Mission Statement: The mission of Patchogue Arts Council, Inc. is to educate, support, and elevate the arts- community. This includes artists at all stages of their careers as well as supporting the development of new works and public projects through exhibitions and innovative programming that emphasize community engagement while aiding in the revitalization and sustainability of the community. The Patchogue Arts Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose programming supports arts across all of Long Island.
MOCA L.I. Museum of Contemporary Arts Long Island (MoCA L.I.) is the exhibition space of the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC).By redefining PAC’s exhibition space from Gallery to Museum, opportunities for the community and the artists we serve grows exponentially. PAC has always been unconventional in comparison to other arts councils. Our primary focuses are to make current and contemporary art accessible to everyone and to serve artists across Long Island. We work to create inclusiveness in all of our opportunities for Long Island’s artistic communities. Through our programming, we support, promote, and encourage early, mid-career, and established artists working in all media and all walks of life.
Patchogue Arts Council acknowledges that the land on which our space stands, at 20 Terry Street, Patchogue, NY, is part of the traditional territory of the Unkechaug Nation. We honor and respect the enduring relationship that exists between Unkechaug people and their ancestral territories. We recognize the deep cultural and artistic contributions of the Indigenous peoples, past and present, who have shaped and continue to influence this land. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land on which we gather, create, and celebrate the arts.
A little more history….
PAC was founded to help implement the Village’s arts revitalization strategy. Over the years, Biennials, Walking Arts Tours, Patchogue Arts Festivals, PAC MAC (music, arts, and cinema) Festivals, Arts on Terry, MoCA L.I.ghts (art mapping of town buildings), museum exhibits, satellite exhibitions, U.S. Department of Education funded arts integration professional development program **(PEACE Project), Thriving Latinas Art Therapy program with SEPA Mujer, and public art installation consultants for the Village of Patchogue have strengthened the reputation of Patchogue as a vibrant cultural center. Support from the business community through partnerships and collaborations has solidified our presence in Patchogue and has enhanced the reputation of Patchogue Village itself. Our events attract thousands of people to the downtown area every year. Since our inception, Patchogue’s identity as a community rooted in the arts has evolved through the joint efforts of PAC and the greater PatchogueVillage.
The Patchogue Arts Council’s value to artists is rooted in its well-established reputation as a leading organization presenting exhibitions & events focused on contemporary art on Long Island presenting creative programming, collaborations & cross-marketing opportunities to artists, art professionals, & the community at large. PAC’s staff is deeply connected to local higher education, permitting collaborations with local colleges and inviting scholars to contribute essays and lectures to exhibitions which place the contemporary work it exhibits in the context of art history and leads the general public to a greater appreciation of new works of art.
The Council’s programming supports artists across Long Island as well. Its ongoing outreach beyond the local community expands understanding of the importance of the arts for all communities. Its programming offers culturally enriching experiences to an interested public that would otherwise have to travel distances at greater expense to access art experiences equivalent to PAC’shigh-caliber programming. By bringing visitors to Patchogue, PAC’s programs create a destination that encourages appreciation of arts and culture. Out of town visitors to our events increase foot traffic for the downtown area shops and restaurants. We see evidence the Council’s impact in the many positive articles about PAC’s programming published in regional media including the Long Island Advance, Ace’s Magazine, and the Hampton’s Art Hub.
Funding sources include : Members, private foundations, corporate sponsors, local, regional, and national granting entities such as Suffolk County, NY State, NY State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), U.S Department of Education (DOE), and sub grantee in partnership with SEPA Mujer’s funding with the U.S Justice Department (DOJ).
In summation, PAC takes great pride in supporting Long Island artists as well as creating and providing substantial support and opportunities for them to create new work. Its ongoing outreach educates the community and visitors to understand art and its importance while bringing contemporary art to emerging artist communities. PAC’s programs have a positive economic impact by creating a destination that encourages appreciation of cultural arts through high-quality museum programming. Nearly all events are free and always open to the public. All the venues used are in ADA accessible public spaces. PAC’s audience is comprised of people across all ages from toddlers to retired folks in wheelchairs, residents from across all areas of the town, and tourists visiting for the day.
