named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Art Classes
Offers regular art instruction for adults and youth in mediums including drawing, painting, ceramics, and mixed media
Exhibitions Program
Curates and hosts solo, group, and juried exhibitions featuring painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, fiber artists, and other regional artists across two gallery floors
Plein Air in Clifton Springs
Annual outdoor painting event and exhibition featuring artists who create on-site in the Clifton Springs area
Student Showcase
Annual exhibition highlighting artwork created by students in the organization's youth and adult education programs
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
- Hosts annual Plein Air eventOrganizes the annual Plein Air event in Clifton Springs, providing participating artists with lunch, a commemorative tote bag, and awarding $1,000 in total cash prizes, including $500 for best in show, with the 6th annual event scheduled for September 12, 2026.
- Hosts rotating art exhibitionsOrganizes and presents rotating visual art exhibitions, including annual juried competitions, thematic group shows, and solo exhibitions featuring local, regional, and national artists. The organization has hosted 115 exhibitions since 2013, with documented open calls reviewed twice annually and rolling submissions for selection.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts public art and cultural eventsOrganizes ongoing public events including monthly open mic nights, short story discussion groups, coffee pop-ups in partnership with Café Cómodo, free film screenings, artist talks, demonstrations, and virtual exhibition walkthroughs to engage the community in the arts.
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Manages a multi-use arts facilityOperates a 3,600-square-foot arts facility in Clifton Springs, NY, established June 19, 2013, which houses exhibition spaces, the art resource library, workshops, youth programs, and event space for community engagement in the arts.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offers youth art education programsProvides structured art education for children through the After School Art Experience for grades 1–6 and Art Saturdays workshops for ages 5–12, offering 4 to 6-week session cycles and quarterly single-project workshops that teach techniques in painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, mixed media, and sculpture.
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Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
- Operates a community bookstoreRuns Sulfur Books, a donated bookstore reopened on November 30, 2019, that sells new and used books for readers of all ages and interests.
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Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Operates an art resource libraryMaintains the Robert and Francie Marx Art Resource Library, opened in August 2021, with a collection of over 1,500 to 2,000 art-related books covering artists, art movements, craft, design, architecture, art instruction, and the philosophy of art, available to the public.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supports artist development and engagementProvides opportunities for artists to lead workshops, participate in community events, and be featured in Q&A blog posts and "Inside the Artist's Studio" content. The organization also previously operated an artist-in-residence program and hosted a student painting exhibition.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$415K
Contributions & grants$366K88%
Program service revenue$43K10%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$7K
expenses
Total expenses$452K
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead44%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$161K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$87K
Cash$2K
Investments$0
Liabilities$70K
Net assets$16K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +4.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEATHER OLSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 50 | $83K |
| BRADLEY BUTLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (PART YEAR) | 50 | $11K |
board members · 5
- ANNE MANCILLA — VICE PRESIDENT
- CHARLOTTE COOPER — DIRECTOR
- JOSH GEWOLB — DIRECTOR
- LEOPOLDO MANCILLA — PRESIDENT
- ROBERT WOODHOUSE — SECRETARY & TREASURER
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Café Cómodo Partner — Collaborates on coffee pop-up events at the bookstore.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook for outreach and content sharing.
- Farash Foundation Funder — Provides partial funding support for programming at Main Street Arts.
- Farash Foundation Funder — Supports programming at Main Street Arts
- Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP) Partner — Co-hosts field-based art classes, such as Drawing Horses from Life, at their facility.
- Flickr Partner — Uses Flickr to host photo albums.
- Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram for outreach and content sharing.
- Lil Redhead Studio Partner — Website design and development partner for Main Street Arts
- Nazareth College Partner — Collaborates on exhibitions featuring student artists, such as Mikayla Guck.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary grant funder supporting programming at Main Street Arts
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides partial funding support for programming at Main Street Arts.
- Rochester Area Community Foundation Funder — Supports programming at Main Street Arts
- Sulfur Books Partner — Bookstore operated in partnership with Main Street Arts, featuring new and used books for all ages.
- YouTube Partner — Uses YouTube for outreach and content sharing.
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.
- Artist-as-Educator Modelmethodology: artist-as-educatorBy employing practicing artists as instructors, the organization integrates art-making with discussions of art history and materials because lived artistic experience enhances educational authenticity and student engagement.
- Exhibition-Linked Youth Educationmethodology: exhibition-connected youth educationBy connecting youth art-making to current exhibitions and introducing new techniques weekly, the organization builds artistic skills and inspiration because experiential learning grounded in real-world art increases engagement and creative development.
- Regional Artist-Centered Programmingmethodology: regional artist supportBy focusing exhibitions and outreach on artists from Upstate New York, the organization strengthens regional artistic representation and community engagement because localized curation fosters ownership, relevance, and sustainable cultural ecosystems.