Cedar Lane needs your help!
The Cedar Lane Art Center has grown dramatically during the last seven years and is proud to serve children and adults in record numbers. But growth has brought some challenges!
The plumbing system has failed to handle clay waste and other waste. To become operational again, we need some new equipment and practices. The price tag for sinks and a better disposal system is $7,000. We are appealing to the community for support.
Can you pitch in?
The Cedar Lane Arts Center has been the site of Ossining Recreation programs for seven years. In that time, the art programs have grown substantially. Beginning with one youth teacher and one adult clay teacher, there are now seven teachers offering over sixteen youth and adult clay and 2D art classes. Student enrollment has grown so much that many classes are at capacity.
Cedar Lane is now a vital resource for residents of Ossining, Briarcliff, Croton and beyond. In addition to formal art classes, the clay studio enables experienced clay artists to work independently outside of the class schedule and invites potters and students to share Open Studio hours. In the theater room, there are painting classes, drawing workshops, and an OAC-sponsored pilot of open studio time for artists who don't work with clay
Unfortunately, this tremendous art program growth has also led to issues that jeopardize continued use of the building. Despite efforts to prevent waste clay from entering the waste plumbing, the pipes clogged and the center is currently closed for repairs. While the Town of Ossining works to make the building functional again, Cedar Lane teachers have plans to modify how the studio is used so it will be sustainable for many years to come.
In order to keep clay and glazes from harming the plumbing again, the teachers plan to purchase two special sinks designed for clay studios that filter and recycle water used for cleaning. They also hope to install blinds or curtains to control light entering the upper windows facing the pond so that the theater room is more suitable for painting and drawing. The teachers are asking the Cedar Lane community to help raise $7,000 to fund these improvements, to upgrade the building so that it operates fully and sustainably, and to assure access to quality arts programming for the future.
The Ossining Arts Council is sponsoring this appeal as part of its charitable function. OAC is a Section 501(c)(3) not for profit organization dedicated to enhancing artistic opportunities and experiences to benefit the greater Ossining community. OAC supports Cedar Lane Arts Center and has partnered with the Ossining Recreation program to expand arts activities in the park for OAC members and the whole community.
If you value what Cedar Lane Arts Center provides to your life and the community at large, please donate whatever you can to the fundraiser appeal on the OAC website. All donations are 100% charitable contributions eligible for tax deduction as permitted by New York and Federal laws.
