BUSINESS: Artpark extends pact with state

By Don Glynn<br><a href="mailto:glynnd@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Don</a>
Niagara Gazette

May 21, 2008 06:13 pm

— Artpark & Company, the nonprofit group responsible for the programming and events at the cultural showcase along the lower Niagara River, has been granted a 10-year extension on its licensing agreement with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The new pact will extend through December 2017.
“Our board is very excited about the new operating accord with the state parks,” said Christopher H. Brown, chairman of Artpark & Company. “This recognizes the importance of the substantial contribution that Artpark has made to the quality of life in Western New York by delivering access to visual and performance art for all ages and interest.”
State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash said the 10-year contract will afford opportunities to develop new programs and make capital investments that will be cherished by visitors of all ages.
Officially known as “The Earl W. Brydges Artpark,” named for the late state senator and majority leader in the Rockefeller administration, Artpark encompasses 150 acres along the Niagara Gorge in the Town of Lewiston.
Established in 1974, the park includes an indoor theater, an outdoor amphitheater, venues for artists and artisans to produce and display their works, numerous hiking trails and settings for wildlife recreation.
During its first two decades, the state was the prime funding source for Artpark.
Subsequently, when the state encountered sharp budget cuts, control over the Artpark programs and operations was transferred to Artpark & Company, with the Albany-based parks department maintaining ownership.
In 2004, Artpark became the summer home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and has been voted as the best outdoor venue in Western New York by Buffalo Spree for two years running.