Grantee Spotlight

SOS Grantee: Rachelillustrates: Tock the Gnome!

Greater Ithaca Art Trail Group Exhibit

At the CAP ArtSpace Until August 29

Greater Ithaca Art Trail Artist Talk & Open Studios

Zoom Artist Talk - Sept. 16

Save the Dates: Open Studio Weekends - Oct. 10-18

Join us on Gallery Night!

Capoeira! Explorations of Resilience and Resistance

Friday, Sept. 4

Upcoming Free Literary Events

Two Workshops and a Panel - Sept. 5, 17, 19

Professional Development Workshop on Zoom

Mapping your Creative Career - Thursday, Sept. 24

Congratulations to nicole v basta!

Tompkins County Poet Laureate - Receives

Fellowship from Academy of American Poets

Artist Opportunity

NYFA's Artists as Entrepreneurs Intensive in Corning

List of Regional & Local Arts & Culture Organizations

Join their Mailing Lists!

See all CAP Events on our

CAP CALENDAR

Grantee Spotlight

Rachelillustrates: Tock the Gnome

Rachel Terwilliger, also known across local festivals and events as Rachelillustrates, received a CAP Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS) to help publish the first volume of her LGBTQIA+ focused, Faerie/fantasy adventure romance comic, “Tock the Gnome.”

Rachel describes: "What do you do, when you're a lost faerie in a realm that has forgotten it is Faerie at all? When you set out to save a legendary Princess that no one else believes in? When you intend to court and marry that Princess, but you meet someone else - someone fascinating - on the road? When Love can change the world?"

Follow Tock, a Gnome woman from a steampunk-society in a realm of high fantasy, as she finds herself in such a situation. Driven by a Fairy Tale about a trapped Elven princess on a floating island, she convinces her friend Bumble – an airship pilot – to join her quest to rescue her. They hire extra firepower from unfamiliar lands, and together they seek the island and the princess. But what they seek may not be quite what they expected...

Beyond this beginning, Tock's story utilizes the themes of fairy tales and the popularity of the fantasy genre to address and explore problems of self-regard after immense harm, the importance of making amends with love and problems of separation and discrimination between peoples, leading to resolution and exploration of how such things can be healed and result in a true "happy ever after."

With this grant, Rachel was able to cover several essential costs of publication, including copyright fees and ISBN in order to get the book into local bookstores and public libraries - a lifelong dream! With this validating push, she immediately set about formatting the comic pages and bonus scenes for the book, crowdfunding for the rest of the printing costs, and planning for advertisements to promote it once it arrived. Production from existing comic content and new written tales lasted from roughly March to mid-June of this year, with the book officially in-hand and published in late June.

As Rachel says, "Though having the comic (which was originally available in webcomic format and floppy issues) in this printed form is very validating, first and foremost I want to help people through the message of this work. That is, talking about capital L Love and hope in the face of great harm, as well as providing representation - helping people feel seen, worthy and loved - particularly for both my fellow queers and fellow people of size. That's more important than ever in this current cultural atmosphere, where our rights are on the verge of vanishing every day. I grew up in the 90s, and the availability of queer rep across media had definitely increased over the last decades and that absolutely warms my heart, but we still have a long way to go and SO much to protect. Even in the fantasy genre, where ALL loves and identities especially deserve to be front and center - since fantasy is the genre of all possibility. Especially in Love stories, too, which I also feel we need more than ever. So, to do what I can with this faerie romantasy, getting out into the world even more this way, means so much!"

"Tock the Gnome, volume 1: The Rescue Quest" is now available in Ithaca at Buffalo Street Books and Odyssey Bookstore as well as the Hilton Garden Inn, in Dryden at Protagonist Books & Coffee, and in Rochester at Wonderland Comics.

A very fancy and official book release party is scheduled for 6pm Thursday, August 27th at Protagonist Books & Coffee, with gratitude to their amazing team. Please come celebrate this important milestone and queer faerie whimsy and love!

Learn more about Rachel at instagram.com/rachelillustrates

Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS) offer Tompkins County artists with a consistent recent record of producing art funding for a very specific and strategic opportunity that will take their career to the next level. Funding comes from three sources: a local private foundation, CAP's fundraising, and the Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund & Maralyn W. Fleming Fund of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.   

Greater Ithaca Art Trail Events

Details at ArtTrail.com/upcoming-events/

Now in its 28th season, the Greater Ithaca Art Trail is a collection of over 55 local fine & functional artists. Visit ArtTrail.com to see all artists, find out who is open year-round for appointments, and where to buy their art!

ZOOM - COME TO AN ART TRAIL ARTIST TALK!

Wed, September 16, 6:30 to 7:30pm 
Register and get Zoom Link HERE


with Annie Sheng, ceramics & paintings / Amir McClam, linocuts and pottery /  Robert Roemisch, paintings & sculpture / Barbara Behrmann, abstract paintings & art quilts / Margaret Corbit, Raven Barn Studio – mosaics (Image - Julian Plum)

SAVE THE DATES! 
OPEN STUDIO WEEKENDS

October 11-12 and October 17-18



Travel the beautiful roads of Tompkins County with over 40 artist studios as your destinations!


