Courtesy Tang Museum
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College received a grant award totaling $80,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector.
Since the Tang Teaching Museum’s opening exhibition S.O.S.: Scenes of Sound in fall 2000, state support has bolstered the museum’s ability to support contemporary artists directly and to offer visitors from the Capital Region access to extraordinary exhibitions and programs, all of which are presented free of charge, museum officials said.
The new funding will ensure that the Tang can emerge with its full range of exhibitions and events.
Skidmore College President Marc Conner said the grant “will provide crucial support for the Tang Teaching Museum’s contemporary art exhibitions and public programs. We are extremely grateful to state for this support, which will make artists and their work more accessible and a catalyst for transformative experiences for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.”
In the 2021-22 season, the Tang presented 18 exhibitions, featuring the work of more than 130 artists, including presentations on new and recent work by New York-based artists Lauren Kelley, Laura Ortman, Laura Splan, and Ruby Sky Stiler.
In addition to interdisciplinary exhibitions for which the Tang is well known, such as Parallax: Framing the Cosmos that is now on view, the Tang’s gallery presentations include the Opener Series, which focuses on artists early in the careers to introduce them to broader audiences; the Elevator Music Series, which turns the museum’s elevator into an exhibition space for experimental sound and visuals; and curatorial projects organized by Skidmore College faculty and students.
Last year, the Tang offered 145 public events and brought in 45 guest artists.
NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus said organizations such as the Tang Teaching Museum “are the cornerstone of our vibrant arts economy. As crucial drivers of our health and vitality, we are grateful to the unwavering dedication of arts workers across the state.”
NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said the museum’s creative work “provides the benefits of the arts to both their community and all of New York. Arts organizations are essential, leading our tourism economy and fueling sectors such as hospitality, transit, and Main Streets across our state.”
The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College is a pioneer of interdisciplinary exploration and learning.
The Tang Teaching Museum’s award-winning building, designed by architect Antoine Predock, serves as a visual metaphor for the convergence of art and ideas, college officials said.
The Museum is open to the public on Thursday from noon to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Its website is tang.skidmore.edu.