We are thrilled to announce a partnership between New York State Council on the Arts and Shake on the Lake to provide funding for rural artists in 2026. This wide range of projects across rural New York represent the depth of artistic talent in our rural communities.
Announcing our 2026 Fellows!
Victoria Hantout – Clinton County, Eco/fiber Arts
Renee Baumann – Greene County, The Working Vessels Project
Joe Crookston – Tompkins County, Printmaking/Lithography
Emily Dicob – Lewis County, Metalwork/Jewelry
Ingrid Van Slyke – Essex County, Landscapes, Rural Roads
Crystal Calabrese – Tompkins County, Tintype Photography
Peter B. Jones – Cattaraugus County, Ceramics/Native Culture
Angela Robins – Columbia County, Woodworking
Brigitta Varadi – Dutchess County, Fiber/Sculpture
Katie Down – Ulster County, Soundwalking
Watch the website for more information about these projects and events. And congratulations to these wonderful rural artists!!
Questions? Please email Linda at rtafcoordinator@gmail.com
Funding for this project is made possible with support from the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature.
Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship
In partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, Shake on the Lake is administering a statewide Fellowship program for rural and traditional artists. We encourage artists to apply for project funding through an initiative specifically designed for rural artists to collaborate with their communities.
The Fellowship takes a place-based approach with the goal of inspiring and building lasting connections to rural people and places and to acknowledge and support artists living and working within rural communities. This project is meant to celebrate the creativity and innovative nature of the artist and the connection between arts and land in rural communities.
Ten fellows in a wide range of artistic genres will be selected to represent their rural communities across New York State in 2026. Each will receive a $10,000.00 Fellowship.
Application Deadline
Friday, February 20, 2026
For further information on the Rural and Traditional Arts Fellowship,
email RTAF Coordinator Linda Franke:
Email: rtafcoordinator@gmail.com
Missed our 2023 Fellows? Catch up with this video!
Visit the 2023 RTAF Fellows Page
for details on the artists and their projects.
About Shake on the Lake
Our mission is to use theatre and the performing arts to inspire and re-imagine community through performance, education, and creative placemaking. We specialize in serving rural communities and underserved populations in the Silver Lake, NY region, by bringing high-quality professional theatre productions and innovative arts education programming to the community.
For more information, visit: shakeonthelake.org
Funding
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.
New York State Rural & Traditional Arts Fellowship 