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TRADITIONAL ARTS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN

CANTON, NY · EIN 223090439 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A200 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · tauny.org
revenue
$561K
expenses
$493K
net assets
$675K
employees
16
program ratio
73%
mission · from form 990

TO EXPLORE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND FOLKLIFE IN NORTHERN NEW YORK.

profile · synthesized from sources

Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY) explores and educates the public about traditional culture and folklife in Northern New York. The organization operates the TAUNY Center in Canton, which hosts exhibitions, educational workshops, concerts, and community events centered on regional folk arts. Programs include hands-on craft and culinary workshops, traditional music performances, and rotating exhibits highlighting local artists and cultural traditions.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Arts Education Programs
Workshops, residencies, and performances in traditional art forms for all ages, taught by professional artists in schools and community organizations.
Fiberistas Annual Exhibit
An annual exhibition featuring textile artworks created by the Fiberistas, a North Country group exploring traditional and innovative fiber arts.
Kitchen Stories
Hands-on culinary workshops where local cooks teach traditional dishes and share stories tied to cultural foodways in the North Country.
Newberry Cafe Performance Series
Live music events featuring traditional musicians, held at the Newberry Cafe in the TAUNY Center.
Traditional Dances
Community dance events featuring waltz, contra, reels, and square dancing, led by professional callers with live bands.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Artist exhibitions and sales support
      Features local and regional artists through rotating exhibits in the Folkstore Spotlight Gallery and Upstairs Gallery, hosts opening receptions with artist meet-and-greets, and supports artists by offering their work for sale, including curated thematic exhibitions highlighting artistic biographies and styles.
  • Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
    • Cultural documentation and oral history research
      Conducts research projects documenting traditional practices in northern New York, including the 2017 "Instrumental Stories" project on musical instruments and makers, and the Raquette River Oral History Project on hydroelectric development, with findings presented in public exhibitions.
  • Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
    • Foodways and communal dining programs
      Hosts foodways programs including hands-on cooking workshops, cultural food storytelling, and communal dining events such as the Kitchen Stories series; operates the Newberry Cafe, which integrates culinary arts with music and cultural programming and expanded to three days per week in October 2024 under culinary artist Steve Maiocco.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Public education on traditional culture and folklife
      Explores and educates the public about traditional culture and folklife in Northern New York through exhibitions, programs, and research initiatives that document regional history, art, music, and foodways.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Traditional arts workshops and residencies
      Offers educational workshops, residencies, and hands-on learning experiences in traditional art forms for all ages, including barn quilting, paddle painting, clay art, culinary arts, and folk songwriting, delivered at The TAUNY Center, schools, and community organizations in the North Country.
  • Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
    • Traditional music and dance programming
      Organizes concerts, dance events, jam sessions, and musical performances in traditional genres such as Bluegrass, Folk, Country, and Old Time, featuring local and regional artists at The TAUNY Center, partner venues, and public spaces like Prentice Lane in Canton.
  • Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
    • Traveling cultural exhibitions
      Produces and presents traveling exhibitions that explore regional cultural themes, such as “Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship,” which showcases the work of Akwesasne Mohawk artists and their relationship to environmental stewardship.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$561K
Contributions & grants$465K83%
Program service revenue$12K2%
Investment income$9340%
Other revenue$83K
expenses
Total expenses$493K
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$315K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.21M
Cash$186K
Investments$53K
Liabilities$530K
Net assets$675K
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +9.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JOSHUA VINK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $70K
board members · 10
  • ALAN HERSKER — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW GILLCRIST — TRUSTEE
  • CAROLYN TWOMEY — TRUSTEE
  • CATHERINE NEWELL — TRUSTEE
  • FRANCES H MOORE — TREASURER
  • JACKIE SAUTER — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MARTHA FOLEY SMITH — TRUSTEE
  • MICHALE GLENNON — TRUSTEE
  • PEGGY LYNN — SECRETARY
  • RUTH MCWILLIAMS — PRESIDENT
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • Akwesasne Cultural Center Partner — Hosted the opening reception for the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Akwesasne Cultural Center Partner — Hosts the opening reception for the traveling exhibition “Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship.”
  • Andre Comandon Partner — Culinary artist who co-founded the Newberry Cafe pilot program at TAUNY.
  • Catherine Brownell Partner — Culinary contributor who developed food and drink offerings for the Newberry Cafe.
  • Coby Foundation Funder — Funds the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Coby Foundation Funder — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Crary Mills Grange Partner — Partner venue for hosting traditional dance events.
  • Edwards Opera House Partner — Co-hosts concerts and cultural events with TAUNY.
  • Midatlantic Folk & Traditional Arts – Community Projects program Funder — Provides project support for the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Midatlantic Folk & Traditional Arts – Community Projects program Funder — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Nancy Wilder Palmateer Memorial Fund Funder — Makes the TAUNY Kids Create Clay Workshop possible.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides support for the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • New York State Legislature Government — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • New York State Legislature Government — Supports the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition through state funding.
  • Office of the Governor Government — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Office of the Governor Government — Supports the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition through state funding.
  • Paul Simon Partner — Collaborated on musical recording, with Dan Duggan contributing to Paul Simon's Grammy-nominated CD.
  • Pickins Hall Partner — Co-hosts concerts and cultural events with TAUNY.
  • Pickins Hall Partner — Partner venue for hosting traditional dance events.
  • Raquette River Blueway Corridor Group Partner — Collaborated with TAUNY on the Raquette River Oral History Project to document and exhibit community stories related to hydroelectric development.
  • SeaComm Federal Credit Union Funder — Supported the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • SeaComm Federal Credit Union Funder — Supports the "Threads of Connection: Mohawk Arts & Environmental Stewardship" exhibition.
  • Steve Maiocco Partner — Local culinary artist hired to expand and operate the Newberry Cafe three days per week.
  • The TAUNY Center Partner — Hosts arts education programs including workshops, residencies, and performances.
  • Village of Potsdam Partner — Partnered with TAUNY on the Raquette River Oral History Project to collect and display oral histories and artifacts.
  • Watertown PBS Partner — Collaborated with TAUNY on the Raquette River Oral History Project to document and disseminate community stories through media.
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.

  • Cultural Preservation Through Participatory Engagement
    methodology: cultural-preservation-through-participatory-events
    By involving community members in live music, dance, cooking, and storytelling events, the organization preserves intangible cultural heritage because active participation fosters intergenerational transmission and strengthens communal identity.
  • Integrative Arts Education Across Disciplines and Cultures
    methodology: integrative_academic_artistic_learning
    By integrating traditional arts into academic subjects and diverse cultural curricula, the organization deepens learning and representation because interdisciplinary and culturally inclusive approaches make heritage education more relevant and accessible to diverse populations.
  • Research-Driven Public Interpretation of Traditional Arts
    methodology: exhibitions-based_education
    By grounding exhibitions and educational programming in original research, the organization fosters public understanding of regional cultural heritage because evidence-based curation provides contextual depth and authenticity that increases audience connection and learning.