Alive Downtowns! Appreciative of New York State Government’s $5 Million Decision to Support the Arts 

SCHENECTADY — Alive Downtowns!, a coalition of 13 downtown historic performance arts centers across Upstate New York, released a statement May 8 regarding the New York State government’s decision to invest $5 million in their local arts organizations. 

“It is amazing and heartening to have focused support from our legislators and Governor Hochul to keep the performing arts centers of Upstate New York at the heart of the continuing success of upstate’s downtowns,” said Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative. 

The 13 theatres include Bardavon 1896 Opera House (Poughkeepsie), Clemens Center (Elmira), Palace Performing Arts Center (Albany), Proctors Collaborative (Schenectady, Albany, Saratoga), The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts (Jamestown), Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Auditorium Theatre (Rochester), Shea’s Performing Arts Center (Buffalo), The Smith Center for the Arts (Geneva), Stanley Theatre (Utica), State Theatre of Ithaca, Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Ulster Performing Arts Center (Kingston). 

The 13 facilities serve over five million people annually and are cornerstones to the upkeep and improvement of their respective downtowns. Their combined annual economic impact is $900,000,000, according to the statement. 

 More information about Alive Downtowns! can be found at afairgame.net.