named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
Costumes for Shakespeare
Workshop for ages 12-19 involving design, creation, and application of costumes and makeup for Shakespeare in the Valley productions.
Filmmaking Workshop
Three-week intensive for teens ages 14-20 covering all aspects of film production from scriptwriting to editing, ending in a public screening.
Free Community Concerts
Public performances featuring international artists, often paired with participatory workshops and local food, free to attend.
Introduction to Acting
Two-week workshop for ages 9-12 focusing on character development, stagecraft, movement, and improvisation, culminating in public performances.
Music I: Modern Shakespeare Composers & Lyricists
Workshop for ages 12-19 developing original scores for Shakespeare productions through songwriting and collaboration.
Music II: Modern Shakespeare Band
Ensemble program for ages 12-19 forming a live band to perform original music for Shakespeare productions.
Shakespeare in the Valley
Youth theater program for ages 13-19 culminating in full outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays, including acting, music, costumes, and technical production.
Theater Games
One-week acting workshop for children ages 6-9 introducing fundamentals through improv, movement, and devised performance.
Theater Tech for Shakespeare in the Valley
Technical theater program for ages 12-19 covering set design, lighting, props, sound, and stage management for live performances.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 2 activities
- Hosts professional performances in theater, music, and danceProduces and presents seasonal performances including Shakespeare productions such as 'Measure for Measure' and hosts music events ranging from free concerts to multi-band psychedelic rock festivals. These events occur in indoor and outdoor venues with scheduled public access.
- Produces annual music festivalsOrganizes a one-day music festival focused on psychedelic rock, featuring multiple bands with The Mystery Lights as headliner, and includes scheduled performances and public access.
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Public Garden Tours and Events 1 activity
- Hosts self-guided landscape and garden toursOrganizes an annual self-guided tour showcasing local gardens in the Stamford, Jefferson, and East Meredith area, promoting community engagement with regional landscapes.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Hosts visual arts exhibitionsCurates and presents rotating art exhibitions featuring artists such as Zena Gurbo, Adrianna Newell, RM Fischer, Editha Mesina, Alan Herman, and Leland Powley-Nelson, with public receptions and defined run dates throughout the year.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offers adult and community arts workshopsProvides hands-on workshops for adults and community members, including patchwork noren making, willow basketry, natural dyeing, and historical stone wall restoration, led by skilled practitioners such as Megumi Shauna Arai and Patrick Ryan.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Organizes community music events and concertsHosts free public concerts such as the Field Notes Series and events featuring local bands like The Fisher Cats, made possible through sponsorship and public funding. Includes instrument-making workshops using recycled materials to promote participatory music engagement.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides arts education and workshops for youthOffers school-year and summer youth programs including acting fundamentals for children aged 6–9, four-week Shakespeare workshops for ages 13–19, and specialized training in costume design, music composition, and filmmaking for teens. Programs culminate in public performances or screenings and include scholarships for financially eligible participants.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Provides low-cost rental access to performance and event facilitiesOffers indoor auditorium space seating 175 and outdoor event areas with a wooden dance floor for private events, performances, and public gatherings.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Restores and maintains historical structuresUndertakes restoration projects including historic stone walls, such as a cemetery wall at the Delaware County Historical Association, preserving regional heritage.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$294K
Contributions & grants$188K64%
Program service revenue$96K33%
Investment income$9000%
Other revenue$9K
expenses
Total expenses$318K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$134K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$282K
Cash$24K
Investments$24K
Liabilities$20K
Net assets$262K
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saira McLaren | Executive Dir. | 40 | $60K |
board members · 13
- Anaar Desai Stephens — Director
- Barbara Lawry-retired 924 — Secretary
- Bruce Habegger — Secretary
- Daniel Birnbaum-retired 924 — Treasurer
- Don Thoamses — Director
- Elisabeth Searles-retired 924 — President
- Ian Stell — Director
- Jam Murray — Director
- Jen Johnson-Kuhn — Treasurer
- John Sandman — Director
- Mark Vamos — Vice President
- Rachel Watson — President
- Skip Copperwheat — Director
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Argosy Foundation Funder — Provided financial support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Catskill Brewery Partner — Provided financial or in-kind support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Catskill Country Living Funder — Season sponsor of concert programming
- Clark Family Foundation Funder — Sponsor of community concerts
- Community Care Laboratory Partner — Provided financial or in-kind support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Delaware County Historical Association Partner — Collaborates on the restoration of a historic cemetery wall.
- Düül Suns Partner — Performing artist at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Good Cheap Foods Partner — Show sponsor providing food for events
- Gracie Gray Partner — Performing artist at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Greenfire Funder — Provided financial support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Helen Quinn Partner — Lead instructor for the Costumes for Shakespeare workshop, responsible for costume design and production.
- Kid Bess and the Magic Ring Partner — Performing artist at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Lillian Meredith Partner — Lead instructor and director for the Acting for Shakespeare workshop and leader of Shakespeare in the Valley program.
- MRB Foundation Funder — Provided financial support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Megumi Shauna Arai Partner — Artist and instructor leading a patchwork noren making workshop.
- Megumi Shauna Arai Partner — Artist and instructor leading the patchwork noren making workshop.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary funder supporting free community concerts
- Nini Kauffman-O’Hehir Partner — Assistant Director for the Introduction to Acting workshop and alum of West Kortright Centre programs.
- Opening Acts Partner — Youth enrichment program operated in partnership with West Kortright Center.
- Patrick Ryan Partner — Skilled practitioner leading a workshop on restoring historical stone walls.
- Pleasure Dome Partner — Performing artist at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Quality Inn Partner — Provided financial or in-kind support as a sponsor of West Kortright Center events and programs.
- Rahill Partner — Performing artist at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Saira Mclaren Government — Director at West Kortright Centre, point of contact for sponsorships and programming inquiries.
- Shakespeare in the Valley Partner — Youth enrichment program operated in partnership with West Kortright Center.
- Stamford, Jefferson & East Meredith area garden enthusiasts Partner — Local gardeners open their private gardens for public viewing as part of the annual landscape and garden tour.
- Stephen Bennett Partner — Instructor for Music I: Modern Shakespeare Composers & Lyricists workshop and composer for Shakespeare in the Valley production.
- The Fisher Cats Partner — Music ensemble performing at a free concert hosted by West Kortright Centre Inc.
- The Mystery Lights Partner — Featured headlining band at the Bucolic Valley Music Festival.
- Vanessa Partner — Co-director of the Introduction to Acting workshop and long-time teaching staff member at West Kortright Centre.
+ 2 more
strategies · 2
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.
- Community Engagement Through Accessible and Participatory Arts Programmingmethodology: community-engagement-through-artsBy offering free and low-cost events, hands-on workshops, and public receptions, the organization increases community involvement in the arts because removing financial and experiential barriers enables broader, more inclusive participation.
- Cultural Exchange Through Diverse Artistic Representationmethodology: cultural_exchange_through_artsBy presenting local, national, and international artists, the organization fosters cultural exchange and broadens community perspectives, because exposure to diverse voices enriches public engagement and deepens cross-cultural understanding.