Grantee Spotlight: Ithaca Welcomes Refugees Mural

Community Mural Celebrating Inclusion

and Refugee Solidarity by Hugo Medina

Spring Writes Literary Festival

May 28 and June 14 (Zoom)

July to Sept (more Live)

Come join the fun!

Next CAP Professional Development Workshop

"Thanks for the No!"

Monday, June 1 (Live)

with Debra Charris (performer Dee Lightfull)

Join us on Gallery Night

Friday, June 5

ToCo Design Rally: Side Quest

Artist Networking Night

Wednesday, July 8

Come network with us! It's so fun!

List of Regional & Local Arts & Culture Organizations

Join their mailing lists!

Grantee Spotlight:

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees

Community Mural Celebrating Inclusion

 and Refugee Solidarity

Hugo Medina and the Ithaca Welcomes Refugees staff and community came together to create something beautiful!

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) is an organization that partners with newly arrived refugees and immigrants as they rebuild their lives in Tompkins County. It is based in Ithaca, and has a small staff, and an established network of volunteers. IWR operates three core programs; Welcome Home, helping newcomers secure housing and set up living arrangements; Response Projects, providing needs-based resettlement assistance; and Global Roots Play School, offering play-based, trauma-informed care for preschool aged children and a community for their families.

They were awarded our GAP Grant (Grants for Arts Programs) to create a mural that engaged the community, their organization, and spoke to the experience of IWR. GAP exists to give arts programs and organizations the chance to broaden their reach, cover operating costs, and participate in opportunities and events they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. It is through grants like this that CAP helps keep Ithaca’s art scene vital. The project was also partly funded by a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program

The lead artist for this project is Hugo Medina, a professional muralist with extensive experience creating public art that engages and reflects community narratives. He worked closely with IWR staff, including Development Director Leila Wilmers, volunteers, supporters, refugee partners, Ithaca Murals and the broader community to design and facilitate the mural's painting.

Through a series of events in 2025, Hugo collected input from local residents with lived experience of displacement. The painting kicked off with a lively community paint day earlier this month. IWR welcomed a steady flow of around 30 participants of all ages, including IWR program volunteers, staff, board members, supporters, friends, and passersby. The mural is in its final stages of completion and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony!

The ceremony is open to the public and will take place on June 3^rd at 1pm at 314 W State St. Guests will have the chance to be photographed with the mural, learn more about the story of the artwork and IWR, and speak to the lead artist and IWR staff and board members.

Photo by: Sara Tro saratrophoto.com

The GAP Grant is part of New York State Council on the Arts ((NYSCA) "Statewide Community Regrant" (SCR) program, administered in Tompkins County by the Community Arts Partnership. SCR is made possible by NYSCA with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page and Instagram @NYScouncilonthearts.

Spring Writes Literary Festival

continues through September: Zoom & Live!

SpringWrites.org

NEXT UP!

ZOOM: THURSDAY, MAY 28

6:00 TO 6:55PM EDT

Workshop: Burn Bright, Not Out: Caring for Your Creative Self When Everything Feels Hard

Setting intentions, establishing practices, and maintaining accountability around creative self care. The world is loud and hard, and most of us have day jobs, families, and other obligations that make us susceptible to burnout, especially when trying to balance those things with writing and other creative pursuits. This session with Aurora Rey will include a presentation on burnout symptoms and research as well as reflection activities and exercises that can help participants implement burnout prevention strategies in their writing and everyday lives.

ZOOM REGISTRATION HERE for this workshop AND the 7:00pm reading below (same form! Drop in for one or both.)





LIVE: SUNDAY, MAY 31


11:00AM TO 5:00PM

Ithaca Book and Zine Fair

Buffalo Street Books

The Fifth Annual Ithaca Book and Zine Fair welcomes local and regional artists and publishers to show and sell their books, zines, and art. The community room at Buffalo Street Books and the hallways of DeWitt Mall will be filled with amazing writers, artists and their publications. Meet the artists! Free and open to the public. 

(No registration required – just go!)



