Totally Awesome Grantee Spotlight

Marina Gershon's "The Escape Room"

Congratulations Grant Awardees of the

Arts and Clean Energy Awareness Grant

More Free Literary Workshops

Eight More Through September!

Solace Among Trees Exhibit

At the CAP ArtSpace through July 31

Join us on Gallery Night!

Greater Ithaca Art Trail Group Exhibit!

Friday, August 7

More Upcoming Art Trail Events

Artist Talks - August 17, 21, Sept. 16

34th Annual Ithaca Artist Market!

Visitor Registration for Amazing Raffle

Friday, August 14

List of Regional & Local Arts & Culture Organizations

Join their mailing lists

See all CAP Events on our

CAP CALENDAR

Totally Awesome Grantee Spotlight:

Marina Gershon creates "The Escape Room"

An interdisciplinary artist, Marina Gershon (pictured) is known for her collaborative puppetry, storytelling, and immersive performance work. She lives in Freeville with fellow artists in the Dacha Project collective.

Marina received a 2026 CAP Strategic Opportunity Stipend (SOS) to develop The Escape Room, an imaginative classroom arts-education project she conceived that was launched at Freeville Elementary School this past June. 

Working alongside her fellow artist-pirates Lily Gershon, Isaac Sharp, Marietta Synodis, and Annette Spearman, a first grade classroom was transformed into an immersive world of pirates, puzzles, and discovery that blended creative problem-solving, advanced thinking skills, and teamwork

(pictured - Lily Gershon)

So what specifically happens inside The Escape Room?

Marina says: A mischievous troll stole my pirate treasure chest and locked it away, so I enlisted an entire class of brave young pirates to help me win it back!

My crew and I transformed the classroom into a swashbuckling pirate adventure, complete with a pirate ship, a cheeky parrot, and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Before officially joining the crew, each aspiring pirate solved a clever riddle to earn their pirate hat and bandanna.

Once their pirate training was complete, the immersive adventure began! The pirates used LED flashlights to reveal invisible-ink messages, chilled clues with ice cubes to uncover hidden words on cold-sensitive paper, and used the warmth of their foreheads to reveal secret messages on heat-sensitive vinyl. They cracked colorful ciphers, pieced together jigsaw puzzles, and followed each clue to the next challenge.

With every puzzle solved, the pirates grew more confident, strengthened their teamwork, and moved closer to the final prize. At last, they unlocked the treasure chest, reclaimed the stolen pirate booty, and celebrated their success together.

Marina credits the Strategic Opportunity Stipend with helping turn the ambitious idea into reality: Every great pirate needs a little wind in their sails, and the SOS Grant provided exactly that. I am deeply grateful for their generosity, which brought this adventure to life and will continue to inspire curiosity, creativity, and imagination as many more young pirates set sail on future learning adventures.

Editor's note: Marina please create a pirate escape room for adults. I want to do this! —Robin

Photographs by Marietta Synodis.

Strategic Opportunity Stipends (SOS): Tompkins County artists with a consistent recent record of producing art can apply 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.   

Announcing Awardees of

Arts & Clean Energy Awareness Grant

Read the full article on our news page

The Arts and Clean Energy Awareness Grant was made possible by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Smart Energy Choices program—the Regional Clean Energy Hub for the Southern Tier—and was administered for Tompkins County by the Community Arts Partnership through a competitive juried application process.

The grant supports the creation of new art (visual art, murals, performing art, literary art, storytelling, or film) with a community engagement element that promotes an awareness of clean energy and empowers residents to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint.

Four local artists were awarded funds for projects completed by September 2026.


Read more about these artist's projects on our website. Congratulations to:


Clare Jones

Bethany Parisi with Suz Newman (fiber artist), and Barb Ne al of Sweet Meadow Farm.

Margaret Kops Kuveke

Andrew Boghossian

Upcoming Free Literary Workshops

all taking place at Buffalo Street Books

Read full descriptions and register (required) at 
springwrites.org/events/additional-workshops/

SATURDAY, JULY 25

2:00 TO 3:15pm

Workshop: ECHO: Generative Creative Writing

A generative workshop led by current Tompkins County Poet Laureate, nicole v. basta

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

2:00 TO 3:00pm

Workshop: Humor Writing

Led by David Guaspari.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

6:00 TO 7:00pm

Heart Up-On Our Sleeve: Poetry Sewcial

Sew a fabric heart while you listen to poets! With textile artivist Zoë Van Nostrand and poetry readings coordinated by poet S. E. Barden.

SEE FIVE MORE WORKSHOPS in SEPTEMBER

July CAP ArtSpace

Solace Among Trees

Up until July 31

August CAP ArtSpace

Greater Ithaca Art Trail

Group Show

Gallery Night, August 7, 5-8pm

Upcoming Greater Ithaca

Art Trail Events

Details at ArtTrail.com/upcoming-events/

ART TRAIL ARTIST TALKS!


Monday, August 17, 6:30 to 7:30pm - live

at the CAP ArtSpace

Friday August 21, 6:30 to 7:30pm - live

at the CAP ArtSpace

Wed, September 16, 6:30 to 7:30pm - ZOOM

(Image - Julian Plum)



OPEN STUDIO WEEKENDS

October 11-12 and October 17-18



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



Hi! There's More To REad

On email & phone, notice 
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Ithaca Artist Market!

Friday August 14, 12:00 - 7:30pm

Visitor Registration Requested for a chance to win over 50 (!) items donated by participating artists and arts organizations.



Join us for a vibrant day of fine art, live music, local food, and community at the 34th Annual Ithaca Artist Market!f

This juried outdoor show and sale features more than 80 local and regional artists presenting an incredible variety of fine and functional artwork, including paintings, ceramics, photography, fiber art, blown glass, jewelry, sculpture, prints, handmade books, mixed media, woodwork, children's book illustrations, and much more. There's something for every budget!

The market also features live music throughout the day by the East Hill Jazz Group, poets and writers, local arts and community organizations and a dozen-plus food vendors serving meals, desserts, plus local wine, craft beer, cider, and other beverages.

Visitors are encouraged to register in advance. Registration helps us communicate weather-related updates (the market is held rain or shine, except in extreme circumstances) and automatically enters attendees into an AMAZING RAFFLE featuring more than 50 prizes donated by participating artists and arts organizations.

Visit artspartner.org/content/view/ithaca-artist-market.html to register, view the list of raffle prizes, and explore the full lineup of participating artists and organizations.

Pictured: Mar's Studio (Maryam Adib), Perri Lopinto Pottery, and Earth Tongue Studio (Erin Schantz-Hilton)

Visions Federal Credit Union

CAP's ArtsLetter Sponsor

Rethinking the card in your wallet?



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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/

Local Events

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



------------------------------

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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