grant Archives - The Depot Theatre

The Depot Theatre Awarded $83,000 NYSCA Capital Grant for Historic Preservation and Facility Improvements

The Depot Theatre has been awarded $83,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support critical capital improvements to its historic home in the 1876 Westport train station.

The grant is part of a statewide capital funding announcement supporting arts and culture facilities across New York State. Funding will help The Depot Theatre undertake improvements that strengthen the long-term sustainability, accessibility, and functionality of the historic building while preserving its unique character and significance.

Planned improvements include upgrades to heating and cooling systems, roof insulation in portions of the facility, and improvements to windows and building infrastructure designed to increase energy efficiency, improve visitor comfort, and support year-round stewardship of the historic property.

“The Depot Theatre occupies one of the most distinctive performing arts venues in New York State,” said Scott Gibree, Chair of the Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “This investment helps us preserve an important piece of Adirondack history while ensuring that artists, audiences, students, and community members can continue to gather here for years to come. We are deeply grateful to NYSCA, Governor Hochul, and our elected leaders for recognizing the importance of rural cultural infrastructure.”

The project builds on the Theatre’s ongoing commitment to historic preservation and public service. In addition to serving as a professional theatre and educational center, The Depot Theatre operates within an active Amtrak station and serves thousands of residents and visitors each year through Main Stage productions, youth programming, concerts, readings, and community events.

By improving energy efficiency and building performance, the project will help reduce operating costs, enhance environmental sustainability, protect valuable theatrical equipment, and support expanded use of the facility during the spring and fall shoulder seasons.

“New York’s powerful arts and culture sector is a formidable asset,” Governor Hochul said. “Our continued investments in museums, theaters, and art centers generate incredible returns — sparking innovation, boosting local economies, driving visitors, and making us the global epicenter of arts and culture.”

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We know that when the arts flourish, communities follow — bringing energy, creating jobs, expanding accessibility, and increasing tourism. This grant program is a critical investment in our creative sector, empowering our creative community and inspiring innovation. Congratulations to all the grantees, we look forward to seeing these diverse projects develop all throughout the state.”

About The Depot Theatre

Founded in 1979, The Depot Theatre is a professional nonprofit theatre located in the historic Westport train station on the shore of Lake Champlain. Guided by its mission to enrich the lives of residents and visitors through live performance, arts education, and community engagement, the Theatre presents a Main Stage season, the Depot Theatre Academy, and year-round special events that connect artists and audiences in the Adirondack region.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2027, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch.

June 12, 2026

News

Depot Theatre awarded 2025 NYSCA Funding

Depot Theatre Academy students performing in SHREK JR, 2024.

A portion of NYSCA 2025 funding will support teaching artists for the Depot Theatre Academy outreach and education programs. (2024 performance of SHREK THE MUSICAL JR. Photo courtesy Betsy Bacot.)

Westport, N.Y. — The Depot Theatre in Westport, NY was awarded a $25,000 Support for Organizations grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

The funding will support infrastructure and staffing for both the Depot’s main stage and Academy outreach and education programs for the 2025 fiscal year.

“We’re grateful for NYSCA’s continued support of the Depot Theatre and our mission,” said Kim Rielly, the Depot Theatre’s Executive Director. “As the Adirondacks’ only professional Equity theatre, this vital funding will support the artists and infrastructure that are necessary for us to continue to drive significant cultural and economic impact in our community and the greater region.”

Through New York State’s continued investment in arts and culture, NYSCA has awarded $82 million this year to 509 artists and 1,497 organizations across the state.

“As the unparalleled leader of arts and culture, New York’s creativity and innovation inspires the world,” Governor Hochul said. “Our continued investment in our dynamic creative sector will further boost tourism, strengthen our local economies, and continue New York’s success as a rich and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The theatre’s upcoming main stage summer season and Academy opportunities will be announced in early 2025.

For more information about the Depot Theatre and its programs, visit DepotTheatre.org.

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ABOUT THE NYS COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts, and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

ABOUT THE DEPOT THEATRE

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2025 programming is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

November 25, 2024

News

Depot Theatre awarded more than $40,000 in grant support

Westport, N.Y. — The Depot Theatre in Westport, New York, has been recently awarded grants for technology improvements and expanded education programs.

Technology Improvements

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has awarded the Depot Theatre a $25,000 capital projects grant for a new scenic projection system.

Scenic projection design technology is becoming more prevalent on Broadway, on the road, and in regional theaters nationwide. In short: it allows the ability to project images on the stage and to present changing scenery and truly mixed media productions combining live performances with filmed sequences. The system will largely eliminate the time and costs associated with building entirely physical sets while transforming the stage in more creative and exciting ways.

