Where art lives in every corner
Visit any Catskills community and you’ll see and feel art without seeking it. Here, art is in coffee shops, on the walls of colorful brick buildings, displayed on sidewalks fresh with a child’s chalk, in the rhythm of a summer street festival and even in the blissful and unknowing hum of someone out for a walk with a song stuck in their head. This is a place where art is woven into the Catskills pace of life.
In the Catskills, galleries abound
Don’t be surprised when you see elementary school art displayed in the windows of the hardware store or a pop-up performance from a local band in a town park. These things happen here. But they also happen with purpose. Catskill Art Space in Livingston Manor is one such place that fosters a community of contemporary and emerging art through exhibitions, performances, classes, lectures and screenings.
Much of the art you’ll see and experience at the Catskill Art Space is complemented by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. The Alliance, which has a storefront and gallery space in Narrowsburg, also hosts theatrical productions, creative performances and movies (often retro) at the Tusten Theatre, which also serves as the home of the annual Big Eddy Film Festival.
Catch a flick
Film lovers who enjoy the magic of the big screen paired with buttery popcorn will love the Callicoon Theater. Opened in 1948, it’s the oldest continually operated cinema in Sullivan County. It’s also big on charm, nostalgia and space. At 350 seats, the theater’s modern sound system booms with every comedic slap or thrilling explosion. You’ll find everything from new releases and classics to cult throwbacks and even live music events here too.
Join a class or workshop
Whether your passion is dance, painting, film, food or anything in between, the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre has a program for you. Take a ballroom or salsa dance class, enjoy a paint-and-sip session, join a creative workshop or sign your little one up for a craft program. The centre also hosts a number of annual festivals and is home to the delicious Tango Café, perfect for grabbing a bite before or after one of the many inspiring events.
In the Catskills, art isn’t confined just to galleries—it spills into everyday life. Every street corner, performance and classroom is an invitation to experience the region’s creative heartbeat.
