Walkable art trail expanded offerings of downtown art festival

SYRACUSE — This summer, CNY Arts, Inc. tried something new as part of the annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival with a walkable art trail through the city designed to encourage public participation with arts and cultural activity. The Syracuse Art Trail ran from July 19 through July 29 across downtown Syracuse, connecting visitors to an array of cultural venues and events. The event was a collaboration between CNY Arts, the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, The Gear Factory, Stay Fresh, and Lipe Art Park. “Folding the Arts and Crafts Festival into the Art Trail was done in consultation with the Downtown Committee to capture the imagination of the public and encourage a potentially wider audience for all the events happening during these nine days,” CNY Arts Executive Director Stephen Butler tells CNYBJ in an email. CNY Arts’ mission is to promote, support, and celebrate arts and culture in Central New York. The trail began at the Gear Factory — a building located at the intersection of South Geddes and West Fayette streets that houses studio spaces for artists and musicians to both work and or live — and ended at Art in the Atrium on East Washington Street. Along the one-and-a-half-mile long cultural corridor, visitors could attend any number of participating venues or events that coincided with the Art Trail. People could choose to walk the entire route or just pop in at locations of interest to them. “We believe this year’s program is a success and are working with the partners involved to determine how to make this an annual event,” Butler says. CNY Arts is already looking at ways the trail concept could be expanded to other communities, he adds. “The Art Trail program is something that could be replicated throughout the six counties served by CNY Arts,” he says. “The Syracuse event, which represented a collaboration of arts agencies and artists, encouraged residents and visitors alike to experience the art and culture that downtown Syracuse has to offer while enjoying the hospitality of surrounding restaurants and cafes – a win for everybody.” Funding sources for the Syracuse Art Trail include Onondaga County, Chashama, the City of Syracuse, Downtown Committee, Visit Syracuse, and participating Art Trail venues. At the end of the week, the Downtown Committee wrapped things up with the 2024 Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, a three-day affair centered in the Columbus Circle area, featuring more than 150 artists and crafters, live entertainment, food, and family activities. Events like the festival and finding new ways to bring more people out to experience what the city has to offer is important, Butler says. “Part of CNY Arts’ mission is to connect the public to accessible arts and culture opportunities and promote the success of artists and art, culture, and heritage agencies in our region,” he says. “The Art Trail is a program that meets this goal and at the same time fosters cooperation and collaboration with all the stakeholders.” Next year’s Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is scheduled for July 25-27.