named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Creative Space Rental
Venue rental program offering event space for workshops, classes, parties, and small gatherings up to 100 guests.
First Stage
Two-week summer theater camp for children in grades 3–9 focusing on acting, storytelling, and stage performance.
Gift Shop
Retail space featuring over 100 regional artists, selling original artwork, jewelry, pottery, and handmade goods to support local creators.
Regional Juried Photography Show
Annual juried exhibition open to photographers in Central New York, featuring cash awards and promotional exposure.
STEAM Camps
Free week-long educational camps for middle school students combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through hands-on activities like robotics.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 2 activities
- Hosts community events and performancesOrganizes and hosts community events such as artist receptions, open studios, Mother’s Day celebrations, and theatrical performances including productions by the First Stage program, such as The Lion King. Events aim to foster creative engagement and community enrichment.
- Hosts rotating gallery exhibitions and juried art competitionsOrganizes and hosts rotating gallery exhibitions, including an annual regional juried photography show that charges entry fees, offers cash awards to winners, and facilitates artwork sales with a 30% commission retained by the organization. Exhibitions feature regional and visiting artists and include curated displays of 2D works, collages, and photography.
-
-
Regional Arts Advocacy & Promotion 1 activity
- Advances local arts advocacy and community engagementConducts arts advocacy initiatives and community outreach programs to strengthen the role of the arts in the Mohawk Valley, fostering creativity, supporting artists, and enriching community life through diverse cultural programming.
-
-
Volunteer-Supported Arts & Cultural Operations 1 activity
- Engages volunteers in programming and operationsRelies on volunteers to support exhibitions, classes, workshops, events, summer camps, and the management of its gift shop, enabling broader community participation in the organization’s mission.
-
-
Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Manages satellite arts programming in community spacesOperates a satellite location at Nonna Maria Wood Fired Oven & Cafe at Stone Mill to bring arts programming into everyday community spaces, including summer camps and exhibitions, expanding access to the arts in the Mohawk Valley.
-
-
Artist Marketplace Operations 1 activity
- Operates a curated gift shop supporting regional artistsRuns a volunteer-managed gift shop that features over 100 original works by more than 100 regional artists, including framed artwork, jewelry, pottery, apparel, and greeting cards. Proceeds from sales support both the artists and the organization’s mission to sustain the arts in the Mohawk Valley.
-
-
Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides educational programs and STEAM/arts summer campsOffers diverse educational classes, workshops, and summer camp programs for youth, including a free week-long STEAM camp focused on robotics and engineering for grades 7–9, and a two-week theater-focused summer camp for grades 3–9 that includes acting exercises, rehearsal, and stage performances. Programs are held at MVCA and the Stone Mill location in Little Falls.
-
-
Community Space Provision 1 activity
- Provides rental event and creative spacesOffers event space for rent that accommodates up to 100 guests for workshops, meetings, and celebrations, as well as creative studio space for artists, supporting community gatherings and artistic practice.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$270K
Contributions & grants$219K81%
Program service revenue$40K15%
Investment income$10K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$205K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$112K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$103K
Cash$71K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$101K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +122.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY ELLEN MCGILLAN | Executive Director | 40 | $49K |
board members · 6
- BOB BUCK — Member
- CAROL MULCRONE — Vice President
- DOUG WHITFIELD — President
- HEIDI COCHRAN — Treasurer
- JANET WREN — Director
- MEGHAN MURPHY PAGANO — Director
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- Jim McLaughlin Partner — Juror for the 2026 Regional Juried Photography Show.
- Micropolis Cooperative Gallery Partner — Co-founded and regularly exhibits artwork at the Micropolis Cooperative Gallery in Gloversville, NY.
- Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts Partner — Recognizes sponsors for supporting its programs and mission.
- Nonna Maria Wood Fired Oven & Cafe at Stone Mill Partner — Satellite location partner hosting MVCA art programming in a community cafe setting.
- ZK Truth Partner — Featured artist whose collage works are exhibited by Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts
- regional artists Partner — Features and sells work created by regional artists in the MVCA Gift Shop.
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-Centered Economic Support Modelmethodology: artist-centered_retail_modelBy channeling gift shop proceeds directly to local artists and requiring professional presentation of works, we increase artist sustainability and exhibition quality because financial dignity and commercial opportunity reinforce artistic participation and community trust.
- Community-Engaged Arts Accessmethodology: community-engaged_artsBy creating welcoming spaces for public discovery, creation, and engagement with the arts, we foster community participation and cultural enrichment because sustained access and local artist support strengthen communal identity and artistic vitality.
- Integrated STEAM and Performing Arts Educationmethodology: STEAM_educationBy combining science, technology, engineering, arts, and math with immersive performing arts experiences, we develop youth skills in creativity, problem-solving, communication, and empathy because interdisciplinary, experiential learning produces deeper engagement and holistic development.