named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Membership Program
Calendar-year membership at $25 provides benefits including board nomination eligibility, event access, member pricing, and private tours.
Rehearsal Space Program
Provides affordable rehearsal space at $5/hour (up to 100 hours/year) for performing artists in local theater, dance, and music; supported by NYSCA.
Space Rentals
Rents out gallery, theater, gym, and meeting spaces for events, performances, exhibits, and community gatherings; includes Legacy Theatre, Townsend Gallery, and The Gym.
Studio Rentals
Offers long-term art studio rentals at below-market rates starting at $200/month with 24/7 access for visual artists of all disciplines.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
- Community engagement and programming inputInvites community members to submit ideas for events, galleries, or workshops through an online form to inform future programming and foster community participation.
- Operation of permanent and rotating art exhibitionsHosts and maintains art exhibitions in multiple gallery spaces, including the 3,200 square foot Townsend Gallery and the intimate Kudela Gallery. Current and upcoming exhibitions include "Women of Color" (2026) and "COHORT: An Alberto Rey Alumni Exhibition" (2023), with curated displays featuring both historic and contemporary artwork.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Arts education and class programmingOffers arts education programs including music classes, with registration open through June 25th, and hands-on educational programming for students during school tours.
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Historic Theater and Arts Venue Preservation 1 activity
- Historic theatre restorationCompleted Phase One of the Theatre Restoration Project, contributing to the preservation and enhancement of historic performance infrastructure at the center.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Hosting of guided and school toursOffers interactive guided tours focused on the history of the Western New York Underground Railroad, as well as school tours with hands-on educational programming available for $5 per student plus materials. Provides bus tour access to the center five days per week.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Membership program for community supportOffers calendar-year memberships to engage community support and participation in the center’s activities and programs.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Operation of "Freedom Crossing" Underground Railroad exhibit and educational programmingOperates a permanent exhibit titled "Freedom Crossing: The Underground Railroad in Greater Niagara," featuring historic photographs and contemporary artwork that tells the story of the Underground Railroad in the Buffalo Niagara region. Provides pre-visit educational resources, lesson plans aligned with state and national standards, and distributes brochures and maps to regional Underground Railroad sites.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Operation of performance and event venuesOperates multiple performance and event spaces including the Legacy Theatre (500 main floor and over 400 balcony seats), the Woodbox Theatre (72-seat proscenium), and The Gym (3,840 sq ft multi-use rental space with 26-foot ceilings). Hosts public events such as Art of Beer 2026 and maintains facilities for community and artistic use.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Preservation and operation of a historic cultural centerProtects and maintains a landmark building in Niagara Falls, contributing to community revitalization in the Pine Avenue District. The center preserves cultural heritage through ongoing stewardship of historic spaces and facilities.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Provision of affordable artist studios and rehearsal spacesOffers long-term art studio rentals to artists at below-market rates starting at $200 per month with 24/7 access, currently at full capacity. Provides subsidized rehearsal space to performing artists at a reduced rate of $5 per hour, limited to 100 hours per individual or group per year.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.19M
Contributions & grants$1.86M85%
Program service revenue$283K13%
Investment income$22K1%
Other revenue$28K
expenses
Total expenses$575K
Program expenses53%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising21%
Salaries & benefits$270K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.35M
Cash$987K
Investments$0
Liabilities$551K
Net assets$2.79M
Liquid reserves20.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +276.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN LEARY RESIGN JUNE '24 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $34K |
| MARIA TA-PHAKKHONKHAM | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $18K |
| JENNIFER PAULY START DEC '24 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $3K |
board members · 14
- DEBORAH A CUTLER — Director
- EDITH SANFILIPPO — Director
- EDWARD PERLMAN — Vice President
- ELIZABETH CANADA — Secretary
- JENNIFER MUNDY — Treasurer
- JUDITH TEDEROUS — Director
- KENNETH ROWE — Director
- LOUIS TOWNSEND NON-VOTING — Dir Emeritus
- MARK LAURRIE — Director
- MARY RICCIARDI — President
- MICHAEL BEAM — Director
- NORMA HIGGS NON-VOTING — Dir Emeritus
- PATRICIA FREDERICK — Director
- WILLLIAM SPRINGER — Director
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Brown University Partner — Hosts the African American Sheet Music, 1820-1920 collection recommended as an educational resource
- Castellani Art Museum Partner — Provided a gift of materials or support for the development of the Freedom Crossing exhibit
- Drew Stella Partner — Office Manager at NACC who coordinates space rental applications and appointments.
- Duke University Partner — Provides online archival collections on African-American women used as educational resources
- History Channel Partner — Provides historical content on the Underground Railroad recommended as a resource
- Kacy Carbone Partner — Development Manager at The Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, point of contact for membership inquiries.
- Kelly Lang Buckley Partner — Marketing Director at NACC who coordinates docent program and volunteer opportunities.
- Legacy Theatre Partner — Kudela Gallery is located directly across from Legacy Theatre, indicating shared space or collaborative proximity.
- Library of Congress Partner — Hosts slave narratives and oral histories recommended as Underground Railroad educational resources
- Marco Polo Foundation Partner — Co-sponsors ED Sitement, a recommended humanities resource for Underground Railroad education
- National Endowment for the Humanities Partner — Collaborates on ED Sitement, a resource recommended for Underground Railroad education
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Partner — Partner institution providing educational content on the Underground Railroad
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Primary funder supporting NACC programs, with additional support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding that enables the NACC's Rehearsal Space Program.
- New York State Legislature Government — Supports NACC programs through funding administered via the New York State Council on the Arts
- Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Partner — Collaborates on the Freedom Crossing exhibit as part of the Heritage Area's initiative and receives grant funding from the organization
- Office of the Governor Government — Supports NACC programs through funding administered via the New York State Council on the Arts
- Underground Railroad Heritage Center Partner — Collaborates with the Underground Railroad Heritage Center by encouraging visitation and positioning it as a complementary educational resource.
- William Still Underground Railroad Foundation, Inc. Partner — Partner organization providing resources on the Underground Railroad
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.
- Age-Targeted and Community-Integrated Arts Programmingmethodology: age_targeted_programmingBy designing age-specific arts education and curating locally themed events, the organization increases relevance and participation, because programming that reflects developmental needs and local culture strengthens community connection and sustained engagement.
- Community-Governed Cultural Participationmethodology: community_governed_membershipBy involving the public in program development and organizational governance through low-cost membership and input mechanisms, the organization fosters community ownership, which increases engagement and relevance of cultural programming.
- Cultural Infrastructure as Access Drivermethodology: cultural_infrastructure_restorationBy restoring and preserving landmark cultural buildings, the organization increases public access to arts and cultural experiences, because physical stewardship of historically significant spaces enables community engagement with heritage and the arts.
- Equitable Access Through Subsidized Creative Spacesmethodology: affordable_access_modelBy subsidizing rehearsal and studio space for artists, the organization strengthens the local artistic ecosystem, because lowering financial barriers enables broader participation and fosters a sustainable creative community.
- Experiential and Interdisciplinary Historical Educationmethodology: experiential_learningBy integrating art, music, poetry, and hands-on learning into historical education about the Underground Railroad, the organization deepens visitor and student engagement, because interdisciplinary and experiential methods make complex history more accessible and emotionally resonant.