ZOOM: THURSDAY, MAY 28

7:00 TO 8:00PM EDT

Group Reading: Poems and Two Debut Novels

Join us for a wonderful group reading with three poets and two novelists! Peter Fortunato (poems are soaring, searing truth-telling), Amir McClam (poetry), Lex E Santí (reading from his novel, The Song of the Midnight Rider), Laura Glenn (poems about contemporary life: trials and hope), Rebecca Gopoian (reading from her novel First Rule of Fire) and Jade Ferrante

ZOOM REGISTRATION HERE  for this reading AND the 6:00pm workshop above (same form! Drop in for one or both.)



ZOOM: SUNDAY, JUNE 14

7:00 TO 8:00PM EDT

Reading: Juneteenth: The Black Fantastic

A reading of speculative poetry by African American poets on the theme of Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebrates the years late arrival of the announcement of emancipation to the enslaved in Texas. The celebration has come to signify a celebration of freedom and liberty for all those previously enslaved. The poets include multi-award winning Linda Addison, Owolabe Aboyade, Sol’Sax, upfromsumdirt, and Grandmaster of Fantastic Poetry, Akua Lezli Hope. 


ZOOM REGISTRATION HERE  

AND EIGHT MORE EVENTS: July to September

Find more workshops, a panel and a group reading – all at Buffalo Street Books.

Go to SpringWrites.org for the full schedule of events and artist bios.



Images: Left to Right: nicole v. basta / Janie E. Bibbie / Erica Steinhagen / (Audience) / (Books) / Winniebell Xinyu Zong / (Audience) / Valerie Sykes

Next CAP Professional Development Workshop!

"Thanks for the No!"

LIVE, MONDAY, JUNE 1
 Free. Register Now!

with Debra Charris

aka performer Dee Lightfull.

Monday, June 1, 6:00 to 7:00pm

Location - CAP ArtSpace:

110 N. Tioga Street (on the Commons), Tompkins Center for History and Culture in the Ithaca College Gallery



"Thanks for the No" is a workshop about the least glamorous but most universal part of being an artist or performer: hearing “no” and living to tell the tale.

Read the full description and REGISTER (REQUIRED) and see more workshops (and recordings of past workshops.) at artspartner.org/content/view/Workshops.html

Find out more about Dee Lightfull on Instagram @DeeLightfullBurlesque

THANK YOU to our sponsor for both our workshop series and our networking events! Tompkins Community Bank

May CAP ArtSpace Exhibit

ToCo Design Rally: Side Quest

Come on out on Gallery Night!

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 5pm-8pm

Thank you to our annual

CAP ArtSpace sponsor, Coughlin & Gerhart!

Artist Market Applications

Due MONDAY, JUNE 14

Save the Event Date!

FRIDAY, AUG 15

noon to 7:30pm

Farmers Market

Applications for individual artists

and local nfp organizations (along with event information) is at:

artspartner.org/content/view/ithaca-artist-market.html

(Image: Earth Tongue Studio at 2025 market)

THERE'S MORE TO READ!

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

Visual Artist Opportunity

State of the Art Gallery's "Seeing Ithaca"

This year State of the Art Gallery Ithaca will again be sponsoring “Seeing Ithaca: Through the Eyes of Artists” during the month of August 2026. They invite any Ithaca area artist who has a dedicated art studio or gallery and a web presence. 

(https://seeingithaca.org/) Email seeingithaca@soagithaca.org for details.

Visions Certificate Special!

CAP's ArtsLetter Sponsor

New Money Share Certificate Special

4.50% Annual Percentage Yield.



Interested in earning a nice bonus to help fund your summer plans? Our 12-Month Share Certificate Special is just the tool for you.

Earn a 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield on new money deposits – available through June 30, 2026.

Learn more at visionsfcu.org/sharecertificates.

Join the Mailing List of Regional Arts Councils!

There's a lot going on nearby!

Events, professional development workshops, and more!

Broome Art Council 

https://broomearts.org/classes/


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/

See their upcoming fiscal sponsorship workshop on Zoom June 1 


Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes

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

With Local Events

Join organization mailing lists!

Friday, June 5th, 5pm to 8pm

"Who Are You? Who Are We?" Opening.

A Cross-County exhibit designed to build creative bridges, spotlight talent, and spark deep networking between Broome County creators and the Ithaca art community. Curated by Tia Eytina and Sarah Lopez. See participants at

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYsDT01zyza/

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

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

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

Poetry and Prose Open Mics and other great events!

The Downstairs

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

Join Our: MAILING LIST