Upcoming events
Character: Faces of Athens
Noted portrait photographer Lynda Shenkman presents images of Athens residents in their chosen environments. These images will be presented ¾ life-sized and accompanied by a biography of each subject.
December 21 - January 12
Victorian Stroll
Families and friends gather for a free, fun-filled day in celebration of the annual Athens Victorian Stroll.
Up and down the historic village’s Second Street and all around town, businesses, residents and community organizations host family-friendly activities, free goodies to eat and entertainment galore, with nods to Athens’ past.
December 14, 2024
One Foot Square: ACC Members Small Works Exhibition
ACC’s annual winter members’ exhibition, small works at smaller prices. Artwork will be on view and for sale during the Victorian Stroll and holiday season. This exhibition of affordable artworks showcases ACC member artists and supports them through direct sales.
November 23 - December 15
Particle Point Collisions
James Holl book launch and art exhibition. “Holl is a master colorist– there are no false notes in these paintings. The works have a lyricism to them that one can easily imagine are traces of light flying across their surfaces: they have a feeling of truth.”
October 26 - November 10
Sunday Jazz
Planet Arts and ACC present a Sunday session with some of the Hudson Valley's heaviest heavies. Featuring Chris Pasin, Michael Benedict, Dave Gleason, Rich Syracuse, Jason ‘Seige’ Seigel, and Mark Foster, produced by Thomas Bellino. From Ornette to Duke and everything in between, these guys get it all done. Free show, enough notes for the whole family!
Concert: 10/20, 2pm
The Light In Our Eyes: Youth Visions of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse
ACC collaborates with the Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS) to commemorate the 150th birthday of this iconic beacon, partnering with high schools in Athens-Coxsackie, Catskill, and Hudson. Student artworks about the lighthouse, river life, and river lore will be exhibited, along with poetry and long-form writing created in the classroom. For the opening event, students will read texts, and an actor will perform a monologue on the life of Augustin Fresnel, the inventor of the lens used in lighthouses worldwide.
October 4 - 20
Soft Simulation
FELIX BEAUDRY (b. 1996 Berkeley, CA) is a textile artist based in Kingston, NY. Felix graduated with a BFA from RISD in 2018. He works primarily with his industrial knitting machine; making tapestry and sculpture.
September 13 - 29
Summer Music Series: Lady Moon and the Eclipse
Join us for the final chapter of ACC’s 2024 Summer Music Series! Featuring the soaring vocal textures and R&B/afrobeat-influenced rhythms of Lady Moon and the Eclipse, we will close out the summer with inspirational music that explores the Cosmic Soul. ACC’s Summer Music Series highlights local and regional artists, and collaborates with Hudson Valley community groups to provide artist Q & A and open sound checks to area youth as an educational opportunity.
August 31
First Friday: Birthday Edition!
This month we celebrate the opening of Carrie Feder’s exhibition Twenty / 20, and ACC’s 20th birthday! Join us for a block party for the whole family, featuring live music from Hudson Valley party legends Brasskill, specialty snacks provided by Woodstocked and sponsored by Elizabeth Alfeld, free drinks, art activities, and more.
August 2
TWENTY / 20
Curated by Carrie Feder, the exhibition Twenty/20 celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Athens Cultural Center by exploring the multiple meanings of “twenty,” as a number, an anniversary, a cycle and as a symbol of change, passage of time, transformation and growth. “Twenty” holds significance in mathematics, astrology, numerology and religion as well as signifying the coming of age in many traditions.
August 2 - September 8
Summer Music Series: The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
The second installment of ACC’s Summer Music series is The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. This Woodstock-tinged Americana has a hint of southern rock, British folk combined with solid songwriting - a slice of Americana pie that is irresistible! The series highlights local and regional artists, and collaborates with Hudson Valley community groups to provide artist Q & A and open sound checks to area youth as an educational opportunity.
July 20
Artist Talk: Michael Rees & Mary Ann Strandell
Join us during Upstate Art Weekend for a very special talk with the artists behind ACC’s exhibition Next to the Wild. Curator Becky Hart will be in conversation with Michael Rees and Mary Ann Strandell, discussing their work, process, history, and visions for the future.
July 19
Doors 5pm, talk 6pm
Artist Talk: Maria Bauman
Please join us at the Athens Cultural Center for an artist talk with Brooklyn, NY-based Bessie-Award winning dance artist and community organizer Maria Bauman. For part of the talk, she will be joined in discussion by Elena Mosley who stewards Operation Unite New York and who is a committed community advocate, organizer and artist in Hudson, NY. This discussion between a local practitioner and an artist based in NYC is not to be missed! And the art talk includes YOU! Maria will lead a bit of low-stakes and accessible practice responding to specific sites and environments to create movement. We’re excited that Maria will lead attendees through a bit of her process; no experience is needed and you can do this from your seat, so no need to be shy!