There will be a list showing who is open with maps on ArtTrail.com by Sept. 10.

(Image; Bob Roemish demo in Newfield Studio)

September CAP ArtSpace

Gallery Night: September 4, 5:00-8:00pm

September Free Literary Workshops

SATURDAY, SEPT 5

2:00 TO 3:00pm at Buffalo Street Books

Workshop: Tips & Tricks for Creating Pop-ups and Papercraft

Join Rose ‘Moo’ Howard for a demonstration of several techniques that you can learn to do at home with supplies available at your local craft store.

Learn More and Register (required) HERE


THURSDAY, SEPT 17

6:00 TO 7:00pm at Buffalo Street Books

Workshop: Memoir Kickstart

Memoir Kickstart is a workshop providing a structured approach to writing life stories that feels manageable, not overwhelming, with Lisa D'Annolfo.

Learn More and Register (required) HERE

SATURDAY, SEPT 19

2:00 TO 3:00pm at Buffalo Street Books

Panel: From Life to Art

with Jeanne Mackin, Nancy Holzner, Nancy Ohlin and Hardy Griffin. 

Learn More and Register (required) HERE

There's More To Read!

(On email & phone, notice 
"Message Clipped: View Entire Message")

CAP Professional Development Workshop!

ZOOM: Thursday Sept 24, 6:00 - 7:00pm

Mapping Your Creative Career
What are you looking to achieve in your career as an artist? What does success mean to you? Designed for artists of all disciplines (writers, performers, visual artists, etc.) and career stages, this workshop will provide you with tools to help you close the gap between where you are and where you want to go. 

Kelly Olshan is a NYC-based visual artist, arts manager, and artist advocate passionate about providing resources to creative practitioners. She has served as a Senior Learning Program Officer at New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), where she led the organization’s portfolio of professional development programs for artists and cultural workers globally. To learn more about Kelly, visit kellyolshan.com  

Registration Required HERE

Congratulations nicole v basta!

Current Poet Laureate, Receives Fellowship 
from Academy of American Poets

Congratulations to our current Tompkins County Poet Laureate nicole v basta, one of 22 poets across the U.S. to receive a fellowship from the Academy of American Poets!

Awarded poets serve as poets laureate in cities, counties, states, and Tribal communities. The Academy’s Poet Laureate Fellowship program recognizes laureates’ literary excellence while enabling them to undertake meaningful and innovative projects that enrich the lives of community members, including youth, through responsive and interactive poetry activities.

Read all about this fellowship, nicole, and her project at Poets.org and learn about the Tompkins County Poet Laureate program (which CAP administers) on our website. 


To hear updates on the project and how you can become involved, follow nicole on instagram at @nicoalvbasta or join her free substack at substack.com/@nicoalvbasta

NYFA Artist Opportunity in Corning 
all disciplines

This fall (October 22 to 25) The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes (Corning) is hosting a NYSCA/NYFA Artist As Entrepreneur intensive 3 day workshop. It's a great professional development opportunity! 

Learn more on the NYFA.org site. Application deadline September 27

ArtsLetter Sponsor! Visions FCU
August is Youth Month

Youth Month is Visions’ way of helping parents give the newest generation of savers accounts designed to grow alongside them. Check out our website at Visionsfcu.org/YouthMonth to learn more about how our different Youth accounts can support children of any age! Plus, enjoy an exclusive $25 new account bonus for members ages 17 and under! Check out the link above to learn more! 

Join the Mailing List of Regional Arts Councils!

There's a lot going on nearby!

Events, professional development workshops, and more!

Broome County Arts Council 

https://broomearts.org/classes/

https://broomearts.org/events/


Tioga Arts Council

https://www.tiogaartscouncil.org/programs

Follow on facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/tiogaarts.council


Cortland Arts Connect

https://www.cortlandartsconnect.org/events


CNY Arts (Syracuse)

https://cnyarts.org/events/


Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes

https://www.earts.org/regional-arts-calendar/

Find Local Arts

Join these organization's mailing lists!

Great Sources for Local Events Listings:

IthacaEvents.com

ithaca.com/calendar

So much music - so many concert series!!!

visitithaca.com/events/live-music

MACRE Market: Art, Thrift, and Raffle

Free - Registration Not Required

Saturday, Aug. 19, 2:00 to 6:00pm

MACRE, 415 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca

Rowdy Rose Studio, prints & cards / Twin Cat, Upcycled Jewelry / The Mad Rabbit, Clothes / Skeleton Hands, misc. art / The Blue Faery, fantasy art prints / Makayla Bunce Artworks & MORE

We Declare – A Storytelling Project for Our Times

Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Tompkins County Public Library

and

Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Dryden Center for Community, 9 E Main St, Dryden, NY 13053

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Ageless Jazz Band

agelessjazz.org

Clay School Art Room and meet ups

clayschoolithaca.com/theartroom

Comedy Events

comedyonthecommons.com/events

Black Hands Universal 

Black Hands Universal Inc.