For the Depot Theatre, adding this technology presents a number of financial benefits: savings in personnel, time, materials, and storage space costs. It also provides an opportunity for the theatre’s scenic designers to implement more elaborate designs. In addition, this contemporary technology will be a great tool for teaching artists to include in training for Academy program participants who are interested in theatre technology careers.

“We’re grateful to NYSCA for this vital support,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre’s Executive Director. “The projector system will not only enhance the quality and variety of the live theatre experience we can provide for our audiences but will be a sustainable solution to a number of capacity challenges that plague our small professional theatre.”

“The over 100 projects we’re supporting through this funding will showcase arts and cultural organizations across the state and spur economic development for decades to come,” Governor Hochul said. “From historic sites to new multi-use arts centers, these diverse projects will expand the accessibility and the sustainability of arts and culture organizations while growing local economies, driving tourism, and creating jobs all across New York State.”

The system will be purchased and staff training will occur in 2024 so that it can be used for the 2025 season.

Expanded Education Programs

The Charles R. Wood Foundation has awarded the Depot $15,000, and the Essex County Arts Council has awarded $750 in support of the Depot’s expanded Academy outreach and education program.

The Depot Theatre Academy has implemented expanded programming in 2024, beginning with the addition of an opportunity for experienced student artists ages 13 and older enrolled in school, inclusive of home school and college. The program features the same process that professional artists experience on the main stage, with competitive auditions and demanding rehearsals, culminating in performances of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE on the Depot Theatre’s main stage June 7-9.

Expanded 2024 Academy Summer programming also includes a new program for 5-8-year-olds who are new to theatre from July 15-19 at the BVCS Mountain View Campus. The Depot will also host its three-week program for ages 8-18, culminating in three performances of SHREK THE MUSICAL JR. on August 2-4 at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall.

The grant will support the Depot’s ability to offer scholarships for the summer programs as well as attendance at the annual New York State Theatre Education Association (NYSTEA) conference — an opportunity that is pivotal to the growth of young artists as they decide on their future careers. The Academy also seeks to increase participation by school districts in its Arts In Education programs during the school year.

Over the past five years, the Charles R. Wood Foundation has awarded nearly $10.2 million dollars to charitable organizations in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont. “We are so pleased to be able to support so many worthwhile projects. From small community soup kitchens to the larger capital projects, we are committed to investing in children, healthcare, and the arts in our geographical focus area,” said Charlene Wood, Chair and Trustee.

The Essex County Arts Council administers the Cultural Assistance Program (CAP) Grants, which are funded by Essex County and the Essex County Board of Supervisors.

“We are extremely appreciative of the continued commitment from the Essex County Arts Council, and for the generous support of the Charles R. Wood Foundation,” said Ginene Mason, Depot Theatre’s Director of Outreach and Education. “This funding will allow us to expand the reach of our summer programming, and our year-round Arts In Education programs, effectively introducing the arts to North Country students that are historically underserved.”

For more information about the Depot Theatre and the Academy program visit DepotTheatre.org.

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ABOUT THE DEPOT THEATRE

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

The Depot Theatre’s 2024 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the Essex County Arts Council. The Depot Theatre 2024 Season is sponsored by the Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation.

The Depot Theatre Academy is a robust educational experience for area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre—whether that’s backstage or on stage. The Depot Theatre 2024 Academy summer program is sponsored by the TrailNorth Federal Credit Union. The Academy is underwritten by the Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $127 million in FY 2024, serving over 2,000 arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

ABOUT THE CHARLES R. WOOD FOUNDATION

The Charles R. Wood Foundation was founded in 1978 with its mission to provide assistance to areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. Not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare, and the arts are the beneficiaries of Mr. Wood’s generosity. A Board of Trustees oversees the Foundation with a goal to preserve the mission established by Charles R. Wood.

ABOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL

The Essex County Arts Council is a 501c3 non-profit organization serving Essex County in the beautiful Adirondack region of upstate New York.

Essex County Arts Council promotes and advocates a vibrant culture for the arts through an effective county-wide system to proactively connect organizations, artists, and students with full-time and seasonal residents and visitors.

May 23, 2024

News

Depot Theatre awarded 2023 NYSCA Grant for New Sound System

Depot Theatre’s stage- located in the freight room of the historic Westport Train Station.

WESTPORT, NY — The Depot Theatre in Westport, NY has been awarded a $25,000 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) capital improvement grant for a sound system replacement.

