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Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Open the wondrous Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center cultural park in Saugerties, NY.

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Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center Capital Campaign

Open the wondrous Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center cultural park in Saugerties, NY.

Open the wondrous Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center cultural park in Saugerties, NY.

Open the wondrous Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center cultural park in Saugerties, NY.

Open the wondrous Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center cultural park in Saugerties, NY.

Laura Rock Kopczak
Laura Rock Kopczak
Laura Rock Kopczak
Laura Rock Kopczak
2 Campaigns |
Saugerties, United States
$10,675 USD by 104 backers
$9,975 USD by 96 backers on May 8, 2021
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

Our Work

Arm-of-the-Sea Theater is a high-quality, creative, community-based mask and puppet theater group that tours throughout the Hudson Valley, New York State, and beyond. We are integrating our award-winning artistic and environmental advocacy achievements to bring the Tidewater Center to our Hudson River Valley community. This new venue will serve a dual-purpose as a cultural gathering space and the future home for our organization.

Our mission is to deliver wonder, joy, and insight to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. We believe that having fun, caring about social issues, and making good art is vitally important to the community.  Our touring company, with five performers and a one-man-band, typically presents 50 to 75 performances each year, reaching over 15,000 guests. We also conduct theater residency programs at schools and camps.

We’ve been touring since 1982 and are ready to settle down! We found a fantastic spot on Esopus Creek in Saugerties, about 100 miles north of New York City, but there’s a catch. It’s on the site of the 19th century Sheffield paper mill, so we have A LOT to clean up. There are ruins and sluiceways, a deteriorated bulkhead, and some coal ash contamination.  We aren’t just building a new center to celebrate art, science and history- we are also cleaning up a brownfield and revitalizing the shoreline!

Eventually, the Tidewater Center will have a theater/events building lined by 350 feet of new public waterfront. There will be an environmental science center, art studio, waterworks playground, and a space to offer programming for children and seniors. We’ll also be booking other magnificent performers!

            Every long journey starts with a few steps. This spring, we will clean up the site, build a parking lot, and construct an outdoor performance space. This will let us open for summer to offer live entertainment from Arm-of-the-Sea Theater and other performers. Imagine sitting on a hillside on a summer night and watching a live show with the creek sparkling in the background!

Arm-of-the-Sea Theater brings people together. We have an amazing opportunity to move into our new space, the Tidewater Center, and transform it into a hub of creativity to share with residents and visitors alike. We can’t do it without your support.

Help us make Arm-of-the-Sea’s vision a reality. When you contribute to our efforts, you will receive exclusive donation rewards!

What We Need & What You Get

  • We are fundraising for $50,000.  The entire cost to clean up and open this summer is $100,000.  We have already raised half of this - you can help us with the rest!
  • The money will be used for basics like adding fill to clean up the site, building a retaining wall, and adding a parking lot, as well as for essential theater amenities like utilities, signage, and restrooms.
  • Get perks when you donate, including free tickets to our grand opening, ice cream and tee shirts, a behind-the-scenes look at our studios and even a tour of Esopus Creek in our founder’s fishing skiff!
  • Every time we hit a new fundraising milestone, we will have a pop-up event, like a bring-your-own virtual ice cream party, or a puppet-hosted virtual ribbon-cutting to ceremonialize site work progress.

The Impact

Here's how the new Arm-of-the-Sea Tidewater Center will make an impact:

  • .For 38 years we have toured our shows, fostering a sense of curiosity and connection throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond.  With a space of our own, we look forward to investing in the people and telling the stories of our local community.
  • With 350 feet of new public waterfront, the Tidewater Center will provide access to fishing, strolling and general enjoyment on the shore of Esopus Creek.  Not to mention the Covid-safe outdoor performance space overlooking the creek!
  • Our programs will offer opportunities for people of all ages to participate! From Arts & Science camps to the theater internship program and resident company to giant puppet pageants, there will be many possibilities to get out, have fun and be creative. 
  • We will collaborate with other local arts organizations, such as Shout Out Saugerties, to bring even more live theater and other events to the Tidewater Center.
  • The arts are important! If you don't believe us go talk to teachers, social workers, parents, and more.  They know that having a creative passion can make or break the lives of kids and adults alike. Saugerties and the Hudson Valley will benefit tremendously from having this outlet.

Risks & Challenges

Someone once said, "It's always impossible until it's done."  We have come a long way - and now have an approved Master Plan, construction drawings, 75 feet of reconstructed bulkhead- but it’s important that we finish the sitework so we can open the Tidewater Center this summer.

  • Risk 1: Not raising enough money. The good news is that we are halfway there. We are addressing this risk by turning over every stone to search for funds.  We are presenting our plans to many different people, businesses and foundations, so that when we get close to reaching our funding goal, we can ask again for a little bit more of their support.
  • Risk 2: Covid-19 delays. The good news is that this will be an outdoor performance space. The audience will be safely distanced, and our puppeteers will perform safely. (It is MASKED theater, after all!)

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can't contribute financially,, but that doesn't mean they can't help:

  • Please share this campaign with your friends and co-workers!
  • Please use the Indiegogo share tools!
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Choose your Perk

Date Night

Date Night

$25 USD
Two free tickets to our grand opening show or another show. Make it a date!
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • 2 Tickets to an AotS show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
13 out of 100 of claimed
Ships worldwide.
Fun for the Family

Fun for the Family

$50 USD
6 Tickets to our grand opening show or another show. Imagine the fun you'll have! Plus other cool stuff.
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • Postcard
  • 6 tickets to an AotS show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
12 out of 100 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Mother's Day Delayed

Mother's Day Delayed

$50 USD
Celebrate Mother's Day by inviting her to a local Arm-of-the-Sea show this summer, and give her a small bouquet of flowers at the show! Good things come to those who wait!
Included Items
  • Name on donor wall
  • Three tickets to an AotS show
  • A bouquet at the show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
3 out of 25 of claimed
Ice Scream

Ice Scream

$100 USD
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • Postcard
  • 6 ice cream cones at the show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
3 out of 50 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Tee's Me

Tee's Me

$100 USD
6 Tickets to our grand opening show or another show and Arm-of-the-Sea swag to go with it.
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • Postcard
  • 6 tickets to an AotS show
  • Two AotS T-shirts at the show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
26 out of 50 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Captured in Print

Captured in Print

$250 USD
A signed 8 1/2" x 13 1/2" print of an Arm-of-the-Sea vintage poster. Plus…
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • 2 Tickets to an AotS show
  • Postcard
  • Signed AotS print
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
2 out of 25 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

$500 USD
Celebrate your birthday at Tidewater Center with a cake and ice cream served by three puppet characters. Stay and see the show. Work with us to set the date!
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • 8 tickets to an AotS show
  • Photos with the puppets
  • One AotS T-shirt at the party
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
1 out of 10 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Behind the Scenes Tour

Behind the Scenes Tour

$500 USD
Get a behind the scenes tour of our studios. And other fun items.
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • Postcard
  • Two AotS T-shirts at the show
  • 8 tickets to an AotS show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
0 out of 5 of claimed
Ships to United States of America
Private Tour of Esopus Creek

Private Tour of Esopus Creek

$500 USD
Get a private tour of Esopus Creek with one of the co-founders in his fishing skiff.
Included Items
  • Social media shout out
  • Signature on donor wall
  • Postcard
  • Two AotS T-shirts at the show
  • 8 tickets to an AotS show
Estimated Shipping
July 2021
2 out of 5 of claimed
Ships to United States of America

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