2024 Sunburst Awards Grant Application Now Open

A microgrant for Artists to support Creators of Art in Essex County

Applications for the 2025 Sunburst Award, a microgrant opportunity for artists of all genres, are now open. This program supports creators of art in Essex County by providing a stipend of up to $500 to artists willing to organize and lead a public workshop, teaching others your craft. ECAC will work with you to schedule and organize a workshop that will be made available to the public through Essex County, either for free or for a minimal charge. 

Through the Sunburst Awards, ECAC has funded projects including musical composition, publishing exhibit catalogs, creating musical instruments, ichthyography, comic books, watercolor exhibits, photography, creative writing workshops and book sculpture.

Application deadline is October 1st.

A simple, straightforward application is available, as is assistance in preparing a request. The application can be found HERE. 

For more information, please contact us at 518.227.1242 or admin@essexcountyarts.org.

The 2025 Sunburst Award Workshop Series is funded by the Cloudsplitter Foundation and the Pearsall Family Foundation.

The Meredith Johnston Memorial Award, funded by the Westport Heritage House, will be presented to an artist who best represents the community spirit that Meredith displayed.

Adirondack Film Presents

2025 Lake Placid Film Festival’s “Your Shorts Are Showing”

Final Shorts Deadline Ends September 1st.

It’s almost here! Only ten days remain to submit your short film for consideration for this year’s Lake Placid Film Festival You can submit your 2-15 minute short film on our FilmFreeway page.

All submissions also include two (2) complimentary festival passes to the 2025 Lake Placid Film Festival (Oct. 30-Nov. 2).

Take part in a host of seminars, networking events, and panels covering the art, business, and future of filmmaking from world-class film professionals. Catch the latest in independent cinema, as well as a few cinematic classics. And most importantly, have the opportunity to see your short film on the silver screen!

Mor einfo and submit HERE.

OurStoryBridge Listens: Present in the Moment

OurStoryBridge Listens: Present in the Moment, the new partner project of OurStoryBridge Inc. documenting the current circumstances in the United States that are deeply impacting Americans and others around the world, was launched today at ourstorybridgelistens.org.

Through the new non-partisan project OurStoryBridge Listens: Present in the Moment, people can document how their lives, and those of others, have recently been affected by decisions at the highest levels of the U.S. government. These stories include the following categories: the economy; freedom and justice; immigration; healthcare; humanities and education; the environment; and community resilience.

To tell your story for OurStoryBridge Listens: Present in the Moment, visit ourstorybridgelistens.org or email listen@ourstorybridge.org. Stories can be anonymous and collected virtually, limited by volunteer resources available. 

Get more information HERE. 

The Bookstore Plus presents

Book signing with author and illustrator, Caitlin Friebel

Saturday, August 30, 3 – 5 pm

The Bookstore Plus is pleased to host author and illustrator Caitlin Friebel, for a book signing event to autograph copies of her book October is Having a Party.

October is Having a Party is a reminder to look deeper into the nature around us and find beauty in the falling leaves, humble pinecones, and moss-covered branches.

 Through gorgeous watercolors and a playful story of Fall forest festivities, Friebel showcases the wonder and magic of the changing seasons. All are invited to October’s party!

Caitlin Friebel is a self-taught artist and small business owner. She owes her love of watercolors to her mom who first encouraged her to pick up a paint brush. Nearly 20 years later, Friebel is still primarily working with watercolors, with works ranging from floral arrangements and landscapes, portraits, animals and black-and-white armed forces, and first responder memorials. She has also branched out to other assorted mediums and handicrafts, including acrylics on canvas, hand-mixed watercolor paints, painting with coffee, and custom wedding invitations.

The Bookstore Plus, 2491 Main Street, Lake Placid

Fort Ticonderoga presents

Onward to Canada, a REAL TIME REVOLUTION™ reenactment

Saturday, Sunday, August 30- 31

This event features the largest number of reproduction wooden vessels in a reenactment event to cross two lakes, recreating the Northern Army embarkment from Ticonderoga!

During the dramatic 2-day reenactment event, witness an unparalleled glimpse into the launch of the Northern Continental Army as they prepare to drive British regulars from Canada.

The“Onward to Canada” REAL TIME REVOLUTION™ reenactment will transport visitors 250 years ago, to the day, at Ticonderoga. Experience the arrival of waves of Connecticut and New York encamping together the first time together. Watch as they bring in their equipment hauled with carts and wagons drawn by horses and oxen. Thrill at the crackle of muskets and roar of cannon as this new American Army maneuvers in combined forces. Meet the generals of this nascent Continental Army command and discover their effort to cultivate an alliance with Canadians and neutrality with native Americans. Smell the aroma of rations cooked in the first encampment of the Northern Continental Army.

Find out more HERE.

Fort Ticonderoga, 102 Fort Ti Road, Ticonderoga

Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA) presents

Parsons Dance

Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:30 pm

Known internationally for their bold athleticism and emotionally rich choreography, Parsons Dance delivers an unforgettable experience that is both artistically innovative and widely accessible. With a program featuring both iconic classics and fresh new works from the company’s celebrated repertoire, this performance is sure to be a fitting sendoff for the theatre that has hosted decades of memorable performances.

This performance will also serve as the grand finale to an immersive three-week Parsons Dance residency at LPCA, which began on August 11. Throughout the residency, community members will have unparalleled access to the company through free classes, rehearsals, and showings – both in person and via Instagram Live. Highlights include daily Warm-Up Classes with the company, Community Classes in a variety of dance styles, and special Masterclasses with Artistic Director David Parsons and Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington—a founder of Masterz at Work Dance Family.

Join us in celebrating not only the return of Parsons Dance but also a major moment in LPCA’s history. Be part of this exciting transition and help us bid farewell to our current stage with a night of stunning performance and community spirit. For tickets and more information on the performance and residency, please visit HERE.

LPCA, 17 Algonquin Drive, Lake Placid

Play ADK presents

2025 Saranac Lake Corrugated Cup Cardboard Boat Race

Saturday, August 30, 2 pm

This family-friendly fundraiser promises a day of creative fun and friendly competition. From 10 am to 2 pm, participants can register to race and build their own boats with supplies provided at the park. For those who pre-build their boats, lineup begins promptly at 2 pm. At this time, the public will be invited to cast their votes for the People’s Choice award for the best-designed boat. The races will start at 3 pm, with contestants paddling a short, marked loop on Lake Flower. An awards ceremony will follow once all the races are complete.

The cost to race is a suggested donation of $25-$50 per boat with all proceeds supporting Play ADK’s Clubhouse and community programming. Register, view the race rules and get building tips HERE.

As part of Celebrate Paddling in Saranac Lake, this event is co-hosted by local outfitters, paddling organizations and guides including Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters (ALTO), the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), Guide ADK and St. Regis Canoe Outfitters (SRCO), all of which will help the event run smoothly and provide race winners with awesome schwag.

Details HERE.

Riverfront Park, Saranac Lake

The Plattsburgh State Art Museum Invites You to Join Us

Stan Squirewell: Robitussin, Hotcombs, & Grease

Tuesday, August 26 – Friday, December 5

Thursday, August 28, 4:30 – 6:30 pm

Gallery walk through with the artist on August 30, 1 pm

Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Burke Gallery, John Myers Building second floor, 101 Broad St, Plattsburgh

Wilmington Historical Society Presents