**Patchogue Arts Council’s (PAC) PEACE (Partners in Education, Arts, & Community Empowerment) project empowers educators and cultural partners in Suffolk County middle and high schools to make more effective use of the arts for underrepresented students through College, Career, and Civic Readiness (CCCR) as well as Culturally Responsive-Sustaining education (CR-S). This program is one of 27 awardees across the country, and the only one on Long Island, funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
PAC’s mission and programming efforts are supported by substantial research published by Americans for the Arts. Most recently, in a report titled Arts & Economic Prosperity VI it was concluded that, *** the local nonprofit arts sector generated $330.0 million in economic activity during 2022—$178.4 million in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $151.6 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences. That economic activity supported 4,905 jobs, provided $234.5 million in personal income to residents, and generated $81.2 million in tax revenue to local, state, and federal governments
On Long Island, nonprofit arts and culture organizations spent an estimated $178.4 million, which supported 3,164 jobs and generated $50.0 million in local, state, and federal government revenue. The report further proves that dinner and a show go hand-in-hand. Attendance at arts events generates income for local businesses— restaurants, parking garages, hotels, and retail stores. An average arts attendee spends $37.31 per event not including the cost of admission. On the national level, these audiences provided $74.1 billion of valuable revenue for local merchants and their communities.
***The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 provides detailed findings on 373 regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico—ranging in population from 4,000 to 4 million—and representing rural, suburban, and large urban communities.
In partnership with Americans for the Arts, Long Island Arts Alliance coordinated the study of Nassau and Suffolk Counties with generous funding from the Long Island Community Foundation. Over the past year, we have gathered insights from almost 1,000 attendees at various arts and culture events throughout Nassau and Suffolk to report on the social and economic impact the creative sector has on the Island. We’ve connected with over 400 cultural nonprofits, as well as other stakeholders, to understand the arts landscape’s role in COVID recovery.
Most recently the APA affirmed that the contributions of PAC related to this transformation. Here from their website: “Community programming and support for the arts have also greatly contributed to Patchogue’s renaissance. Alive at Five and Arts on Terry, outdoor street festivals featuring performances by local, regional, and international musicians and artists have proved to be major economic catalysts for the downtown, attracting more than 25,000 visitors each summer. Local artists continue to support the revival ofPatchogue through their involvement in the Patchogue Arts Council, leading on local beautification projects designed to improve downtown visitors’ downtown experience”
*https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2019/patchoguevillage
Long Island’s newest museum is the Museum of Contemporary Arts Long Island, or MOCA L.I., which is the newly defined exhibition space of the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC) located on Terry Street, the heart of Patchogue’s designated Arts District.
PAC has always been unconventional in comparison to other arts councils. Its exhibition focus has made current and contemporary art accessible to everyone and offered exposure for artists across Long Island. Exhibition materials are made available in English and Spanish
The caliber of career-enriching opportunities that PAC provides Long Island artists was previously unavailable in Suffolk or Nassau County. The organization does not charge artists to submit or participate. In fact, stipends are given to exhibiting artists to help cover the costs associated with the creation of new work.
PAC’s Gallery, now MOCA L.I., is a space that presents museum-quality exhibitions locally mid-Long Island expanding the reach of world-class art on Long Island to new communities.
MOCA L.I. is a museum for artists and the community created by artists of the community. It pledges to continue serving and strengthening the cultural fabric of Long Island.
Diversity: Patchogue Arts Council is committed to shaping diverse, inclusive, and equitable arts in education community. We strive to create a welcoming and affirming environment where all individuals feel a sense of belonging. We strongly encourage applications and participation from perspectives that have been historically underrepresented within our society, including but not limited to individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with disabilities*.
*PAC understands these identity categories can be viewed as an umbrella terminology and
should not be used when referencing a specific group or population. If you are mentioning a specific population or
individual within these communities, use specific language to be as accurate as possible.
A LITTLE HISTORY | THE SPARK
When a few folks met around a kitchen table to talk about how to cultivate the art scene in Patchogue, little did they know that they were to about to play an integral role in the cultural renaissance of their community. However, with the launch of the Patchogue Arts Council, the contagious enthusiasm and dedication of the founding members created an extraordinary organization that is now engendering an optimism about Patchogue and serving as a model for arts groups across Long Island.
The Patchogue Arts Council (PAC) provides artists of all mediums with opportunities to share their work, network with other creatives, and participate in arts advocacy initiatives. Our service, membership and programs reach the entire L.I. community and beyond!
The Patchogue Arts Council is located at 20 Terry St., Suite 116, Patchogue NY. For more information visit www.patchoguearts.org. Email info@patchoguearts.org.
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PATCHOGUE LINKS
THEATRE – Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts – patchoguetheatre.com
PLAZA CINEMA – Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center – plazamac.org
CHAMBER – Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce. Inc. – patchogue.com
FOUNDATION – Greater Patchogue Foundation, Inc. – Foundation
LIBRARY – The Pat-Med Library – pmlib.org
BID – The Patchogue Village Business Improvement District
VILLAGE – Incorporated Village of Patchogue – patchoguevillage.org
We gratefully acknowledge the Indigenous people on whose ancestral homelands our community, our homes, our businesses, and our public spaces are situated.