CNY Community Arts Center is excited to announce an evening of entertainment, food and beverages to kick off a new music series “Meet the Artist.” The event will be held at the new Community Arts Center March 22 from 7-9 pm and introduce Tom Rasely, accomplished fingerstyle guitarist eager to share his musical style with Central New York audiences. This inaugural Music Series evening will also serve as a fundraising event with tours of the Center’s theatre and gallery. The series is intended to spotlight area musicians new to the CNY Community Arts Center stage.

Tom, a Central New York native whose mother resides in Oswego, returns to the area after a distinguished career as a guitarist, composer, teacher, author, and recording artist. He has toured 26 states and parts of Canada and performed twice at the White House for Christmas VIP tours, in 1998 and 2002. His concerts often include the unique audience-participation improv, original music, and many familiar melodies. His live gigs also include basic blues seminars, and a variety of background music venues.

As a recording artist, Tom has appeared on over 80 recording projects, many featuring his original music. Tom also plays most of his own keyboard parts, and quite a bit of auxiliary percussion on his recordings. 

As a teacher, Tom has taught thousands of players: at his private studio; at the NPM Guitar Schools all across the country; as Director of the Norwich Guitar School; and at the National Guitar Workshop in Connecticut. Two of Tom's songs were featured in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine: "Innuendo" in Issue #61, and "La Valse" Issue #64 and his arrangement of "Jupiter" (by Gustav Holst) on Fingerstyle Guitar Journal on-line. Tom has written several guitar instruction books, including the "Chord Chart Guitar Method" (self-published), "Stuck in a Rut" [Emergency Road Service for Guitarists and Other Musicians] (Amazon e-book), and "Types and Uses of the Capo" (Mel Bay Publications).

Tom began playing the guitar in 1964, shortly after the Beatles hit the American music scene, and greatly influenced by his father, Charles Rasely, a Juilliard School graduate ('42), teacher, singer, composer, pianist, violinist,  and conductor. Other "mentors" include Donald B. Miller and Phil Klein. Tom had a vast training in music theory, having studied music at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse NY and received a Bachelor of Music Ed. from SUNY Fredonia ('73).

“I am delighted Tom has offered to share his talent and his music with us, helping us raise funds to complete the new center,” said Nancy Fox, Executive Director, “and kicking off this Music Series as part of the expanded programming we will offer in our new venue.”

To learn more about Tom Rasely, visit www.rasely.com. Tickets are available at the door, or call 315-598-ARTS (2787) for reservations. Community Arts Center is located at 121-125 Cayuga St in Fulton. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.

CAPTION: CNY Arts Center welcomes Tom Rasely, celebrated fingerstyle guitarist, to perform in concert March 22 from 7-9pm. Tickets are available at the door, or call 315-598-ARTS (2787) for reservations. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.

CNY Arts Center is delighted to announce the new Community Arts Center theatre will be ready in time for the opening of Little Women, the Broadway Musical, set to run February 15 – 24. The Community Arts Center is located at 121 Cayuga St. in downtown Fulton.The production has been rehearsing in the much smaller Arts Hotspot on S. 1st St. around the corner from the new center. Renovations of the former Herron’s Fabric store on Cayuga St. have been underway since last August and the main floor including the theatre, handicap accessible restrooms and lobby will be ready for public gathering by the time of opening. Lower level and mezzanine level will be closed to the public until additional renovations are completed, pending the Certificate of Occupancy. “We’ve been holding our breath for the important fire safety and electrical upgrades to be completed,” said Nancy Fox, Executive Director. “With these complete, after inspections, we’re expecting a temporary Certificate of Occupancy that will allow us to present Little Women in the new theatre. It will come down to the wire in time for the opening of the production.“There is more work to do, and more funds to raise to fully complete the transformation of this 1970’s era building,” Fox continued. “We still have a wheel chair lift to install, a kitchen to design and open, and lots of small details, along with our glass etched donor wall. The work will continue but at least this first, very important section will be functional.”Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 novel about her life, Little Women focuses on the four March sisters— traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy, and their beloved Marmee, at home in Concord, Massachusetts while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War.Careful attention to appropriate costumes and props will authenticate the time period and give audiences a feast for the eyes.  Coupled with the new stage and seating configuration, the experience promises to be exciting. Raised seating has been included in the design of the theatre to improve visibility for several rows.Tickets are available online for performances Fridays and Saturdays, February 15, 16, 22, and 23 at 7:30 pm, and Sundays, February 17 and 24 at 3pm. Visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com for more information.
Caption: Marmee (Kate Kisselstein, center) and her little women (l to r), Jo (Carleena Manzi), Beth (Peyton VanBoden), Meg (Joey Tucker), and Amy (SKy Rolnick), share a letter from Father on the battlefield during the Civil War in this Broadway musical version of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. The production runs February 15-24 in the new CNY Community Arts Center theatre. For tickets and more information, visit www.CNYArtsCenter.com

