Waslyn: additional
grant funding
KINGSTON – It’s back to the drawing board, for the anticipated
Kingston Arts Commission, an outgrowth of the Arts Advisory Board.
City administrators wish to incorporate The Arts into an official city
entity, to establish a Kingston Arts District as part of the Midtown revitalization
plan, under Mayor Shayne Gallo’s comprehensive “B.E.A.T. Initiative.”
Last year, Gallo outlined his vision for a business, education, arts and
technology nexus along the Broadway corridor, utilizing anchor destinations
including Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC); RUPCO’s Lace Factory
artist housing project; 721 Media Center; and Kingston High School / SUNY
Ulster campus at Sofie Finn.
An Arts District entitles the city to a potential $11 million in additional
grant funding, according to Gloria Waslyn, organizer of Kingston’s
periodic Festival of the Arts events.
Despite widespread approval, aldermen unanimously sent the resolution
back to the Law and Rules Committee Tuesday night, because they only received
the draft a day earlier, explained city council president James Noble.
“We’re looking forward to seeing this happen,” said
4th Ward Alderman Nina Dawson. “Kingston is a very artsy community,”
she said. Third Ward alderman Brad Will said the proposal has universal
support. “We need to step back very briefly; we don’t want
to hold if off more than we have to, we’re going get there,”
he said.
First Ward Alderman Matthew Dunn agreed, calling the Arts Commission a
spectacular idea, and a great asset to the community. “Certainly
it’s our duty to be prudent analyzing the resolution,” Dunn
said.
