The Beat

Rochester, N.Y. (Dec. 9, 2024) — Marc Iacona and John Nugent, producers of the Rochester International Jazz Festival in partnership with Rochester Regional Health, announced 13 additional artists who will join the festival’s signature Club Pass series at multiple venues.

Opening December 13

Rochester, NY (December 9, 2025) — The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) invites visitors to explore a selection of American still lifes spanning from the 1800s to the present in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Desire and Abundance: American Culture and the Still Life features works from MAG’s collection and will be on view December 13, 2025, through July 5, 2026, in the Forman Gallery.

December 13 & 20, 2025

Staatsburg, N.Y.  (12/09/25) — A stunning and festive touring experience awaits you in one of the great estates of the Hudson Valley. While touring Staatsburgh State Historic Site’s Beaux-Arts country home for A Gilded Age Christmas, enjoy live classical guitar performed by Dan Stevens. Stevens will perform a selection of holiday tunes and classical guitar standards in the mansion’s formal dining room on Saturdays, December 13 and 20, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The music is included in the site admission price.

Howes Cave, NY–The Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave, NY, announced today a grant award totaling $49,500.00 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the arts and culture sector.  This grant will be used to bring in traditional dancers and artists.  These events usually occur on Saturdays, June – September, 2026.

See ‘See It Now’ before it closes January 4

Saratoga Springs, NY (December 9, 2025) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery announces special holiday hours during Skidmore College’s winter break. From December 16 through January 18, the museum will be open Tuesday–Sunday, noon–5 pm. The museum will be closed December 23–25 and December 30–January 1.

Saranac Lake, NY — The Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Catalyst Program grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to support a comprehensive, community-centered planning initiative for the Adirondack Rail Trail.

“Constructions and the Working River” brings insightful, thought-provoking works to Newburgh through the eyes, hands, and hearts of three regional artists.

Newburgh, NY — GRIT Gallery’s first exhibit in the new year is a group show featuring thought-provoking mixed media and sculptural pieces that explore the local effects of global matters. Running January 17-March 1, 2026, “Constructions and the Working River” highlights three regional artists who incorporate industrial materials, found objects, and elements of nature into emotive works that each have a story to tell.

New York, N.Y. (December 9, 2025) — The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), New York’s longest-running showcase dedicated to global stories spotlighting the human experience of people of color, proudly welcomes an exciting slate of filmmakers and creators for its Closing Weekend events. As the festival enters its final days, audiences can look forward to powerful screenings, insightful conversations, and talent whose work challenges convention, expands representation, and deepens our understanding of the human experience of people of color.