Fulton County Is Home to a Flourishing Arts Community
Cultural arts programs are flourishing in Fulton County, with a variety of options for patrons.
A variety of venues -- including the historic Glove Theater -- plus a bevy of talented musicians, artists and actors, and active arts organizations sponsoring numerous activities throughout the year add up to a thriving arts scene.
At the top of the organization chart is the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network, a not-for-profit organization formed in 1997 with the mission of promoting the arts throughout the Sacandaga watershed region.
With a hands-on board of 11 active people and a growing membership, SVAN is bringing the arts to life in Fulton County.
"Before joining SVAN, I had no idea of the number of extremely talented people located in and around our local communities," says Barbara Reffitt, current president. "We are working hard to give our artists and musicians many opportunities for exposure and networking, and at the same time provide the community with access to a wide variety of high-quality cultural arts and crafts."
SVAN's music committee presents the SVAN Sunday Concerts in the Park in Northville during the summer and a Coffee House Series in the winter. Concerts offer a selection of music to please everyone, from jazz, folk, blues and contemporary, even branching out to Andean folk music.
Shelley Murphy, SVAN's theater chairperson, works to bring fun and creative theater presentations to various parts of Fulton County.
"In the winter we do Hot Nights, a dinner and variety show held at a local restaurant," she says. "It's lots of fun, in a relaxed environment, with audience involvement. This summer we are planning a dinner theater murder mystery. We held our first one last year and had a great time."
Also in the plans is a main-stage production, Murphy says, probably a musical.
Summer is made more lively with summer concerts presented by the local Community Citizens Band, a symphonic orchestra of approximately 50 professional-level musicians.
The SVAN Visual Arts Committee plans and hosts several gallery showings throughout the community, including a featured artist and reception held each month at the Northville Library.
"And this year we worked with the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce to open a new Artist Gallery in the Vail Mills Visitors Center," Reffitt says. "We currently have approximately 18 artists who create everything from paintings, photographs and drawings to beautiful silk scarves and fine art woodworking."
A popular workshop program gives aspiring artists direction in a variety of subjects, ranging from basket-weaving and flower-pressing to painting and digital photography.
SVAN's biggest fundraiser is the popular handmade Adirondack quilt. "For 10 years, talented quilters have designed, hand-appliqued and quilted beautiful works of art that have contributed approximately $30,000 to SVAN," Reffitt says. "These funds have helped SVAN provide the community with 10 years of musical concerts, art shows, workshops and theater at little or no cost to the public."
SVAN also successfully applies for grants from the New York State Council on the Arts to round out its funding needs.
Fulton County is not at a loss for venues, with the Glove Theater providing the perfect location for live performances. Built in 1914 and saved from the wrecking ball in 1995, its history is in vaudeville and movies, which is demonstrated through displays in the Glove Theater Museum.
Christmas and variety shows are the hallmark of the Glove Theater presentations.
