irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $35KDisplayed art throughout the year in our gallery highlighting primarily local and regional artists in various media. The eleven exhibitions included three members shows, one which featured the art of the best of the Spring Members show, a show featuring students works from grades from K-12 curated by the art teachers from the local school district, a show curated by the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, and an exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ACC. Gallery attendance was 2,019 people. The Village of Athens donated the use of the building. The fair rental value of the building is $17100 per year.
- #2 $24KEducation: Art classes were provided to all ages. Children's art classes were always free. Adult class tuition was at an affordable rate intended to cover the cost of the instructor. Senior classes held at the local Senior apartment community room were tuition free, open to all seniors and the costs were covered entirely by ACC. We hired local artists with many areas of artistic expertise as instructors. Workshop participants totalled 245 children, adults and seniors. An additional 255 middle school students and teachers enjoyed a two day intensive dance workshop sponsored by ACC and held at the local middle school.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Art Classes and Workshops
Free and low-cost art instruction for children, adults, and seniors, including specialized workshops and multi-day intensives in collaboration with local schools.
Art Exhibitions
Year-round gallery exhibitions showcasing local and regional artists, including themed shows, member exhibitions, and curated projects such as "Animal Bodies" and student art from K-12 schools.
Athens Victorian Stroll
Annual community event celebrating local culture and history with art, music, and festivities in a historic setting.
Cultural Events and Performances
Concerts, author readings, poetry events, and artist talks featuring local and visiting performers and writers, such as the "Mangkhut: Stories in the Air" series and live music by the Yves Gerard Trio.
Queer & Trans Connection Network
Monthly peer-led gatherings for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in Greene and Columbia Counties, providing a safe, substance-free space for connection, resource-sharing, and community building.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Community Art Education Workshops 2 activities
- Provides arts education and workshops for all agesOffers recurring and drop-in art classes, workshops, and educational programs for children, adults, and seniors, including techniques in watercolor, sketching, felting, collage, and creative writing. Includes free instruction for children and seniors, with 245 participants served in the reporting year.
- Provides open studio and shared creative spacesOffers open studio sessions and communal creative spaces such as the Community Studio and Family Studio Hour, allowing artists of all ages to work independently using water-based media, fiber arts, writing, and collage materials.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Delivers arts programming in schools and community spacesProvides in-school residencies, after-school partnerships, and summer recreation programs for K–6 students, including daily drop-in art activities and meal-supported programming in collaboration with the Village of Athens and Coxsackie-Athens School District.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts recurring community arts events and performancesProduces a year-round schedule of performances, music series, readings, and communal gatherings including live jazz, bluegrass jams, poetry readings, drum circles, and public Q&A sessions with authors. Includes the Summer Music Series and monthly events such as the Family Studio Hour and Community Studio.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Hosts year-round art exhibitionsOrganizes and presents art exhibitions including member shows, K–12 student exhibitions, curated projects, and partnerships with nonprofits, featuring local, regional, and internationally recognized artists. Hosted eleven exhibitions with a total attendance of 2,019 people in the reporting year.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Operates a volunteer-supported community arts center with free public accessManages a community-based arts center in Athens, NY, offering free admission and sustained by community volunteers since 2003, with programming housed in a historic building maintained through donations.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Organizes annual fundraising and community celebration eventsHosts major annual events including the Culture Blooms Gala and the Athens Street Festival, featuring free public activities such as kite-making, to support exhibitions, programs, and community access.
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LGBTQ+ Community Support and Resource Centers 1 activity
- Supports peer-led community networks and inclusive gatheringsHosts monthly meetings for the Queer & Trans Connection Network, offering a peer-led space for connection, conversation, and resource-sharing for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Expanded organizational capacity through professional staffing and governanceTransitioned from a member-led model to a professionally staffed organization by hiring three dedicated staff and expanding the board from six to sixteen members, reducing reliance on volunteers for operational tasks.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$213K
Contributions & grants$169K79%
Program service revenue$27K13%
Investment income$6K3%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$232K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$59K
Grants paid out$11K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$193K
Cash$168K
Investments$0
Liabilities$13K
Net assets$180K
Liquid reserves8.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +52.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Miller | Executive Director | 30 | $35K |
| Sara Pruiksma | Assoc Director | 20 | $24K |
board members · 18
- Carl Muehleisen — Boardmember
- Carol Pfister — Treasurer
- Charles Shayne — Boardmember
- Dawna Johnson — Boardmember
- Diane Michener — Boardmember
- Ellen Roth — Vice President
- Erin Diedzic — Boardmember
- Guia Golden — Secretary
- Ira Blanchard — Boardmember
- James Bouler — Boardmember
- Karen Boeri — Boardmember
- Lynda Shenkman — Boardmember
- Marcus McGregor — Boardmember
- Matthew Wildman — Boardmember
- Melanie Taylor — Boardmember
- Pinsuda Sagooleim — Boardmember
- Rebecca Hart — President
- Tracy Jenkins — Boardmember
relationships · 38
Who they work with
- 2x4 Partner — Board member Tracy Jenkins brings experience from 2x4 to ACC’s creative leadership.