Buffalo Street Books  

See their slate of public events!

Events | Buffalo Street Books

Canaan Institute

Traditional Music / Outdoor Activities.

canaaninstitute.org

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra

See their concerts at

ccoithaca.org

Cayuga Vocal Ensemble

See their concerts at

cayuga-vocal.org

Cherry Arts and Cherry Gallery!

Performances, Exhibitions and More at

thecherry.org

Cinemapolis

See what's playing at

cinemapolis.org

Circus Culture

Check out their drop-in classes.

circusculture.org

Civic Ensemble

Visit their website to learn about the youth theatre program.

civicensemble.org

Community School of Music and Arts

Explore their programs. Check out their latest exhibit, rent rehearsal and event space!

csma-ithaca.org

Cornell Concert Series

cornellconcertseries.com

Corners Gallery  

See their latest exhibition at

cornersgallery.com

Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers

Concerts and recordings at

dorothycottonjubileesingers.org

Downtown Ithaca Alliance  

See what's happening downtown

downtownithaca.org

Dryden intergenerational Band & Chorus 

See their performances at

daibc.org

eyevee (Inlet Valley Arts Center)

Exhibits, audio/visual performances and events, workshops, residency program..

eyevee.org

Gallery Nights

First Friday of every month in downtown Ithaca.

ithacagallerynight.com

Gallery at South Hill  

See their latest and upcoming exhibits at:

thegalleryatsouthhill.com

Greater Ithaca Activities Center

Do you know about all of their programs?

cityofithaca.org/327/Greater-Ithaca-Activities-Center

Here's where you'll find their events!

facebook.com/IthacaGIAC

Groton Public Library 

Check out activities and books to read

grotonpubliclibrary.net

Hangar Theatre

Always something happening!

Check out and subscribe to their summer season.

hangartheatre.org

Harmony Falls Chorus Summer Sing

We’re a women’s chorus singing a cappella, barbershop style!

Harmonyfallschorus.com

House of Ithaqua

Stay up to date with their shows here.

www.houseofithaqua.com

The History Center in Tompkins County

Stay up to date with their exhibits here.

thehistorycenter.net

Ink Shop Printmaking Center

Exhibits and workshops! Exhibits and workshops!

Ink-Shop.org

Ithaca Ballet

Classes and Performances

ithacaballet.org

Ithaca Community Orchestra

Tune into their upcoming performances.

ithacacommunityorchestra.org

Ithaca Concert Band

Tune into their upcoming performances.

ithacaconcertband.org

Ithaca Community Chorus and Chamber Singers

Stay up to date on their performances.

acithaca.org/performances-and-tickets/

Ithaca Shakespeare Company

See their performances here

http://ithacashakespeare.org

Johnson Museum   

Free and open to all.

museum.cornell.edu 

Kitchen Theatre

Ongoing performances all year!

kitchentheatre.org

K-House Karaoke & Arts Hub

Sing, host parties, workshops, and vibe at K-House!

khousekaraoke.com

Lansing Area Performance Hall

See their ongoing slate of events

savageclubofithaca.com

Lansing Library

Check out activities and books to read

lansinglibrary.org

Latino Civic Association

Check out their resources and events

lcatompkins.org

Lilypad Puppet Theatre

See all their performances and events.

lilypadpuppettheatre.org

Mix Art Gallery

See their latest exhibits.

mixartgallery.com

Newfield Public Library

Check out their website for lots of events.

newfieldpubliclibrary.org

Odyssey Bookstore

Check out their books

odysseybookstore.com

Opera Ithaca

Watch past performances

www.operaithaca.org

Opus School of Music

Classes! Scholarships available!

Opus Ithaca School of Music

Pandoluci Studios

Theatre and Dance workshops or private lessons.

Pandoluci.com

Story House Ithaca

https://www.storyhouseithaca.org/

Saltonstall Foundation

See upcoming events

saltonstall.org/events-calendar/

Southside Community Center

Check out their social media on facebook and follow them on instagram

Southworth Library

Check out their website for dozens of interesting events!

southworthlibrary.org

So What? Studio

A social arts club with fun events!

@sowhatartclub

State of the Art Gallery  

See their programs and exhibits

soagithaca.org

State Theatre

Upcoming shows at

stateofithaca.org/events

Story House Ithaca

Upcoming events: book club, story nights, mending circle, listening room and more!

storyhouseithaca.org/events

Tompkins County Public Library  

There are always great events at the library!

tcpl.org

Triphammer Arts

www.triphammer.org

Trumansburg Conservatory

Check out their events and more

tburgconservatory.org

Ulysses Library

There is always more to do than read at a Library!

trumansburglibrary.org

Walking on Water Productions

See their performances here

https://www.walkingonwaterproductions.org

DONATE TODAY!

Your support makes art happen.

Learn more and donate now at our website: ArtsPartner.org

Instagram:@community_arts_partnership

Facebook: /ArtsPartner

Email: Programs@artspartner.org

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