TAHAWUS CULTURAL CENTER, Au Sable Forks, is a 3-storey, former Masonic Lodge built in 1911.  It was acquired by Appleby Foundation, Inc. in 2009 in long-neglected condition.  Appleby is the parent company of Rebecca Kelly Ballet which had, since 1987, produced and presented high level, dance-based activities throughout the northern Adirondacks.  In 2009 it put down permanent roots in the region with the acquisition of the old building, and began to focus efforts on the revitalization of its small town, contributing activities in the arts.  Today, after many and ongoing renovations and improvements, all made possible by crowdfunding, local business and grant support, volunteers and donors, and by much elbow grease, Tahawus now brings programs of culture, health, and education to youth and adults, to residents and visitors, adding to the arts movement in Ausable Valley region.  The Tahawus Center was added to the New York State Register of Historic Places in 2020.

 

The upper two floors are home to Windows Gallery and Cloudsplitter Dance Studio, where over 1500 visitors have enjoyed events, classes, celebrations and explorations in art, dance, music, STEM Labs for youth, a cultural film series, workshops focused on early childhood and women leadership, and community events. 

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Cloudsplitter Dance Studio:  Various dance classes for youth, theater and dance rehearsal space, jiu jitsu workshops for kids, senior adult movement classes, private instruction and choreography for advanced ballet students. The dance studio has provided the North Country Ballet Ensemble with a central location for preparation of their regional fall production of The Nutcracker Ballet, involving over 65 young dancers (and their families). 

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Tahawus Windows Gallery:  Wide-ranging exhibits and symposia shine a spotlight on the talent and vision of local and visiting artists and educators.   HIGHLIGHTS!  Look for the upcoming ONLINE Gallery Exhibits:   10-Year Retrospective Celebration in 2020.  Spanning the exhibits of our first decade, selections by local visual artists including Arto Monaco, Rockwell Kent, Mark Hobson, Jeri Wright, Todd Bissonette and MANY others, can be seen - at your leisure.  In 2021 look for "Warmth and Beauty" - 5 Adirondack Quilters, and "Portraits" by painter and photojournalist Rob Fountain. 

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Visit the website:  https://www.applebyfoundation.org/Tahawus%20home.html

Find Tahawus Center on Facebook and Instagram pages.