Artpark & Company Press Release

Artpark marked its 50th anniversary in 2024 with spectacular concerts, impactful community programs, stunning visual art exhibits and unique special events that celebrated Artpark’s rich history. To successfully conclude the anniversary year, Artpark’s board of directors has issued a community challenge: If Artpark raises $50,000 in the final 50 days of its 50th year, the board of directors will match contributions dollar for dollar. 

Jeff Williams, a member of Artpark’s board for seven years, invited his fellow board members to join together and issue the challenge.

“As a board, we have such passion for Artpark. We know that people from all walks of life hold a special place in their hearts for Artpark – so now is the time to celebrate Artpark with a gift that will have double the impact through the dollar-for-dollar match by the board,” Williams said.

The challenge is underway. Donations made by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 2024, will be counted toward the challenge, and all funds raised will support Artpark’s arts and cultural programming for children.

To participate in the challenge with a donation, please visit artpark.net/50-in-50-challenge or contact Director of Development Wendy Diina at [email protected] or 716-754-9000, ext. 154. 

More about Artpark

Established in 1974 as a collaboration between New York State Parks and the nonprofit Artpark & Company, Artpark welcomes artists to enjoy and be inspired by the dramatic scenery and rich history of the Niagara River Gorge, and welcomes visitors and locals to enjoy the art and experiences created on its 150 acres.

Over the decades, Artpark has hosted tens of thousands of groundbreaking visual artists, cutting-edge theater, dance and cirque arts performers; beloved bands and musicians representing a multitude of genres; festivals featuring local, national and international artists; poets and writers – and more, all while earning a worldwide reputation as a special place for people of all ages and walks of life to make and experience art.

This living cultural legacy weaves into the area’s history and present-day significance to Western New York’s Indigenous population and the Niagara River and Gorge’s extraordinary natural beauty, accessible to visitors through forested trails, sculpture gardens, and outdoor recreation areas.

Artpark is all this and more. Come experience it for yourself.

Please visit artpark.net for additional events and information.

WATCH:

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Setting the stage for Artpark's future

By Dave Wedekindt

Interim President of Artpark

Was it all just a dream? In seemingly the blink of an eye, another season of arts, culture and entertainment at Artpark has concluded, and as you feel the crisp air and admire the falling leaves in a kaleidoscope of colors, you can experience the park’s flora and fauna preparing for their winter rest.

Artpark marked its 50th anniversary this year in a robust schedule that simultaneously honored the past, celebrated the present, and looked to the future, and I’m pleased to share some highlights with you.

•Our award-winning concert series drew nearly 85,000 people from across Western New York and Southern Ontario to 26 shows featuring 66 groups in the Amphitheater and Mainstage Theater in what is undoubtedly the most diverse lineup in the region with rock, pop, blues, jazz, country, opera, and more. Our plants even got in on the music creation with UltraSound: The Secret Symphony of Plants, which featured world premiere compositions.

•Thousands also gathered for our popular annual festivals. The 14th annual Fairy House Festival enchanted visitors of all ages with vibrant performances, creative crafts, over 50 fairy houses created by artists and families, vendors, and culminated with a stunning performance by the Jon Lehrer Dance Company that also included a premiere with dancers with Parkinson’s in our Artpark Bridges program. Our Strawberry Moon Festival again celebrated unity and friendship with the Indigenous community with live music, vendors, the ever-popular Smoke Dance competition and more. We also hosted the Better Off Read summer book festival for the first time, which brought together local authors, vendors, thousands of books for sale and more. All of these festivals will return in 2025.

•Artpark has always had a focus on learning, and this season was no different. Our schooltime workshops served hundreds of students in three public schools and two colleges with over 30 hours of workshops. Eighteen fieldtrips brought over 1,000 children from schools in Erie and Niagara counties to learn and create. Hundreds of families enjoyed five Free Family Saturdays, which also included presence at the Lewiston Art Festival. And adults had the opportunity to unleash their creativity in our popular “Libations and Creations” series (Wine & Wheels, Sipping & Cyanotypes, Libations & Creations) enjoyed by 400 people across 41 art-making events.

•Speaking of visual arts, this season also saw our trees come to life with Craig Walsh’s “Monuments” featuring nine people from the community who have made an impact on Artpark. Art extended into the village with “Alouette” by Brandon Vickerd – a satellite that crashed outside of Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen on Center Street.

•And last but not least, our Indigenous programming offered workshops and events all season long, celebrating history, connections and understanding. Our Bridges program featured workshops and residencies that served adults with physical or learning challenges, the elderly, veterans, children of the military, adult education ESL, and more. We also continued our literary arts residency, welcoming poets and writers to be inspired and create at Artpark.

Artpark is indeed for everyone, and impacts our entire community.

And as a not-for-profit organization, Artpark & Company is especially grateful for the support of New York State Parks, and our funders, sponsors, donors, members, Board of Directors, and staff. I would especially like to recognize our dedicated volunteers who contributed over 3,000 hours of service to help make our programs possible.

Thank you for being a part of this celebratory season. We hope you will consider becoming a donor in support of Artpark's programming, and we are also now offering Artparker Memberships for 2025 with some exciting benefits.

To successfully conclude the anniversary year, Artpark’s Board of Directors has issued a community challenge: if Artpark raises $50,000 in the final 50 days of its 50th year, the Board of Directors will match contributions dollar for dollar. Donations made between today and 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2024, will be counted toward the challenge, and all funds raised will support Artpark’s arts and cultural programming for children.

Joanne Bauer, chair of the Artpark Board, summed it up well when she recently stated, “Artpark is such a magical place. Whenever I mention to people that I’m on the board, they share memories of coming here as children. Now, they bring their own children here – whether it be to the Fairy House Festival, Art Camp or Free Family Saturdays. Whether people still live here in the area or have moved away, Artpark remains an impactful part of their childhoods that is fondly remembered.”

While a milestone anniversary is a natural occasion to look back, we are also looking forward to the next 50 years. Your generosity not only helps fuel opportunities for expression and discovery, it also builds a foundation for our future that current and future generations can enjoy the Artpark experience.

The Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees joined Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh and Matthew Mosher (representing New York State Sen. Rob Ortt) in recognizing Artpark & Company's 50th anniversary season, and partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Pictured, from left, are Trustee Jim Fittante, Deputy Mayor Vic Eydt, Trustee Nick Conde, Wydysh, Mayor Anne Welch, Artpark & Company Interim President Dave Wedekindt, Mosher and State Parks Niagara Region Deputy Director Vincent Iacovitti.

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And on a more personal note, I would like to thank the members of the community for their words of encouragement and support since I stepped into leadership of this organization in April. It has truly meant the world to me, and I do hope that our friendship and partnership will continue for years to come.

Please visit www.artpark.net today to learn more about the fundraising challenge, and also keep up with programming for 2025. Thank you!