Mission:

The mission of Arts on the Lake is to sponsor, encourage, and create opportunities for all the residents of the Town of Kent and the larger community to participate in and appreciate the visual and performing arts, to be a roof and walls for performances, exhibits, classes and workshops. Arts on the Lake will strive to create a place where individuals can realize their creative potential, and where the community as a whole can share, witness and/or participate in this process.

About Us:

Arts on the Lake is a non-profit corporation that fosters performances, exhibits and art classes in Kent, NY.

We have an ongoing series of classes for adults and children, as well as musical performances of classical, jazz, pop and rock. Arts on the Lake sponsors a theatre program that has developed indigenous works (“Kent Stories”), stand up theatre (“Open Mouth”) and new works in an ongoing partnership with the Blue Horse Repertory. The Visual Artists Committee (VAC) presents a major spring and fall exhibit as well as other Art Events.

Currently, Arts on the Lake is working with the Town of Kent to develop plans so that the former firehouse can be developed into the Art Center for the area. This was spurred on by a grant secured by State Senator Leibell to initiate the work. Arts on the Lake is developing a capital campaign to secure funds to complete the work.

Our current goal, as it was at the beginning, is to develop a place where creative activity can be developed, performed, displayed and presented in a way that serves the creator well and strengthens the community in the process. Our Strategic Plan centers on how best to achieve this goal and build an organization that becomes a valued center for the community.

History:

Arts on the Lake was formed in spring of 2006 to foster performances, exhibits and art classes in Kent, NY.
Members of the Lake Carmel Park District Advisory Committee and residents of all areas of the Town of Kent formed Arts on the Lake to develop programs in the Lake Carmel Arts Center, which is the former Lake Carmel Firehouse, 640 Route 52, facing Lake Carmel in Kent Lakes, NY.

Performing first in homes, the Lake Carmel Community Center and the Kent Firehouse on Route 301, AotL – as it is now known – developed a varied program that continues at the Center. There have been musical performances of classical, jazz, pop and rock. Arts on the Lake sponsors a theatre program that has developed indigenous works (“Kent Stories”), stand up theatre (“Open Mouth”) and new works in an ongoing partnership with the Blue Horse Repertory.Much of what has been presented is documented on the Scrapbook pages of this website.In our first year and a half, members have supplied most of the funds necessary to maintain programs at the Center.

In addition to significant volunteer support, AotL received an early grant from PLAN Kent that enabled buying gallery and stage equipment. There were many contributors to a fund in memory of Bobby Doherty Jr. that will be used to subsidize classes for young people. Additionally, an endowment fund has been set up with an initial grant from Board Treasurer Robert Bradley that will reward an area student with a college scholarship. In the past year, we have also received grants from Meet the Composer, the Anne Anastasi Charitable Foundation and NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, which is administered in Putnam County by the Putnam Arts Council.Our goal, from the beginning, has been to develop a place where creative activity can be developed, performed, displayed and presented in a way that serves the creator well and strengthens the community in the process.