Vision and passion. A chance introduction. Two progressive educators who hear the word no, and say - Watch us! An arts advocate with the best catch phrase as to the why. And time and conversation at a farm co-op picking green beans! That is what it takes to see an issue and put into action a plan to solve the problem. And that is the story of Nesin Cultural Arts (NCA).

Imagine this – a phone in the old Middle School on St. John Street in Monticello rings in my office. “Hello! Hello - My name is Judith Pierce.” Judith was given my contact from then Monticello Central School District Director of Music Steve Rovitz as a person who knows people and how to get things done. Judith had a program called Weekend of Chamber Music and wanted to collaborate with school educators. I understood the utilization of arts in education funding and from there, NCA was off to the races.

I introduced Judith to Ann Trombley, a mover and shaker in music education, and Judith introduced both to Ken Hamrick, a musician and arts education advocate from the Weekend of Chamber Music program. They collaborated and by summer designed a side-by-side learning and performance opportunity between students and world-class musicians. At first, just a couple of students. But, they imagined more!

So, using the Arts in Ed funds, Ann and I worked with Ken and Judith moving, as Steve Rovitz used to say, “progressively into the future,” with an online learning project with the Clevland Institute. Well before Zoom was a thing, Nesin in its infancy was already doing distance learning.

Then came the farm. Lori and Ann got to brainstorming the next steps. How does NCA add dance, theatre, and more providing a cross curricular experience that was not just performance, but how performances actually happen? 

From Ann and I at the Center for Discovery Farm picking beans to collaborating with Ken and Judith, Norman Duttweiler and Ron Nash, Joan Pletter, Seth Sternberg, Wendy Levinson, and Bill James, and working with math teachers, elementary teachers and more, the Nutcracker Festival was born. 

Then the sad moment came. The loss of a beloved community arts advocate. School and private arts programs were beginning to shutter post the 2008 economic crash. And who was negatively affected? Our kids and our community. Not what Gene Nesin would have wanted. 

As a member of the Monticello Central School District Board of Education for 32 years, nobody could say they didn’t know where Gene stood on the position of arts education. He was always touting, “I don’t know anything about the arts, I just know it’s good for kids!” Nesin Cultural Arts had a namesake! It was now time to bring it all to fruition.

Numerous long meetings writing the mission statement, vision statement, by-laws, fiscal plan, and papers of incorporation in the evening and on weekends. Designing student focused programming and more. But not to worry, always around a table filled with delicious homemade foods and amazing wine (Ann always fed the NCA Team well, and still does the next generation of NCA Leadership).

From the first summer academy to full year programming, finding and losing home space, then expanding again adding the local Sullivan County Chamber orchestra filled with professional musicians, Nesin Cultural Arts was making great things happen. Not only in the Arts, but as an economic catalyst for growth.

No child or for that matter anyone is ever turned away. From grant writing to fundraising - NCA figures it out. Why? Because the arts matter. And everyone seeking the arts should be able to receive the opportunities regardless of one’s social standing.

From children to adults, NCA serves the community locally and beyond. And don’t forget that during the pandemic, NCA was the only agency in Sullivan County who modified, and implemented appropriate health and safety protocol using savings and funds they could acquire that they are still trying to recoup, keeping its doors open 6 days a week from 7am until 7:30pm to all wanting and needing their expanded covid services. NCA delivered.

Over the last 15 years, NCA has become a community arts hub. A model design presented and recognized throughout New York State. A clear economic driver in our communities. Year-round programming produced by a fully volunteer Board, and a whole bunch of folks who get what Gene Nesin was talking about! Creating collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the best for our students and community, 

Founding members Ann Trombley, Lori Orestano-James, and Ellen Nesin along with the special bond with Judith Pierce and Ken Hammrick, have much to be proud of. Here’s to many more years to come.