named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Bug Fest
Children's event celebrating nature and creativity, featuring community participation and arts activities.
FREE Outdoor Concerts
Summer concert series featuring jazz, rock, blues, and orchestral music performed in Academy Park and the Gazebo at 4th and Center, including performances by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and local bands.
Lewiston Art Festival
Annual event showcasing local artists; evolved into a year-round cultural program under the leadership of founding board members.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Family-friendly program for children that incorporates arts and imaginative play.
Marble Orchard Historic Walking Tours and Ghost Walks
Educational and cultural tours highlighting local history and folklore in the Lewiston area.
Opera Hall Gallery
Cooperative gallery space for local artists organized and run by the Lewiston Council on the Arts.
Tuscarora & Friends Art Gallery
Art exhibition space located in the Lewiston Opera Hall supporting local and Indigenous artists.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
- Operates visual arts galleries and public art installationsOperated the Opera Hall Gallery and the Tuscarora & Friends Art Gallery in the Lewiston Opera Hall, providing cooperative exhibition spaces for local artists. Also sited multiple public art installations throughout the Town and Village of Lewiston, often integrated with pocket parks such as The Peace Garden, Seneca “Bug” Park, and The Spirit of Victory at Joseph Davis Park.
- Organizes annual juried outdoor art festivalHosts an annual juried outdoor art festival that attracts over 25,000 visitors to the Village of Lewiston, featuring over 200 artists, musicians, performers, and food vendors. The event includes the Emerging Artists Showcase, Indigenous Experience exhibit, and ArtZone hands-on activities for children.
-
-
Italian Cultural Heritage Programming 1 activity
- Delivers Italian language and cultural programmingOffers multiple levels of Italian language classes, book clubs, conversation groups, and cultural events such as literature discussions and traditional games. Programs are hosted at the Lewiston Red Brick Schoolhouse and LCA meeting spaces, often in collaboration with the Lewiston Public Library.
-
-
Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Hosts community arts and cultural enrichment programsProvides visual and performing arts programs that are free or low-cost and accessible to the public, aimed at strengthening the cultural community, enhancing local vibrancy, and promoting regional tourism and commerce in Lewiston.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Manages year-round cultural programming and community eventsOrganizes a diverse, year-round schedule of cultural programs including music, dance, poetry, speaker series, Native American cultural celebrations, the CanAm Human Chess Game, Taste of Lewiston, historic walking tours, Ghost Walks, and children’s events such as Bug Fest and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to enrich community life and attract visitors.
-
-
Organized Running and Triathlon Events 1 activity
- Organizes the Mighty Fitz 5K and post-race celebrationOrganizes the Mighty Fitz 5K race followed by a post-race celebration featuring live music, food, beer specials, and commemorative t-shirts, contributing to community engagement and local cultural vibrancy.
-
-
Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Produces free outdoor concert seriesOrganizes and presents a year-round schedule of free outdoor concerts featuring local and regional musicians, including performances by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Reflector, The Invaders, and the Hot Club of Buffalo, often held in Academy Park as part of Independence Day and Summer of '69 celebrations.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$174K
Contributions & grants$96K55%
Program service revenue$70K40%
Investment income$8K4%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$175K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$95K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$165K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$164K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA FORTUNA DEAN | Executive Direc | 30 | $69K |
board members · 7
- ANNA FONTANA — Director
- CHAD FIFER — Director
- GENE KULBAGO — Director
- MARIAN GRANFIELD — Director
- MATTHEW FELDMAN — Director
- PATRICIA MACDONALD — Director
- PAUL CASSERI — Director
relationships · 41
Who they work with
- AMD Environmental Services Partner — Gold-level sponsor
- Aquarium of Niagara Partner — Shares leadership and community engagement strategies, with the CEO of Aquarium of Niagara serving on the LCA board.
- Artpark Partner — Platinum-level sponsor and collaborating arts organization
- Arts Services Inc. Partner — Silver-level sponsor and regional arts service organization
- Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello Government — Silver-level sponsor and state legislative supporter
- Brickyard Brewing Company Partner — Host venue for the Mighty Fitz 5K race start and post-race celebration.
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Collaborates with the Lewiston Council on the Arts to present a free concert in Academy Park.
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Partner organization performing at a public concert event organized by the Lewiston Council on the Arts.
- Casa Antica Ristorante Partner — Bronze-level sponsor
- County Orphanage Partner — Local band performing at the Summer of '69 concert in Academy Park.
- County of Niagara Government — Gold-level sponsor and regional government supporter
- Cultural Alliance of Niagara Partner — Provides reciprocal benefits to LCA members through partnership.
- DiMino’s Lewiston Tops Funder — Provides sponsorship that enables the free concert by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
- DiMino’s Lewiston Tops Funder — Sponsor that provided financial support for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra concert in Academy Park.
- Dimino Tops Partner — Silver-level sponsor
- Fanizzi & Barr, P.C. Partner — Gold-level sponsor
- First Presbyterian Church Partner — Silver-level sponsor
- Fran and Marie Williams Partner — Platinum-level sponsor
- Hot Club of Buffalo Partner — Performing ensemble featured in public events organized by the Lewiston Council on the Arts.
- Keybank Partner — Silver-level sponsor
- Kiwanis International Partner — Bronze-level sponsor through local chapter
- Lewiston Council on the Arts Network — Presenting organization of the Lewiston Art Festival
- Lewiston Public Library Partner — Collaborates through shared programming and staff involvement, including Michelle Kratts serving as Outreach Coordinator for LCA while employed at the library.
- Lewiston Public Library Partner — Collaborates with LCA to host free Italian cultural programs
- Lewiston Vacation Rentals LLC Partner — Silver-level sponsor
- Lewiston-Porter Central Schools Partner — Partners on educational and cultural programming, with the Superintendent serving on the LCA board and integration of arts and international studies in school initiatives.
- Modern Disposal Partner — Platinum-level sponsor
- Mount St Mary's Hospital (Catholic Health) Partner — Silver-level sponsor
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Diamond-level sponsor supporting the organization
- Niagara Falls Bridge Commission Partner — Gold-level sponsor
+ 11 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Arts Integration in Community Developmentmethodology: public_art_integrationBy situating arts programming and public art within broader community development efforts—such as pocket parks, scenic running routes, and historic riverfront festivals—the organization strengthens civic identity and quality of life, because embedding art in everyday environments makes culture accessible and reinforces community pride.
- Membership and Volunteer-Driven Engagementmethodology: community-engaged volunteeringBy engaging members and volunteers as co-creators of arts programming, the organization strengthens community ownership and program sustainability, because involving stakeholders directly in delivery fosters commitment, trust, and long-term participation.
- Participatory Cultural Engagementmethodology: cultural-engagement-through-participationBy involving community members directly in cultural activities such as language classes, book clubs, traditional games, and local music events, the organization fosters deeper connection to heritage and sustained engagement, because active participation builds personal and collective ownership of cultural experiences.
- Year-Round Community Arts Ecosystemmethodology: year-round_programmingBy expanding from a single annual event to a continuous schedule of diverse, accessible arts offerings—including outdoor concerts, exhibitions, and educational programs—the organization increases public engagement and sustainability, because consistent programming builds habit, broadens reach, and deepens community investment in the arts.