Ending with a Thankful Heart

It is with a thankful heart that I formally acknowledge the end of the Belfast Organization for Artists project. 

Since 2009, BOFA has been a charitable project of SheilaLynnK Art Studio created in memory of Amanda to uplift and unify local creators in the Belfast, NY area and amplify the work they make. Promoting creative unity and accessibility to arts and culture in our rural community has been a rewarding experience that helped me to connect to a wide variety of local makers and the reasons they continue to create using diverse methods and media.  

As I've retired from Community Action, Direct Support and Arts Services, I must acknowledge the long-standing dedication and hard work of our Events Coordinator, Kathy Garrison, whose invested interested in preserving local access to cultural experiences and historical knowledge was essential to the achievement of the goals of this project. 

Kathy with one of our founding members, Marie Nix

In addition to guiding, planning, and facilitating local BOFA members' and volunteers' participation in quarterly Unfinished Objects Days and the Annual Lions Christmas Trees in the park decorations and activities, Kathy has spent many hours planning and coordinating our Annual Art Shows and securing sponsorship to support local cultural activities.  

2025 BOFA Christmas Tree 

A few 2024 Entries

Every year she has reached out to our participating members to seek their recent art for display in our annual exhibit, compiles an extensive description of the works submitted, and provides a printed copy for library patrons to view while they browse the wonderful projects our creators share with the community.  

In collaboration with the Belfast Public Library Staff, she always ensures that the small works exhibit fits the space and has a powerful impact.  

As an active member of the Belfast Historical Society, Kathy also ensured that BOFA had an active role in the Belfast Bicentennial Events and Activities. 

 

A designer in her own right, Kathy also generously included her fabric art for display in our local exhibits and helped BOFA be an active participant in our collaboration with Women Arts to amplify the work of women artists during Allegany County Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) Days. A charitable project of the studio celebrated locally from 2014 to 2020, SWAN Day is an international global event that began at Women Arts and we were truly honored to be involved in such an empowering and unifying event. 

SWAN Day is a celebration of women's creativity and gender parity activism which was co-founded by Martha Richards of WomenArts and Jan Lisa Huttner of FF2 Media. WomenArts led SWAN Day from 2008-2018 and selected Statera Foundation to lead SWAN Day in 2019. 

 

Wendy Skinner and the Fountain Arts Center generously assisted BOFA as we launched our local participation in this annual event. Local libraries and entrepreneurs joined us as the project grew into an assortment of empowering projects and events serving local creators to last through March and into April in Allegany County.

2015 Article by Kathryn Ross

An annual event in the Western NY Wilds, SWAN Day Allegany County NY has been held in honor of the many creative people working hard to keep the arts accessible to all members of our rural community. 

I'd also like to thank Susan Doran of the Belvidere Cornerstone and the other members of the Allegany Arts Association for their encouragement and willingness to participate in events and activities provided by BOFA over the years. 

As I close the Belfast Organization for Artists I recognize it as a truly collaborative and unifying effort that has been the most empowering creatively charitable endeavor I have ever attempted. I am confident our members, makers, and volunteers will continue to advocate for and participate in local cultural events and activities.  

I am extremely thankful to the volunteers, members, sponsors, and private patrons who made it possible for this project to happen.  

Going forward, you may be interested in supporting or participating in these creative and cultural events and activities and resources. 

Allegany Artisans

Art For Rural America Wellsville, NY 
Arts Services Initiative of Western NY 

The Belfast Public Library and Building a Better Belfast Brick by Book 

The Belvidere Cornerstone Belmont, NY 
The Fountain Arts Center, Belmont NY 
The Tri-County Arts Council serving Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties
The Arts Council for Wyoming County serving Allegany and Wyoming County and the ACWC grant programs serving artists in these communities. 
New York Foundation for the Arts 

The Wellsville Creative Arts Center

The Amanda Nicole Curcio Memorial Scholarship Fund 

The Amanda Nicole Curcio Scholarship has moved to the Allegany County Area Foundation
This Perpetual Scholarship still "benefits Belfast Central School students who reflect Amanda’s care and concern for others and display a solid academic record, with special consideration given to applicants showing an interest in creative writing and/or intent to pursue this at the college level.
BCS seniors and graduates may apply for the scholarship through the Allegany County Area Foundation application which opens on November 1st.
This scholarship was originally created in 2007 and school-based before being moved to ACAF in Summer of 2022.

The Jodi Patterson Fund for Art, Culture, and Rural Empowerment

This donor-advised fund supports efforts to present art, culture, and opportunity to the residents of Midland County, MI, and Allegany County, NY.

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ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT 

Through independent efforts and in collaboration with Belfast groups and clubs we wanted to: assist artisans to create work and make it available to the public, provide area artisans with links to information and resources, exchange ideas and skills knowledge with area artisans, create new opportunities to show work in the Belfast Area, provide publicity, collaborate with Allegany County Arts organizations, represent Belfast at the County Level, provide enrichment and service opportunities to community members.
This volunteer organization was funded by the private contributions of its founding members, affordable membership fees, and anonymous donations. All funds received have been directly applied to the cost of materials, marketing, and local creative projects and events. 

MORE ABOUT THIS AND OTHER CHARITABLE PROJECTS FROM THE STUDIO 

Subscribing Patrons, Sales of my drawings and illustrations, and Sales of my designs in my Artist Shop at Threadless helped fund the Art For Arachnoiditis Project and The Belfast Organization for Artists.
The most current studio content can be found on my Patreon Page.