What a year it’s been for the Caroga Arts Collective! In November, Caroga Arts received word that Sherman’s Amusement Park is being gifted to us by local donor George Abdella. The beautiful and historic Sherman’s is being placed in our care to steward it for generations to come. We are so excited for our future, the future of Sherman’s, and the future of Caroga Lake!
To recap the 2018-19 season, Caroga Arts hit a record-breaking number of events throughout the year. Caroga Arts successfully presented its first year-round program with the Winter, Spring, and Summer Residency, which included school outreaches, community classes, and engaging showcases.
The 8th Annual Caroga Lake Music Festival presented 30 performances featuring more than 120 world-class artists and bringing over 6,000 audience members to Caroga Lake and beyond. This past season’s CLMF brought new artistic facets to the festival including America’s Got Talent magician Steven Brundage at Sherman’s and a collaborative ballet and orchestra performance featuring Caroga Arts Ensemble and Utica Dance.
Jazz prodigy Matthew Whitaker returned for our 4th Annual Gala, and we celebrated July 4th at our first Red, White, Blues & Bluegrass festival with music, art, festivities and fireworks.
For the second year in a row, Caroga Arts attracted nationwide talent to Caroga Lake for the National Summer Cello Institute and invited award-winning film directors and producers to speak at the 2nd Annual MyHil Film Series.
As we look forward to our 2020 season, we are filled with gratitude to you as one of our patrons and ask you again to consider being a part of the exciting growth of the Caroga Arts Collective. This year we are implementing our new Adopt-an-Artist program. Each summer we have more than 75 Resident Artists. You may adopt one of these artists and you will get to know them up close and personally. Donors who adopt an artist will receive two passes to a ticketed concert (presented by Caroga Arts) of their choice and an invitation to an exclusive artist/sponsor only event.
Whether you joined us for a special evening with Terre Blair Hamlisch at the Caroga Chapel, discovered something new with the “Cello Goblin” at The Arts Hub or danced in the rain to Indie pop band Air Traffic Controller, we hope you will come back next season and join our growing community for fun and fellowship.
In addition to all of our performances and outreaches, Caroga Arts invites you to support us at the 5th Annual Gala on July 25, 2020 and Caroga Arts Golf Outing on August 9, 2020. Stay tuned and sign up for our free newsletter, follow us on Facebook or check our website carogaarts.org to keep up with our latest developments.
Sincerely,
Kyle Barrett Price
Artistic & Executive Director
Santa surprised everyone by arriving on a horse-drawn wagon, and then handed out candy canes to the children. There was holiday music performed by the Caroga Arts musicians inside the Carousel, carol singing by the bonfire, a variety of warm beverages and cookies, and lots of holiday spirit!
