named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Co-Presentations
Partnership program inviting guest artists and companies to co-present in-development or touring productions
Collab Lab
Workshop series for local artists to develop new work, share feedback, and build creative collaborations across disciplines
Play Readings
Developmental readings of new and unpublished plays, offering playwrights feedback and exposure to local audiences
Recovery Lounge Performance Series
Ongoing series of live music, theater, dance, and interdisciplinary performances held in the historic Upper Jay venue
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Professional Development 2 activities
- Facilitating artist collaboration and new work developmentOrganizes Collab Lab, a recurring workshop series that supports local artists in developing new creative work through peer feedback, collaboration, and structured sessions.
- Providing professional development workshops for educatorsHosts in-person professional development workshops on arts integration for literacy instruction in grades 2–7, including stipends and meals for participating educators. The program includes pilot testing and feedback collection to refine the curriculum.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosting annual and recurring benefit and community eventsOrganizes an annual summer benefit event featuring musical performances and a silent auction to support programming, as well as recurring community events such as the summer dance party with global music genres and the "January Jams" music series.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Operating a community arts venue for performances and exhibitionsOperates the Recovery Lounge as a dedicated performance and exhibition space, hosting theatrical productions, concerts, dance events, poetry readings, performance art, and visual art exhibits. Many events are free or low-cost and feature professional and local artists from the Jay and surrounding communities.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$132K
Contributions & grants$109K82%
Program service revenue$22K16%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$3
expenses
Total expenses$104K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$50K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$54K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$54K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +24.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 4
- Christian Eggleston — Board Member
- Michael Jones — Board Member
- Noel Carmichael — Board Member
- Vicki Kirchner — Board Member
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Cloudsplitter Foundation Funder — Partially supports programs at the Upper Jay Art Center.
- Concord Theatricals Partner — Authorized Upper Jay Art Center to present "Melancholy Play" by Sarah Ruhl.
- Concord Theatricals Partner — Presents "Melancholy Play" by arrangement on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
- Dr. Erica Halverson Partner — Lead facilitator of the Whoopensocker Professional Learning Workshop, providing expertise in arts integration and literacy education.
- Essex County Art's Council Funder — Provides funding for programs at the Upper Jay Art Center through its Cultural Assistance Program Grant.
- Essex County Art's Council Government — Provides funding for Upper Jay Art Center's programs through its Cultural Assistance Program Grant.
- Essex County Arts Council Government — Provides funding through its Cultural Assistance Program Grant supported by Essex County.
- Essex County Arts Council Government — Supports Upper Jay Art Center through its Cultural Assistance Program funded by the Essex County Board of Supervisors.
- Gabrielle Schutz Partner — Current Artistic Director of the Upper Jay Art Center, leading programming and artistic vision.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting Upper Jay Art Center's programs through state arts grants.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides support for Upper Jay Art Center's programs through state arts funding.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides support for Upper Jay Art Center's programs through state funding.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides support for Upper Jay Art Center's programs with funding from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- North Country Public Radio Partner — DJ David Sommerstein is affiliated with NCPR's Beat Authority, indicating a collaborative relationship through event participation.
- Nubble Partner — Local musical group whose members perform at the Upper Jay Art Center's benefit event.
- Recovery Lounge Partner — Collaborates with Recovery Lounge on artist engagement initiatives.
- Scott and Byron Renderer Partner — Founders of the Upper Jay Art Center and creators of the Recovery Lounge performance space.
- Town of Jay Funder — Funds a concert series hosted by Upper Jay Art Center.
- Town of Jay Government — Funds a concert series hosted by Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge.
- Town of Jay Government — Funds a concert series hosted by Upper Jay Art Center.
- Town of Jay Government — Primary funder of a concert series hosted by the Upper Jay Art Center.
strategies · 5
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 as a Pathway to Wellness in Recovery Communitiesmethodology: art-in-recoveryBy integrating arts programming within recovery-focused spaces, we support long-term wellness and engagement, because creative expression provides emotional resilience and a sense of belonging essential to recovery.
- Arts-Integrated Education Using Theater and Playmethodology: arts-integrationBy using theater-based tools and games in literacy education, we make learning more accessible and engaging for young students, because experiential and performative methods strengthen comprehension and emotional investment in learning.
- Community-Engaged Arts Programmingmethodology: community-engaged_artsBy offering free, low-cost, and inclusive cultural events in a welcoming intergenerational space, we increase community access to the arts and deepen engagement, because removing financial and social barriers fosters broader participation and sustained connection.
- Eclectic and Fusion-Based Musical Engagementmethodology: musical_fusionBy blending traditional and modern music styles and curating global genres, we create emotionally and physically engaging performances, because musical innovation and diversity attract broader, more inclusive audiences.
- Theatrical Storytelling for Emotional and Social Explorationmethodology: theatrical_storytellingBy using whimsical, surreal, and emotionally rich theatrical narratives, we explore complex human emotions and relationships, because transformative storytelling fosters empathy, introspection, and communal dialogue.