July 18
Doors 530pm, talk 6pm
Athens Street Festival
Join us for Sidewalk Chalk Art with Chantal Van-Wierts from 10 AM to Noon! Come and have fun creating colorful street art for all to see and enjoy!
From 11 AM to 4 PM, join us indoors to create festive, unique and memorable party decor in honor of ACC’s 20th Birthday!
Summer Music Series: Juma Sultan's Aboriginal Music Society
MOVED INDOORS DUE TO WEATHER: 24 Second St, Athens NY 12015
The first act of ACC’s Summer Music series is Juma Sultan's Aboriginal Music Society, an 8-piece afro-funk/garage jazz ensemble led by Juma Sultan, a percussionist and bassist who is a “link between free jazz and Jimi Hendrix.” (NY Times) The series highlights local and regional artists, and collaborates with Hudson Valley community groups to provide artist Q & A and open sound checks to area youth as an educational opportunity.
June 22
A Night Under the Willows: ACC at 20
Help us celebrate Athens Cultural Center's 20th Anniversary and raise funds for the future of ACC. This will be an unforgettable evening with music, dancing, drinks, food, and special ACC presentations, all at the beautiful Stewart House River Grill.
June 13
SOLD OUT! Thank you, we can’t wait to see you there!
Athens Community Day
Come one, come all, the ACC is excited to join in the festivities of Athens' very own Community Day!
Kids art events, lighthouse tours, youth fishing derby, history lessons, and so much more!
June 8
First Friday: Pride Edition!
Join us from 5pm-7pm on June 7th to celebrate Pride Month and the opening of ACC's new exhibition Next to the Wild: the Seen and the Discovered with a night of music, drag, and comedy! ACC and the Catskills Comedy Festival present live comedy from Boston Comedy Festival finalist Kate Sisk (he/she/they) and music from Carter Lou McElroy (she/her), all hosted by the most fabulous Amanda Love! Greene County Family Planning will be joining us to share info on their services and offer free condoms, Narcan, Fentanyl/Xylazine Test Strips, and Tick Kits. In honor of Pride Month, all cash donations made to ACC during this event will be passed on to LGBTQIA+ safe haven House of Precise.
June 7
Next to the Wild: The Seen and the Discovered
Artists Mary Ann Strandell and Michael Rees are united by marriage and their shared vocation. Pushing beyond conventional norms, they enjoy thematic connections that explore the notion of "the wild." The artists approach this concept from distinct perspectives coupled with advanced technologies such as rapid prototyping, lenticular printing, and augmented reality to bring their artistic visions into discovery.
June 7 - July 21
Artistic Explorations
Each year, ACC collaborates with the Coxsackie-Athens School District to exhibit exemplary student artwork. The exhibition features photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and more, all made by budding artists in our area. In the summer of 2023 ACC began working with art teachers/coordinators Elisa Futia (primary), with Joseph Allard, Martin Olstad, and Kayla Ramundo, to present the 2024 annual school exhibition. It’s scheduled for May 2024 to allow ample time in the classroom with these teacher/mentors. This exhibition is a source of pride for young creatives who experience their work displayed in a respected community cultural center. By hosting area students, ACC can welcome all families, including those without regular access to art galleries and exhibits.
In This Moment
A favorite of everyone curious about ACC, the spring members show has grown in size and quality. All artist members are welcome to enter two works into this exhibition. In 2023, 77 artists submitted 140 artworks, all skillfully curated by Athens residents Lucy Michener and Dandy Michener. Our members’ shows foster community among local and regional artists, provide a public forum to showcase their work, and an opportunity to support ACC members through direct sales.
First Friday Reception: 4/5/24, 5-7pm
Creator Series #1: An Aperitivo con Pogliani Select
The ACC is pleased to announce the first installment of our new Creator Series: a celebration of artists and artisans who contribute to our local culture.
We welcome you to: An Aperitivo con Pogliani Select, at the Pogliani historic tasting room in Athens. The Italian aperitivo is a cultural ritual. Ending the day and beginning the evening with a meeting of friends celebrating the moment with wine, olives, cheese and more...
Please join us for drinks, light bites, tastings and stories of the historic home.
Space is limited, please click here to reserve your tickets ASAP!
*Address to be provided upon RSVP