Behind the scenes at Colorscape Chenango

By Brian Kamsoke

Correspondent

NORWICH – Each year the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival attracts 14-15,000 people to East and West Parks in downtown Norwich the first weekend after Labor Day. They enjoy a free festival of juried art and music in an interactive atmosphere featuring artist demonstrations, free arts activities, a student art exhibit, a competitive poetry slam, and creative food vending.

But there is so much more that goes on “behind the scenes” in preparation for that one weekend event. And much of it couldn’t take place without the generous support of Colorscape’s partners.

“Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is free of charge through the generosity of our many partners,” says Colorscape Chairperson Lucy Funke. “Their extensive sponsorship of the arts contributes to the quality of the cultural life in our rural area. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our many sponsors as they help further arts education, foster civic pride, expand tourism and stimulate economic development.”

“Economic development” is not something one might relate to an arts festival. But indeed, many local businesses enjoy a noticeable boost in business during the Colorscape weekend.

“We always have an increase in customer traffic during the Colorscape weekend,” says Bill Tyrrell, owner of Smith Ford, LLC, whose generous support allows for the popular Colorscape T-shirts. “Colorscape is great for the community.”

Funke says there are well over 50 business partners whose financial support makes Colorscape possible. She wishes she could mention each of them individually, but encourages attendees at this year’s Colorscape to look for them in the program book and on tent and stage banners where their names are proudly listed and displayed.

Many of the partners have been associated with Colorscape for years, while others, such as New York Central Mutual Insurance and Morrisville College, are new. “Through their enthusiastic support of Colorscape they have demonstrated their willingness to give back to our community,” Funke says.

Of course, soliciting financial support for each year’s Colorscape is something that begins very early in the year (as early as February). This task generally falls to Colorscape’s Executive Director Lisa Iannello.

“The local businesses have always been very supportive of Colorscape,” says Iannello. “NBT Bank, P&G Pharmaceuticals, Golden Artist Colors, Price Chopper, and of course, the local media, The Evening Sun and Pennysaver, ID and now WSKG, have been very helpful,” she says.

It’s true, many local businesses and institutions, such as the City of Norwich, Bagnall Electric, Yellowbook, Pro-Tel and the Label Gallery have supported Colorscape for many years. But much support also comes from local and national foundations. The responsibility of applying for these grants also falls to the executive director.

“Just like any non-profit, we’re always looking for new business partners and sources of funding,” says Iannello. “This year, we were able to secure a grant by Poets and Writers, Inc., part of the New York State Council on the Arts.”

This first time grant allowed Colorscape to bring Roger Bonair Agard, a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion, to Norwich to participate in the annual Poetry Slam as part of Colorscape held at the Blarney Stone on South Broad Street beginning noon on Saturday.

“Performance poetry has been growing by leaps and bounds across the country,” says Richard Bernstein, Norwich poet and teacher, Colorscape board member, and organizer of the event. “Each year has seen an increase in our attendance. The reason is that we’re fortunate to combine local talent with some of the biggest names in performance poetry.”

The Literary Arts tent will also feature book signings by local and national authors: children’s authors Suzanne Bloom, William Guiffre, and Lynn Morris, novelist Lynne Epstein, and poet Paul Sheldon.

Planning for events and entertainment during Colorscape weekend is also something that takes place months in advance. Individual Colorscape board members take responsibility for coordinating specific events based on their own interest and expertise. Bernstein, for example, organized the first poetry slam as part of Colorscape seven years ago. Ken Millett, owner of the Night Eagle Café in Binghamton, is the musical coordinator, who every year arranges to bring some of the biggest musical entertainers in the country to downtown Norwich for Colorscape weekend.