The grant is part of a record capital investment of more than $42 million to 144 capital projects for arts and cultural organizations across the state to support crucial building renovations, accessibility improvements, and new spaces for creative work.

The capital improvement grant brings total NYSCA support for the Depot Theatre this year to $55,000, including a $30,000 Support for Organizations grant.

“We’re extremely grateful to NYSCA for their ongoing support and investment in the Depot Theatre and the entire arts and cultural sector,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre Executive Director.

“Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.”

“Technological systems for professional productions in the freight room of a train station are certainly a challenge, and our current sound system is comprised of a combination of obsolete borrowed and donated equipment,” Rielly continued. “The new comprehensive system will be a crucial upgrade for our small space, with low-profile but powerful output for the actors and musicians that might even be a match for the noise of the passing trains!”

Installation of the new sound system is expected to be complete by the end of the 2023 main stage season.

The Depot Theatre, celebrating its 45th season in 2023, is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, NY. For more information about the Depot Theatre and its main stage and Academy youth programs, visit DepotTheatre.org.

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About the Depot Theatre

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2023 programming is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the Adirondack Foundation – Generous Acts Fund and the Essex County Arts Council.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The Council on the Arts preserves and advances the arts and culture that make New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit. The Council upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development, and quality of life. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award record funding in FY 2023, providing support across the full breadth of the arts, including dedicated support for arts education and underrepresented communities.

The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

May 18, 2023

News

Depot Theatre awarded grants for facility and technology improvements

The Depot Theatre in Westport, NY has been awarded several grants in support of facility and technology improvements.

The Charles R. Wood Foundation has awarded the Depot a grant of $16,000, and the J.M. McDonald Foundation awarded a grant of $5,000 toward the Depot Theatre Historic Property Exterior Painting Project.

This grant funding will be used toward painting the exterior of the historic Depot Theatre train station, which is owned by the Town of Westport and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Depot Theatre building is not only home to the Adirondacks’ only professional Equity theatre, but it serves as an information hub for travelers and residents, and a working train station that, in non-pandemic times, welcomes Amtrak passengers traveling to and from the Lake Champlain and High Peaks regions year round.

”We’re grateful to the Depot Theatre for being dedicated stewards and securing funding for this iconic structure,” said Ike Tyler, Town of Westport Supervisor. “It is important that we maintain and preserve this vital facility, which has such a direct cultural and economic impact on the community and greater Adirondack region.”

The Depot was also awarded a grant of $2,000 for the Depot Theatre’s Virtual Streaming Technology Initiative from the Adirondack Foundation’s Special and Urgent Needs Fund.

The Adirondack Foundation grant funding will be used toward the purchase of vital, updated camera equipment for archiving main stage performances and producing educational resources for the Depot Theatre Academy outreach and education program.

“Preservation and improvement of the train station and updated technological equipment are both integral parts of the theatre’s strategic master facilities and technology plan,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre Executive Director. “We are grateful to these Foundations for their vital support of these initiatives.”

The Depot Theatre’s 2021 main stage season begins on July 1. Tickets and more information about the organization are available online at www.DepotTheatre.org.

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About Charles R. Wood Foundation
The Charles R. Wood Foundation was founded in 1978 with its mission to provide assistance to areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. Not-for-profit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts are the beneficiaries of Mr. Wood’s generosity. A Board of Trustees oversees the Foundation with a goal to preserve the mission established by Charles R. Wood. http://charlesrwoodfoundation.com

About J.M. McDonald Foundation
In the spring of 1952, J.M. McDonald established the J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc. This is a trust whose income is to be used as donations to deserving charities. Primary interests of the Foundation are education, humanities, health, and a variety of social and human services.

As of the year 2014, 62 years after its inception, the J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc. has grown many times over and is active in awarding grants primarily in upstate New York. Thanks to the foresight of J.M. McDonald, Sr., the Foundation will continue the charitable example he modeled years ago. https://www.jmmcdonaldfoundation.org/

About Adirondack Foundation
Support for this work is from Adirondack Foundation – the community foundation serving the Adirondack Region working to enhance the lives of the people in the Adirondacks through philanthropy. Adirondack Foundation’s Special and Urgent Needs Fund (SUN) is a responsive granting resource that can be deployed to assist Adirondack communities and nonprofits during times of crisis. It can also be deployed to help organizations leverage additional resources to help them rise to the next level, deepen partnerships, or take advantage of extraordinary opportunities or trainings that fall outside of your budget and would otherwise be out of reach.To learn more, visit adirondackfoundation.org.

