The first Kids Arts Festival in June 1994 sought to provide a free outdoor arts festival for families in response to devastating state aid education cuts in December, 1993. The original founders deeply valued arts in education, and chose to hold this event in Downtown Schenectady because City Hall was within walking distance for many of the city school district’s children.
Nearly three decades later, we continue to provide hands-on arts education programming, activities and performances that are not only fun, but also promote sound visual education principles in downtown Schenectady for residents of all ages. As the Kids Arts Festival continues to grow and thrive, downtown Schenectady remains the heART of our efforts to inspire creativity in our local youth.
Want to help?
Entertainment, activity and art sponsorships are available. Please email Kids Arts Festival chair bsandberg782@gmail.com for a sponsor commitment form. Gifts of any size are welcome and are tax deductible. Make checks payable to Kids’ Arts Festival and mail to 432 State St., Schenectady NY 12305. The sponsor of the event is 440 State Street, Inc.
Board of Directors
Ebony Belmar, Social Worker, Schenectady City School District
Lanaea Brice, Assistant Director of Programming, Proctors
John Halstead, CPA
Dan Hanifin, Relationships Director, Proctors
Hayward Derrick Horton, Professor of Sociology and the School of Public Health at SUNY Albany
Jean Leonard, President, Proctors
Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors – President
Jim Murphy, Marketing Director, Proctors
Christopher Musto, Finance Director, Proctors – Treasurer to 440 State Street
Ann Parillo, Producer “Schenectady Today” Cable Show – Secretary to 440 State Street
James Salengo, Retired Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation
Betsy Sandberg, Chair Kids Arts Festival
Dan Sheehan, Operations Director, Proctors – Vice President
Joseph Tardi, Public Relations Consultant
440 State Street, Inc. is an independent 501 (c) 3 corporation with its own goals and program.