Chapman Steamer Arts believes that communities are strengthened and find sustainability through a presence of the arts.

Upon completion, Chapman Steamer Arts will provide housing for visiting artists, 1,500sq ft studio with sprung floor, 2,000sq ft flexible performance & event space with a green room and recording studio

• 2015: Secured & began restoring a 110-year old historic firehouse to be the home of Chapman Steamer Arts, an artist residency & performance space in Newburgh, NY.

• 2016: Secured 3-story brownstone in Newburgh’s Historic District. This historic building has been vacant and boarded up for 30+ yrs, and is the future home of lodging for Chapman Steamer Arts visiting artists. 

• 2017-2018: Brownstone structurally stabilized, brick repointed, exterior painted, installed 35 windows, electricity restored, replaced roof, restored corbels & cornice work to its original design and to meet NYS Historic standards. 

• 2019: Presented local/international artists: Ken Foster (NBNY) local author book signing, participated in Newburgh Open Studios, Newburgh Terrain Biennial, and public showings with work by A-Y/Dancers (Beacon,NY), dance artist Carlye Eckert (NBNY), video artist David Fishel (NBNY), photographer Robert Flynt (Redhook, NY), rapper Hood Soul (NBNY), visual artist David Lionheart (NBNY), poet & spoken word artist David Barnes (FR), singer/songwriter Kristina Vaughan (FR).

• 2020-2021: Through the pandemic, Chapman Steamer Arts in-person programming was paused, virtual programming: Greetings From 2020 (Newburgh Open Studios) showcased work by Sherri Holmes (NBNY) and composer & musician Darren Hoffman (Pawling, NY). In-person programming resumed in the second half of 2021 via Newburgh Open Studios with performances by Elka Bong + Ophra Wolf (NBNY) and work in process performances by 2021 artist in residence POGO Dance Projects.

Over the next 5 years, Chapman Steamer Arts will continue to grow its arts programming to offer: 

• 4-6 creative to late stage residencies for artists working in Dance, Performance, Film, Music, Visual Arts.

• 10 performance-focused events per year open to the public.

• Free quarterly community access events, including Arts in the Park!, Dinner + Dance, artist-in-residence open rehearsal/studio visits, master classes, + art & culture talks.

• Arts education programs & events, including free community classes in yoga & open movement.

RESIDENCIES

Chapman Steamer Arts provides opportunities each year for up to 6 artists or groups to work intensively in varying stages of the artistic process. Early to late stage creative & technical residencies for the performing and visual arts include lodging, educational and artistic community outreach components.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

By canvassing our community, maintaining an ongoing dialogue with neighbors and community members through exchanging ideas, goals, desires, and needs in the City of Newburgh, we create programming and provide resources (ie: space, production support, education, & platforms for creative expression) based on what we hear, see, and learn is needed in our community.

Chapman Steamer Arts initiates partnerships in and around Newburgh to bring exposure to the arts and develop curious audiences:  

Arts in the Park! at Downing Park- A pilot program in 2022, made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program and administered by Arts Mid Hudson, and additional funding from Awesome Newburgh, that collaborates with local & visiting artists working in spoken word, poetry, music, installation, and dance to bring free arts events and performances to Downing Park during the months of May and June.

In 2023, Arts in the Park! hosted 7 arts events and classes in Downing Park from June-July.

Newburgh Traffic Advisory Committee- Chapman Steamer Arts presented and collaborated with members of the NTAC to develop X-ING, a choreographic event that responds to pedestrian and traffic safety in the City Of Newburgh where awareness and infrastructure for pedestrians is lacking. The first event was held in September 2019 at the intersection of South & Dubois. 

Newburgh Illuminated Festival- The 8th Annual Newburgh Illuminated Festival in 2019 presented over 100 dance artists for 6 hours of back-to-back dance in downtown Newburgh. 40,000 attended the free Festival where they viewed contemporary & cultural dances, music, and art by artists from local & surrounding areas. The Newburgh Illuminated Festival Dance Stage seeks to program dances from local dance artists, dance students, and educational institutions, including the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy (NPAA)/Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, The Dance & Music Design School (Cornwall, NY), Newburgh Open Movement, A-Y/Dancers (Beacon, NY), and Haven Movement Company (Newburgh, NY).