About The Depot Theatre
The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2021 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by Essex County Arts Council. www.DepotTheatre.org

June 11, 2021

News

Depot Theatre awarded support for Academy outreach and education program

Above: Depot Theatre Academy participants rehearse dance steps during the 2020 Physically-Distant, Artistically Connected 2020 program.

The Depot Theatre in Westport, New York has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation to support the Depot Theatre Academy theatre outreach and education program.

The 2021 summer Depot Theatre Academy program, held at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall August 9-22, encompasses a junior program for young artists ages 8-12, and an enhanced senior program for participants ages 13 and older who are enrolled in school, home school, or college.

The Bailey Foundation grant funding will allow the Depot to promote and run its enhanced program, with all necessary PPE measures in place. Funding will be used for overall program support to help underwrite artist fees, necessary equipment upgrades due to the pandemic, and student tuition assistance.

“Our intention is to provide a robust educational experience for all of our area youth and a pathway for those interested in pursuing a profession in theatre,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre Executive Director. “We’re grateful to the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation for providing significant resources toward fulfilling one of our most important strategic goals: to offer the best educational youth theatre program possible to this rural, underserved area of northern New York.”

The 2021 Academy summer program will include workshops led by Equity professionals in acting, voice, and dance, culminating in three performances of this year’s production: INTO THE WOODS, JR. Senior Academy participants will also have the option to perform in a Cabaret. 2021 Depot Theatre Academy plans also include an accompaniment workshop and adult rep class.

“Despite the challenges of 2020, we’re proud to have successfully conducted a physically-distant and artistically-connected Academy program last summer,” said Kenney Green, Depot Theatre Producing Artistic Director. “We’re pleased that in 2021, we’ll introduce new workshops, and in addition to professional Equity instruction, our summer program will also include live performances as a culmination of the artists’ learning experience.”

Registration for the summer academy program is available beginning April 1. Information about the program and other regional youth theatre opportunities can be found at www.DepotTheatre.org.

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and it is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. The Depot Theatre Academy is made possible in part with a generous sponsorship from the Rogers-Carroll Family Foundation and by Depot Theatre Academy underwriter, the Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation, with special thanks to the Whallonsburg Grange Hall.

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ABOUT THE CORNELIA T BAiLEY FOUNDATION

The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation is a Florida-based private foundation focused on making grants to promote the arts, education and initiatives that seek to better our world utilizing nature and the sciences.The Foundation’s mission is to utilize its assets to assist any organization which seeks to promote the arts or create programs that not only inspire and engage but also teach. https://ctbfoundation.org/

ABOUT THE DEPOT THEATRE

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers, and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2021 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by Essex County Arts Council. www.DepotTheatre.org

March 21, 2021

News

Depot Theatre Awarded Continued Support from Cloudsplitter Foundation

Cloudsplitter Foundation Director Chenelle Palyswiat (R) presents Depot Theatre Executive Director Kim Rielly with a check for $5,000.

The Depot Theatre has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Cloudsplitter Foundation for ongoing operational needs and improvements to its artist housing.

The grant represents continued support from Cloudsplitter Foundation for this mission-driven project which will ultimately allow the theatre flexibility to expand programming into the winter months.

In 2019, the Depot was awarded a $4,000 grant from the Cloudsplitter Foundation for capital improvements to its artist housing, following a $2,000 grant in 2018 toward Phase 1 of the project, which included upgraded HAVAC and new smoke-CO2 alarm systems.

The 9-bedroom house currently serves as seasonal housing for part-time artistic and educational staff, crew and visiting Actors’ Equity artists. As a professional theatre operating under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Depot is required to provide housing for its visiting artists who work at the theatre during its summer main stage season. The goal is to ultimately also use the building as a center for artistic collaboration, including community access and year-round programming.

“Our actor housing is not only essential to our operations, but it is a key element of our strategic goals that include year-round programs using that space,” said Kim Rielly, Depot Theatre Executive Director. “We are grateful to the Cloudsplitter Foundation for their ongoing commitment to the improvement of our vital infrastructure and support of our mission.”

“It is encouraging to see that even in these challenging times, the Depot continues to pursue its strategic goals,” said Chenelle Palyswiat, Director of the Cloudsplitter Foundation. “We are committed to supporting projects and organizations that improve the quality of life in our communities, and we’re pleased to be part of this Depot Theatre initiative.”

For more information about the Depot Theatre, visit DepotTheatre.org. More information about the Cloudsplitter Foundation can be found at cloudsplitter.org.

