQUIST — MEMBER
- JONATHAN BECKER — EX OFFICIO
- LARA DAVIS — MEMBER
- ROB ROSS — VICE CHAIR
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Adams Fairacre Farms Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Arrowood Farms Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Bard College Network — Harvey Fite, creator of Opus 40, was a professor at Bard College, linking the organization to the institution through its founder.
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Collaborates to provide a free digital guide enhancing the visitor experience at Opus 40.
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Provides a digital guide for visitors through the Bloomberg Connects app.
- Bread Alone Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Camp Kingston Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Chicory Naturalist Partner — Collaborates with Opus 40 through its founder Chris Baker, who leads mushroom foraging walks at the site.
- Connect HV Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Cross Contemporary Art Projects Partner — Collaborates with Opus 40 to curate and present art exhibitions at the Richards Gallery.
- EJ Chocolates Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Graziella Coffee Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Habilis Stoneworks Partner — Provides resident stonemasonry services for the maintenance and conservation of the sculpture at Opus 40.
- Harvey Fite Government — Artist whose life's work forms the foundation of Opus 40's site and mission
- Heather Bruegl Partner — Working with independent consultant and historian Heather Bruegl to guide the land acknowledgement process.
- Hudson Valley Repertory Theater Partner — Hosted a public opening event in 1968 to benefit the Hudson Valley Repertory Theater.
- Inside + Out Upstate NY Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Isolation Proof Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Jen Dragon Partner — Curator collaborating with Opus 40 to present art exhibitions at the Richards Gallery.
- Keegan Ales Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Migliorelli Farm Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Stay Glasco Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Stockbridge Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians Partner — Consulting with the Cultural Affairs Department on the development of a land acknowledgement statement.
- Studio RRD Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Swimming Hole Foundation Partner — Hosted a collaborative work-retreat with Opus 40 staff and Heather Bruegl to advance land acknowledgement and reparative justice planning.
- The Pathfinder Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Town & Country Liquors Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Upstate Curious Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
- Wild Hudson Valley Partner — Collaborates with Opus 40 through presenter Justin Wexler, who leads educational walks on Native American ethnoecology at the site.
- Woodstock Meats Partner — Sponsor of the 2025 Fall Gala.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Reckoning and Co-Creationmethodology: community-engaged_reckoningBy involving Indigenous educators, local artists, and the public in processes of historical reckoning, storytelling, and conservation, Opus 40 builds authentic community ownership and reparative practices because collaborative input strengthens cultural legitimacy and ensures inclusive narratives in preservation work.
- Integrated Cultural-Natural Stewardshipmethodology: cultural_programming_as_preservationBy integrating land art, natural ecosystems, and cultural programming into a single multidisciplinary site, Opus 40 sustains community engagement and preserves regional artistic legacy because the fusion of art, environment, and education creates a unique experiential space that fosters deeper public connection and long-term stewardship.
- Place-Based Experiential Engagementmethodology: place-based_educationBy using the physical and ecological features of the site as the foundation for education, performance, and visitor interaction, Opus 40 deepens public understanding of art and nature because direct, immersive experiences foster personal responsibility and lasting emotional resonance with the artwork and landscape.