SPECIAL REPORT
The Honey Dewdrops performed in Oswego last year.
Arts and Events Rebound in CNY
Sector re-emerging from pandemic period By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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or more than two years, performing arts venues and events spaces have struggled with shutdowns, shifting restrictions, personnel illnesses and shortages, rising costs and a public leery of going to in-person events. A few area venues have shared how things are going and what’s in store for 2023. At CNY Arts in Syracuse, recovery in the industry is slow but steady, according to Alexander Korman, director of communications and marketing, “thanks in large part to support from local, state, and federal funding programs,” he said. He added that these include a $1.25 million grant from the city of Syracuse administered by CNY Arts to support recovery for individual artists and art-service organizations, generate tax revenue and create meaningful employment in the sector. Funds were
derived from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. In addition, Onondaga County ramped up its budget allocation for CNY Arts to $1.5 million, most of which the organization plans to provide as grants to regional agencies through a competitive panel review. New York state has provided $300,000 to promote the region as an arts and culture destination. Korman hopes this will “help drive tourist traffic, and increase activity in peripheral industries like hospitality, particularly during major holidays in 2023.” Numbers are up at CNY Arts. In December 2022, the organization hosted is first live performance since 2019. More than 2,000 people attended the matinee at the OnCenter. Korman noted this as one of numerous in-person events at many arts and
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arts education venues across the region. At Oswego Music Hall in Oswego, “things are going pretty well,” said Ellen Wahl, president. “We did pretty well at the beginning of last year and last fall, things took a downfall.” Since then, participation has picked up again. Wahl attributes some of the fluctuation to the uncertainty of one of the Music Hall’s largest market segments: older adults. This population was disproportionately affected by the pandemic and may still feel wary of attending public events. “The lesson to us is to develop a new market,” Wahl said. One way the Music Hall is doing this is through open mic nights, hosting events showcasing emerging artists and tweaking marketing to include more than print, since younger generations tend to seek information online more than through print. In the last year and a half, the Music Hall has operated its guest curator program, which allows artists to propose an event that the Music Hall supports. Seed money from the New York State Council on the Arts has helped. One example is the Jazz by the Lake series, run by David Casper. He has run a similar