ABOUT THE CLOUDSPLITTER FOUNDATION

The Cloudsplitter Foundation is dedicated to improving the future for the flora, fauna, communities, and people of the Adirondacks. Over 70% of the grants made by the Cloudsplitter Foundation go to improve the environment, economies, and lives of the people in the Adirondacks. The primary purpose of the Cloudsplitter Foundation is to improve the environment, both physical and cultural, in the Adirondacks and to make life easier, healthier, and more rewarding for the people who live there. While over 70% of the Foundation’s grants go to institutions in the Adirondacks, their secondary mission, to the extent that funds are available, is to aid other organizations dedicated to humanitarian causes, wilderness preservation, protecting civil liberties, and cultural development. http://cloudsplitter.org/

ABOUT THE DEPOT THEATRE

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2021 programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by Adirondack Foundation – Generous Acts Fund and the Essex County Arts Council. http://depotheatre.org

February 12, 2021

News

Town of Westport awarded Smart Growth grant for Depot Improvements

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NYSCA increases support of the Depot Theatre with 2020 grant

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Westport, N.Y. – The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has increased its commitment to the Depot Theatre with a grant of $17,000 per year for each of the next three years. The grant is the largest multi-year general-operating support NYSCA award to the Depot since 2008.

NYSCA grants, with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, support the transformative impact of the performing, literary, visual and media arts in New York State.

The Depot Theatre is one of 462 arts organizations across New York State receiving a total of $8,383,993 million in grants through NYSCA’s Round II FY2020 funding to support arts programs that drive New York State’s economic growth and community health.

“New York’s cultural sector is a driving force in our state’s economy,” said Katherine Nicholls, Chair, New York State Council on the Arts. “As our arts organizations expand their audiences and programs with NYSCA support, we will serve many more New Yorkers and build the vitality of our communities statewide.”

“This increased commitment will have a tremendous impact on both our long term budget planning and our ability to achieve our strategic goals,” said Cheri Phillips, president of the Depot Theatre Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the Depot, we are grateful to Governor Cuomo, the New York State Legislature and, especially, the dedicated staff at NYSCA for their continued confidence in the mission and direction of the theatre.”

In 2017, the Depot Theatre replaced the seating and carpeting in its 134-seat theatre. The project was funded in-part by a facilities program grant from NYSCA. In 2018, NYSCA awarded the Depot a multi-year general-operating grant of $15,000 per year for two years. In 2019, an additional full-time Associate Director/Company Manager position was made possible in its initial year with funding via a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) workforce development grant, the result of a successful Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiatives Consolidated Funding Application (CFA).

NYSCA will award a total of $41 million to arts organizations across New York State for FY2020. The second of three rounds of NYSCA funding for FY2020 includes support for museums, theatres, and arts organizations that drive tourism and anchor communities and arts education programs essential to learning for all ages, including public school students, aging populations and at-risk youth.

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in the Adirondacks, and is the only theatre in the Adirondacks that operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association. The theatre currently offers 3-4 productions in the summer along with educational outreach programs. 2020 will be the theatre’s 42nd season.

For more information about the Depot Theatre, visit depottheatre.org or call 518.962.4449.

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About The New York State Council on the Arts

The New York State Council on the Arts champions community and creativity by preserving and advancing numerous aspects of the cultural heritage that makes New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit.

NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development and quality of life. Through its core grantmaking activity, NYSCA awarded $51M in FY2019 to 2,400 organizations statewide through direct grants and regrants in our 15 programs, the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, and the Mid-Size Capital Project Fund. NYSCA funding supports the visual, literary, media, and performing arts and includes dedicated support for arts education and underserved communities. NYSCA further advances New York’s creative culture by hosting convenings with leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960, and continued and expanded to the present day with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency of the Executive Branch of the New York State Government. For more information on NYSCA, please visit: www.arts.ny.gov.

About the Depot Theatre

The Depot Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre located in a historic, functioning 1876 train station in Westport, N.Y., and operates under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. In addition to its volunteer board of trustees, the theatre depends on the support and generosity of its loyal donors, volunteers and community members. Committed to promoting and providing exposure to the performing arts in the Adirondacks, the Depot Theatre invites all to “Take a journey without leaving the station.” The Depot Theatre’s 2020 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The season productions are made possible, in part, by the Essex County Arts Council’s Cultural Assistance Program Grant with funding provided by Essex County. www.depottheatre.org

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November 11, 2019

News

Depot Theatre awarded Preserve NY Grant

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″] Depot Theatre awarded Preserve NY Grant Westport, N.Y – The Depot Theatre in Westport, N.Y. has been awarded a Preserve New York grant of $4,712 to complete a thorough condition analysis of the 1876 train station in which the […]