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The mission of the
Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is to provide a creative education resource for people of all ages and abilities while celebrating the arts through classes, entertainment, exhibitions and special events.
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From the Director...
Show the World
You Support the Arts!
Since opening our doors in 2015, the Nigra Arts Center has grown into the area's premier arts and entertainment venue. Hundreds of people pass through our doors every month for classes, family fun events, concerts, art shows, plays, children's camps and so much more!
We rely on the generosity of our supporters to continue to provide first-rate programs to our visitors. This year we are stepping up our capital campaign and asking private donors and businesses to lend their support while showing the world they proudly invest in the arts.
Here's where YOU come in! Every little bit helps. We are grateful for donations in any amount.
CLICK HERE
to make a donation.*
We are pleased to offer both recognition and benefits to our generous supporters. A range of naming opportunities are available for donors who would like to recognize the importance of the Nigra Arts Center or to honor and recognize someone special in their lives. For more information, please contact Wally Hart, Executive Director of The Lexington Foundation, at 518-369-5489 or HartW@lexcenter.org.
*The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is owned and operated by the Lexington Foundation. The Lexington Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation.
Sue Nigra
Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts
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Instructors Dazzle at Open House
Smiles, laughter and joy filled the halls of the Nigra Arts Center on February 24 at our Meet the Instructors Open House. Families, loved ones and friends experienced all the center offers such as music, dance, art, exercise classes and so much more. Our thanks to the following instructors for volunteering their time and sharing their incredible talents with members of our community:
- Sandy Brower, M.ED., CAPP
- John Dickson
- Brenda Dwyer
- Melanie Fay
- Callie Jennings
- Sue Kaupelis
- Elaine Mikenas
- Kate Schwan
- Tom Simek
- Olya Szyjka
- Dennis Viscanti
It was our honor to welcome special guests Miss Montgomery County
2018 Sara James and Miss Fulton County 2018 Chelsea Cirillo. Thanks to everyone for coming and for making this event such a huge success! Get a full list of classes, kid camps and events at
pncreativeartscenter.org
.
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Kid Campers Win Chili Cook-Off
We are super proud of the children who participated in February's Kid Cooking Camp. They won the Great Chili Cook-Off at our Meet the Instructors Open House! Several contestants served up delectable and mouthwatering chili dishes, but it was the children's creation called Chili Smack that truly delighted the crowd's taste buds. Congratulations to the kids and their master instructor Nita Preddice.
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Dinner Theater Wows Audience
Our Grand Gallery was transformed into an interactive theater extravaganza on February 10. Foothills Family Productions and the Nigra Arts Center teamed up to present Angie & Frankie's Anniversary, a dinner theater experience where the audience became part of the show.
The Italian-American family style celebration included fabulous food (provided by Kingsboro Catering), dancing, mingling and plenty of drama and laughs. Needless to say, Mamma Mia! The audience had a spectacular time.
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Become a Red Spruce Member:
Visit Hundreds of Museums for FREE
The Nigra Arts Center is thrilled to announce that we are now a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Ass
ociation. This means arts center members (at the $100 Red Spruce level and above) receive FREE admission and shop discounts at more than 900 NARM arts/cultural institutions across North America.* Locally, these include the Iroquois Indian Museum in Howes Cave, Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie, Norm
an Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany Museum of Art, Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, Hyde Collection in Glens Falls and many others!
Not already a member of the Nigra Arts Center? Get details
HERE
.
Learn more about NARM and get a full list of participating institutions
HERE
.
*NARM privileges may be restricted for concerts, lectures, special exhibitions and ticketed events.
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Featured Instructor: Brenda Dwyer
Brenda is a self-taught artist who expresses herself through the artwork she creates. She also spreads her love and knowledge of art at the Nigra Arts Center. As our Community Gallery curator, Brenda develops and oversees rotating art exhibits. She also teaches at the center and just launched two new classes in 2018:
- Creative Painting Class (second Thursday of each month): Using acrylics, you'll paint your own unique piece. You can work from memory or bring something from home. You may also decide to use Brenda's painting as a model. In the end, you can bring your work home.
- Creative Canvas Kids (every other Saturday morning): Young artists are welcome to come learn the basics of working with acrylics, and they'll get to bring their own creative canvas home. Children might be considered to have their work shown in a future art show.
In addition to teaching several classes at the Nigra Arts Center, Brenda participates in our children's day camp program and community events, where she always finds exciting ways for guests to explore their creativity.
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Eclectic Mix at Art Show
The 2018 Winter Art Show features work in a wide variety of media from both local artists and those from other states, such as North Carolina, Rhode Island and Utah. More than 36 artists are exhibiting more than 100 pieces in the exhibition which hangs until April 4.
 Featured artists include Amy Andujar, Barney Bellinger, Linda Biggers, Janene Bouck, Margaret Bromford, Bob Buck, Donald Cooper, Ron Dennis, Katey Germain, Hope Morrow Glidden, Warren Greene, Carol M. Hesselink, Michael Hine, Scott Hook, Nancie Johnson, Linda Kollar, Faith LaFountain, Caroline Locatelli, Garlyn MaGinnis, Maryanne Malecki, Ed McDaniel, John Morrette, Paul M. Murray, Lynda Naske, Christian O'Callaghan, Joanne Petrozzi-Jones, Kathie Raneri, Kashyra Tomlinson, Paul Valovic, Darlene Van Sickle, Lynne Vokatis, David Waite, Sean Walmsley, Mikyle Woodward, Setsuko Yoshida and collaborators from the Saratoga Bridges Creative Endeavors Art Center.