CNY Community Arts Center recognized a recent contribution from Pathfinder Bank with this etched glass panel, designed and completed by artist Leslie Paice, presented by Nancy Fox, Executive Director (L) to Deana Michaels Branch Manager (R) while bank employees looked on. The panel was presented in appreciation for a $25,000 donation to the renovation of the new Community Arts Center and will be displayed on the Donor Wall when the Center is completed. The Community Arts Center is located at 121-125 Cayuga St in downtown Fulton. For more information visit CNYArtsCenter.com or call 315-598-ARTS (2787).

CNY Arts Center is pleased to announce they have received a grant totaling $110,000 from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation for Fulton’s first Community Arts Center. The grant will meet immediate needs for infrastructure improvements and upgrades to the former retail store located at 121-125 Cayuga St in the heart of downtown Fulton.

The organization purchased the building earlier this year with plans to renovate the space for arts programming and community events. CNY Arts Center has been delivering art experiences, public art murals, summer art camp, and a successful theatre program for the last seven years in rented and donated space.

“With this new place of our own, we can finally realize our mission to provide a variety of art opportunities for the children and families of Central New York,” said Nancy Fox, Executive Director. “This grant from the Shineman Foundation allows us to make significant improvements for the site including upgrades in heat, lights, plumbing, and fire safety, all the basic things you must do to ensure a safe place for the public to gather. We couldn’t have taken on this project without the early and significant support of the Shineman Foundation.”

“Our foundation is proud to support Nancy Fox and the Board of the CNY Arts Center”, said Karen Goetz, executive director of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation. “Our mission is to be a “Catalyst for Change” in our region through the organizations we provide grant funding to. We believe that the completion of this new community arts center in the heart of downtown Fulton will indeed be a catalyst for positive change.”

The Arts Center’s mission is to provide art experiences, creative job skills training and education to the region. It has provided the larger Fulton community with multiple arts opportunities; including full seasons of theatre plays, musicals and Shakespeare for high school, college and adult performers, an active Children’s Theatre program (Kids Onstage) and Arty Day Camp in the summer introducing scores of local children to the arts. In addition successful programs have launched including an Improv Comedy Troupe, Writer’s Café, Author’s Spotlight, Talent Share Open Mic Nights, and more.

The vision for the Community Arts Center is for a professional quality 100 seat theater and an alternate smaller theatre on the lower level which will allow music concerts and more innovative performing arts programming. Multi-use classrooms, a culinary teaching kitchen/café, workshop studios, and gallery space will accommodate multiple art activities, art programs in studio fine arts, culinary arts and writing arts, after school/weekend youth activities, an Art Gallery for artists to show and sell their work to the community, and a variety of events that bring the community together.

(Photo Caption) In the midst of construction progress, CNY Arts Center recently received a grant from the Shineman Foundation for infrastructure upgrades to the new CNY Community Arts Center. Making the presentation is Karen Goetz, Executive Director, 2nd from right, and Penny Halstead, Senior Administrative Assistant. Receiving the check, l to r, Nicholas Barnes, CNY Arts Center Board Director, Bill Grace, President of the Board, and Nancy Fox, CNY Arts Center Executive Director.