NEWSLETTER
Narrowsburg, NY (March 20, 2026) – Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) is proud to announce its 50th Anniversary Gala, taking place on Saturday, May 16th at the brand-new terminal building at Sullivan County International Airport in Swan Lake, NY. This once-in-a-lifetime event will commemorate DVAA’s first fifty years of advancing the arts in Sullivan County and look forward to what the next fifty years has in store for this vital organization.
“We have been on an incredible journey ever since Elaine Giguere and Tom DeGaetani gathered a group of residents to produce a production of Our Town that appeared at the Tusten Theatre and Harmony Hall in Callicoon” notes DVAA Executive Director, Ariel Shanberg. “To celebrate the half-a-century of building community in and through the Arts that has followed that seminal moment, we have crafted a truly magical one-night only event at which we will gather for a moment of pause – to celebrate what has been built and to gather momentum for what is to come”.
With its modern design and floor-to-ceiling windows, the new terminal building (completed in late 2025) will provide a dramatic backdrop to the evening’s festivities. Cocktails in hand, the gala’s guests will have the chance to be among the first members of the public to explore the breath-taking new structure. They will enjoy installations and performances from a who’s who of local artists before taking their seats to sample the locally sourced, seasonal menu prepared by Chef Oscar Vargas (Flavor Cult). A curated auction of one-of-a-kind local items and experiences, special guest appearances, and a newly commissioned documentary featurette screening will round out the evening, before guests are invited to dance beneath the stars.
Reflecting on this milestone anniversary, DVAA’s Board President, Dan Hust, said “Fifty years ago, a dream took flight. It was a small dream but a focused one: to gently lift local artists and their work into public view, to raise a river valley's consciousness, to free eyes, ears and minds from their earthbound restraints. Today, that dream has become far more than imagined: elevating an entire region and its economy, celebrating the soaring spirit and spectacle of art, constantly rejuvenating body and soul with the fresh air of new thought and perspective. What brought us to this point still sustains us - the constant support of the artists, businesses and public whom we serve. As we lift you up, so you do the same for us.”
The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance serves as the Arts Council for Sullivan County, New York, presenting year-round programs in the visual, performing, and community arts and providing resources for artists and arts organizations throughout the region, on both sides of the Delaware River. A series of 50th anniversary-related events is planned for the remainder of this year, including an expansive series of exhibitions, and a community production of Thornton Wilder's 1938 Pulitzer-Prize winning play, Our Town, in the 100-year old Tusten Theatre.
Proceeds from the gala will go towards DVAA’s 50 Forward Fundraising Campaign, which will help to fund year-long anniversary programming and establish an endowment to help secure the next 50 years of arts programming.
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WHAT: DVAA Announces 50th Anniversary Gala To Be Held on May 16th, 2026
WHERE: Sullivan County International Airport, 75 Co Rd 183A, Swan Lake, NY 12783
WHEN: Saturday, May 16th, 5pm
LINK: www.dvaa50.org
NOTES: Tickets start at $250, with table host packages available