Through the generous support of donors, the Nigra Arts Center was able to offer awards and prizes to outstanding submissions. Award winners were announced at the Meet the Artists Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony on January 25.
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Call for Artists:
Fulton-Montgomery Art Show
- Show Dates: April 11 - May 14
- Submission Deadline: March 18
We are pleased to announce our second annual Fulton-Montgomery Art Show, featuring the work of artists living and working in Fulton and Montgomery Counties.
This show and sale is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville hosted for many years. The Fulton-Montgomery Art Show will display submissions from individual and group artists working in all media alongside the work of a special guest artist and pieces by student artists from the Fulton-Montgomery region's schools.
The featured artist of this show is Rhea Costello, a painter and ceramic artist from Bleecker, NY. Learn more about Rhea and the art show
HERE
.
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Center
Goes Red &
Raises Awareness
Go Red for Women
is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. As part of the effort, people all across the country wore red on February 2 for National Wear Red Day, including those at the Nigra Arts Center! It was our pleasure to wear red so we could raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives.
Educate yourself at
goredforwomen.org.
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Over the December and February school breaks, local children took
part in both our Winter Funderland and Kid Cooking camps. From crafts and yoga to cooking fun, the many camp activities gave our young guests a magnificent time exploring the world of the arts. At our Kid Cooking Camp, the children's chili dish was entered in our Great Chili Cook-Off, where they received plenty of positive reviews. Attention, parents - don't miss our next kid camp:
Spring Break Escape Camp
April 3-5
9:00AM-2:00PM
Ages 6-12
Cost*: $135 pre-registration | $155 at door
Spring fever never was this much fun! Our three-day camp will feature outside fun (weather permitting), music, dance, cooking and beautiful art projects the children will bring home. Campers should bring their own lunch, snack and water bottle each day. Refrigeration is available.
*Members receive a 20% discount. Don't forget to enter the code at checkout.
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March 9: New York Players Concert
Join us Friday, March 9 at 7:00 PM as our 2018 Concert Series kicks off with the New York Players.
Billed as New York's Dance Party Experts, the New York Players are highly acclaimed for their non-stop energy and enthusiasm. They will bring the party! Tickets are $15. Get them
HERE
or at the door.
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Polar Express Delights, Helps Tots
Our annual Polar Express Celebration in December delighted crowds with crafts, live entertainment and all kinds of family activities inspired by the classic tale
The Polar Express
. Sponsored by Fidelis Care, the event featured Santa Claus and plenty of toys collected for Toys for Tots.
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Adaptive Arts Spotlight: Shawn Lehr
 Shawn Lehr is an active participant in the Nigra Arts Center's Adaptive Arts program. On any given day he can be spotted around the center, talking to friends, taking a class or practicing with his band,
Flame, a world-famous act that uses the Nigra Arts Center as its home base.
Shawn's charm, humor and rhythm adds to Flame's appeal. He finds joy in expressing himself through his performance. Whether onstage or in the hallways of the Nigra Arts Center, he is always eager to share his musical talents and smile with others.
Shawn lives with his family in Johnstown. He was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth, and doctors told his parents that he would never really be able to speak. If only they could see him now! Shawn graduated from the Life Skills Program sponsored by the Gloversville School District. He attends Lexington programs, volunteers regularly in the community and relishes his paycheck as a long-time member of Flame. Shawn loves to interact with people and is very talkative when the band performs and greets their fans. He is a true ambassador for celebrating each person's unique abilities and personal successes.
We are always happy to see Shawn at the Nigra Arts Center, where he has the opportunity to build upon his talents and encourages others to do the same. His smile is infectious, and he is always eager to share his enthusiasm for the Nigra Arts Center and Flame.
The Nigra Arts Center offers accessible artistic experiences through classes that include people of all abilities and artistic skills. Our specially trained instructors and support staff are committed to providing a rewarding and satisfying creative journey for people with intellectual and developmental differences in an inspiring atmosphere where anyone from the community can participate. Adaptive tools and equipment are available and individual/group classes may be booked upon request. For more information about Adaptive Arts, contact Maria Nestle at 518-661-9932 or NestleM@lexcenter.org.
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We LOVE Our Donors & Sponsors
Our donors continue making a difference the growth of the Nigra Arts Center. Each donation helps us make capital improvements and expand educational and artistic offerings as we work to make this a community arts center people and their families visit again and again.
CLICK HERE
to see a list of our generous donors and their gifts and how YOU can donate!
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Become a Member
Membership dues support programming at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts. All members receive the following basic benefits for one year:
- a membership card
- discounts on exhibition admission, workshop and class fees, and select performances
- invitations to gallery receptions and special events
- a subscription to our e-newsletter
- a charitable tax deduction to the extent provided by law
CLICK HERE
to learn more about how YOU can become a member.
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The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is a program of The Lexington Foundation. To learn more about The Foundation,
click here.
For the latest news and information about classes and events at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts,
visit our website
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