Cooperstown News Bureau

COOPERSTOWN - In these days of lean governmental budgets, several artistic groups in Otsego County are banding together to promote the arts and seek funding.

The Otsego County Arts Alliance, which has been incubating for months, will publish an on-line arts calendar by mid-January at www.artsaccess.info.

"We want to let people know about the events we have around the county and also try to avoid scheduling conflicts," said Tara Sumner, executive director of the Smithy-Pioneer Gallery in Cooperstown and the Arts Alliance's publicity director.

Having all member groups contribute to the calendar should help keep them aware of each other's activities and make it less likely that two or more groups will compete for a similar audience on the same day, she said.

Among groups that have joined the Alliance are the Catskill Choral Society, the Catskill Symphony, the Cooperstown Art Association, the Cooperstown Concert Series, The Farmers' Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, Friends of Hyde Hall, the Glimmerglass Opera, the Leatherstocking Theatre Company, the Oneonta Concert Association, the Smithy-Pioneer Gallery, the Storytelling Center of Oneonta and the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts, Sumner said.

All members have not-for-profit status, she said.

Those in member organizations plan to work together to help promote each other's events as well as their own, said Jane Johngren, grants chairwoman for the Cooperstown Concert Series.

"I've been associated with the arts for many years and I've never seen the kind of cooperation we have now," she said. "People are working for the greater good and the atmosphere is very collegial."

Seeking funds will be among the alliance's chief goals, Sumner said. UCCCA has agreed to serve as lead applicant for grants and also will receive and distribute funds. A development committee, headed by Susan Porter of the Glimmerglass Opera and Tom Costello of The Farmers' Museum and Fenimore Art Museum will seek new sources of money, she said.

The Arts Alliance also has secured a grant from the Frances E. Rowe Charitable Trust and soon will be approaching corporate funding sources, Sumner said.

Janet Erway, director of the Cooperstown Art Association, said arts groups working together may draw more interest to all their events, which range from folk singing to opera to exhibiting fine artwork.

Sumner said arts groups have worked together in the past through the former county initiative program, but the alliance is more organized and focused. Its mission is to sustain, nurture and promote the arts, assure accessibility to the arts, foster arts education, provide opportunities for local artists, encourage volunteerism, seek funding and enhance the quality of life for county residents.