During a recent government meeting, Sarah Basky provided an update on the Ulster County Arts Plan, highlighting the ongoing outreach efforts and community engagement initiatives aimed at enhancing the region's arts and culture landscape. Basky, who is working part-time with the Ulster County legislature, detailed a series of town hall meetings designed to gather input from local residents and artists.

Four town hall meetings are scheduled, with the first already held in New Paltz and upcoming sessions in Ellenville, Woodstock, and Kingston. These meetings aim to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) related to the arts in the county. Basky noted that participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect and share resources, emphasizing a desire for continued collaboration and support from the county.

In addition to the town halls, sector workshops are being conducted with various groups, including individual artists and creative businesses. The discussions have revealed a strong sense of community among artists, with many expressing a need for improved public transportation to access events and resources.

Basky also mentioned the importance of funding for arts organizations, with the consultants exploring different funding models used by other counties, such as hotel and motel tax allocations. The meetings have sparked ideas for resource sharing among artists, including a recycling initiative for materials.

The consultants are conducting site tours to better understand the local arts scene, visiting artist studios and community centers. Basky emphasized the need for comprehensive data collection through a community participation survey, aiming to gather insights on public engagement with the arts in Ulster County.

Overall, the meeting underscored a collective enthusiasm for fostering a vibrant arts community, with ongoing efforts to address challenges and leverage opportunities for growth and collaboration.