named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Cheswatyr Recording Residency
Fully-funded recording session in the barn plus a paid concert at Panther Creek Arts, funded by the Cheswatyr Family Foundation
Fully-Funded Recording Residency
Annual self-directed residency for musicians to record original works at no cost in a historic barn; includes mentorship and performance opportunities
Goldfinch Writing Residency
Residency for writers aged 45+ who maintain a writing practice but lack major publication or institutional support
Multi-Disciplinary Residency
Program for artists working across or outside traditional disciplines, including animators, jewelers, and composers
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 3 activities
- Hosting writing residencies for mid-career unpublished writersRuns the Goldfinch Writing Residency annually in early August, a fully funded 5-day program for writers over age 45 who have maintained a writing practice but have not pursued publication or full-time literary careers. Includes private housing, meals, dedicated writing spaces, and an honorarium.
- Operating fully funded artist residency programsProvides multi-day, fully funded residency programs for artists across disciplines including music, writing, and visual arts, offering access to space, time, professional resources, and an honorarium to mitigate financial hardship. Programs are hosted in Upstate New York, primarily during summer months, and include dedicated housing, meals, and specialized facilities.
- Providing professional recording residencies for musiciansOffers a six-day fully funded recording residency for musical duos or trios to record their first album or EP, including mentorship, professional recording services led by sound engineer Rashaan Carter in a barn studio, and delivery of the complete Pro Tools session. The program has hosted multiple iterations, including five retreats in summer 2021, and will expand in 2025 to include pre- and post-residency mentorship.
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Film Distribution and Screening Programs 1 activity
- Producing artistic documentation and media projectsProduces and shares photographic and video documentation of residency programs and performances, including collaborations with professional photographers and filmmakers. Notable projects include the film "Kindness In The Question" (2023), recordings of Julius Eastman’s works commissioned by CAP-UCLA, and audio archives of community life stories.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$47K
Contributions & grants$47K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$44K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$99K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$99K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -15.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLA FOLMAR | CO-DIRECTOR | 30 | $8K |
| MARIKA HUGHES | FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $4K |
board members · 4
- DANA LYN — BOARD MEMBER (RESIGNED ON MAY 30, 2024)
- JESSICA TROY — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHELLE YARD — BOARD MEMBER
- VIVIAN KURUTZ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Amtrak Partner — Collaborates with Amtrak by coordinating artist transportation from Hudson or Albany stations to the residency site.
- CAP-UCLA Funder — Commissioned Looking Glass Arts to produce a filmed performance of Julius Eastman’s The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc.
- Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA Partner — Collaborated with Looking Glass Arts to film Julius Eastman’s “The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc” and the Prelude for Solo Baritone.
- Marika Hughes Partner — Collaborating photographer documenting programs and events for Looking Glass Arts Inc.
- Panther Creek Arts Partner — Presenting partner that hosts paid concerts for artists participating in the Cheswatyr Recording Residency.
- Rashaan Carter Partner — Sound engineer and mentor who leads recording sessions and provides guidance throughout the residency.
- Tom Kelly Partner — The Goldfinch Writing Residency was established in 2022 to honor Tom Kelly, the father of a friend of the organization, who had wanted to be a writer in retirement.
- West Fulton Historical Society Partner — Receives digitized and edited oral histories collected from West Fulton residents.
- Willa Ellafair Folmar Partner — Collaborating photographer documenting programs and events for Looking Glass Arts Inc.
- Wondersmith Entertainment Partner — Collaborated with Wondersmith Entertainment during the Fully Funded Recording Residency in 2024.
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.
- Artist-Centered Equity Modelmethodology: artist-centered equity focusBy centering artists of the Global Majority and those historically underserved, and removing financial and structural barriers, the organization enables deeper creative engagement and authentic artistic production because equitable access fosters foundational cultural contributions.
- Artistic Expression as Human Servicesmethodology: artistic_expressionBy using artistic expression as a core methodology, the organization advances human services outcomes because creative engagement is seen as integral to personal and community well-being, not merely cultural output.
- Environment-Integrated Artistic Productionmethodology: ambient-integrationBy using acoustically resonant, repurposed farm buildings and intentionally incorporating ambient environmental sounds, the organization enhances the emotional and artistic authenticity of recordings because the physical and natural environment becomes a co-creator in the artistic process.
- Full Financial and Production Supportmethodology: fully funded residencyBy offering fully funded residencies and immediate professional post-production support, the organization removes financial and technical barriers to artistic completion and sharing, because accessible, end-to-end support increases the likelihood of public dissemination and artistic impact.
- Immersive Retreat-Based Creationmethodology: immersive_retreat_modelBy removing daily distractions and professional obligations through self-directed, site-specific residencies in a natural, repurposed setting, artists achieve focused creative work because immersion in a supportive, resonant environment enhances artistic depth and authenticity.