Arts council marks its 50th anniversary

The arts have found a local home for the past five decades with the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport. As the organization prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, board members shared details of its rich history and their continuing efforts to bring art to village residents.

The arts council was founded in 1974, driven by the passion of people like Lila Diringer, the first board president; current board President Lois Howe’s father, music publisher Bernard Kalban; and other Freeport residents who believed in the value of establishing a place where the arts could thrive in the village. The group’s original purpose was to bring art to the community through school arts education residencies, concerts at the Freeport High School auditorium theater and art trips, workshops and art exhibits.

“Mrs. Diringer was one of the driving forces behind it,” Howe recalled, “because she was very interested in the arts, and wanted to have concerts, and the school let them use the auditorium.” The board’s dedication to the arts, coupled with a seed grant from the village and the school district, fueled the council’s growth.

Today, Howe, in addition to her work as a travel agent, carries on the legacy her father helped to create. The council continues its work of bringing art to the people and raising awareness of the diverse forms it takes, from visual arts to music and theater.

The organization has expanded its reach through various initiatives, including the popular art alcove at the Freeport Recreation Center. Created a decade ago, the alcove is a place for local artists to showcase their work, on a two-month rotating basis. The work of Raphael Bernadin, a Haitian-born non-objective painter, is currently on display.

Because the alcove is highly visible in the Rec Center lobby, the response from art-loving visitors — not to mention the center’s regular members on their way to the pools, the gym, the ice rink or the meeting rooms — has been overwhelmingly positive.

The council organizes a range of activities, from mural projects in collaboration with district schools to book talks featuring local authors. An annual concert series on the Nautical Mile, spanning genres from rock to reggae to hip-hop, has been a summer tradition for over two decades. The council recently put out a call for a sculptor, aiding Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in its searching for an artist to create just the right work for the hospital’s plaza.

Asked what initially drew him to the council, Larry Dresner, the current executive president of its board of directors, said, “I think it’s very important. When schools or budgets require, the arts are the first thing to go so we always think that continuing the arts, for enriching people’s lives … it’s just important to have.”

Looking ahead to the 50th-anniversary celebration, council members are plans for a special “arty party,” for which they are already selling tickets. It will take place on May 5, from noon to 3 p.m., at Bayview on the Water, on the Nautical Mile. There are plans for some 50 raffles, with prizes ranging from wine to theater tickets to paintings.

Asked about difficulties and challenges the organization has faced over the years, Howe said, “It gets a little bit hard … but we’re working hard to keep it all going, and the council remains focused on rebuilding its board and finding new and innovative ways to get people interested.”

As it nears its landmark anniversary, Howe and her team continue to carry the torch for the arts in Freeport. From its humble beginnings to the diverse and dynamic programs of today, the council’s journey exemplifies the enduring power of artistic expression in building a vibrant community.