- Athens Community Foundation Funder — Provided funding for the Animal Bodies exhibition.
- Athens Cultural Center Network — Organization refers to itself as part of a network supported by community partners and members.
- CREATE Council on the Arts Government — Administers the Greene County Cultural Fund, which provides public funding for ACC exhibitions.
- Catskills Association of Publishers Partner — Sponsors the writing workshop with D.M. Kamecke
- Community Action of Greene County Partner — Treasurer Emerita Carol Pfister held leadership roles at Community Action of Greene County, contributing fiscal oversight experience to ACC.
- Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Partner — Partners with ACC to host an annual K–12 student art exhibition.
- Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Partner — Partnership for K-12 in-school arts programming.
- Coxsackie-Athens School District Partner — Provides breakfast and lunch during the Summer Rec program
- D.R. Evarts Library Partner — Collaborates on Afternoons at the Library arts programming.
- D.R. Evarts Library Partner — Treasurer Emerita Carol Pfister held leadership roles at D.R. Evarts Library, contributing fiscal oversight experience to ACC.
- Dance Theatre of Harlem Partner — Board member Marcus McGregor, a former professional dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, contributes his experience to ACC's programming.
- Dinner Table Doc Partner — Board member Guia Golden serves on the board of Dinner Table Doc, indicating shared nonprofit leadership with ACC.
- Grady Campbell Partner — Board member Tracy Jenkins brings experience from Grady Campbell to ACC’s creative leadership.
- Greene County Historical Society Partner — Staff member Jennifer Barnhart brings over 17 years of experience from the Greene County Historical Society to her role as Bookkeeper at ACC.
- Greene Land Trust Partner — Partnered with ACC on an exhibition showcasing protected landscapes under its stewardship.
- Housing Works Partner — Board member Guia Golden serves on the board of Housing Works, indicating shared nonprofit leadership with ACC.
- Hudson Cruises Partner — Partner organization providing seasonal ferry access via the Hudson-Athens Ferry.
- Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society Partner — Co-curated an art exhibition at the Athens Cultural Arts Center.
- Meta/Instagram Partner — Board member Guia Golden brings senior-level marketing experience from Meta/Instagram to ACC’s Marketing Committee.
- Minerva Projects Partner — Co-organized the Animal Bodies exhibition with ACC.
- Minerva Projects Partner — Collaborates on curating the Animal Bodies exhibition.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting ACC’s programs.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides public funding for the writing workshop via Poets & Writers
- Ogilvy Partner — Board member Tracy Jenkins brings experience from Ogilvy to ACC’s Marketing Committee.
- Poets & Writers Funder — Funds the writing workshop through public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts
- Richard Armstrong Partner — Collaborates with the Athens Cultural Arts Center to present readings and discussions from his forthcoming book "Mangkhut: Stories in the Air".
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University Partner — Hosts psychiatrist and author Michael Myers, MD, for a discussion on physicians with lived experience.
- Seconds Restaurant Partner — Collaborates with Seconds Restaurant on community events and cultural programming.
- Sharp Knife Partner — Board member Pinsuda Sagooleim is founder of Sharp Knife and applies her brand strategy expertise to ACC.
+ 8 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.
- Accessible Arts Education Modelmethodology: accessible_arts_educationBy offering free or low-cost arts education taught by local artists and welcoming all skill levels, the organization increases community participation and creative development because removing financial and experiential barriers enables broader inclusion and intergenerational transmission of artistic skills.
- Community-Centered Arts Engagementmethodology: community_engaged_artsBy centering community members in arts programming, exhibitions, and instruction, the organization fosters cultural vitality and creative connection because inclusive, locally rooted participation increases engagement and sustains artistic practice across generations.
- Community-Sourced Exhibition and Creative Expressionmethodology: community_sourced_exhibitionsBy prioritizing local and regional artists in curated exhibitions and using exhibition-based learning, the organization strengthens cultural identity and community ownership of the arts because showcasing local voices reinforces belonging and inspires participatory creativity.
- Peer and Volunteer-Driven Community Buildingmethodology: peer_volunteer_community_modelBy engaging volunteers and peer leaders in programming and operations, the organization deepens community investment and expands reach because leveraging local skills and lived experience fosters trust, connection, and sustainable participation.