The Peru Gazette

(PLATTSBURGH, NY – September 4, 2026) The Strand Center for the Arts is facing an immediate financial crisis. Without substantial support from the community now, they may not have the resources necessary to meet their current obligations and continue operating. 

“The world is changing around us and we need to change with it but first we need to be able to exist beyond this year. This is not the message we thought we would be sharing with the community now but, here we are,” said Megan Charland, the Executive Director of the Strand Center for the Arts. 

“The Strand is fortunate to have a committed and hard working staff, and our class, youth camp and event offerings in the arts center are often sold out fairly quickly. However, the theatre, where most of our profits come from, is underperforming considerably when compared to last year and compared to trends over the last three years. Across the country, performing arts organizations are navigating changing audience and ticket-buying trends, and the Strand is experiencing some of those shifts as well. Theatre revenue has historically made up 60-65% of the organization’s annual revenue. Just last year it was 66%. Theatre revenue through July is down 27% since last year, equating to a loss of about $140,000 in revenue. This reflects a national trend in declining ticket sales and the Strand is not immune. We need the support of the community to help us continue investing in the artists, performances, programs and experiences that bring our mission to life,” said Ryan Demers, Board of Trustees President of the Strand Center for the Arts. 

As a mission-driven non-profit organization, the Strand has always relied upon grants, sponsorships, and donations, both small and large, to supplement their earned income and support their efforts. Fundraising is currently lower than last year by about 30%. 

Programming revenue in the Strand’s arts center remains steady, which reflects the community’s desire for more classes and youth camps, but the revenue and profits from those efforts is significantly lower than those driven by the theatre. The Strand relies on grants and other forms of income to supplement their efforts, but those have decreased versus last year by 75% as funding is limited and more arts centers, like theirs, express greater needs. 

“In order to continue our mission to enrich, energize and engage our community through the arts, we’re asking you to donate what you can to help us get through this tough time. The Strand has been a Plattsburgh destination for the arts and entertainment for the last 26 years, and attracts over 35,000 visitors a year, and we hope to keep that going for another 26 years into the future,” said Ryan Demers, Board of Trustees President of the Strand Center for the Arts. 

“Right now, we urgently need to raise $50,000. Every contribution, whether it is $25, $100, $1,000, or more, will help us continue paying our immediate obligations and keep the Strand’s doors open. If the Strand has brought joy to you or someone you love, please stand with us now,” said Megan Charland, the Executive Director of the Strand Center for the Arts. 

To learn more and make a donation, visit their website at: www.strandcenter.org 

About Strand Center for the Arts 

Founded in 2000, the Strand Center for the Arts (SCA) is dedicated to offering arts education & cultural events to residents from Clinton, Essex & Franklin counties, and surrounding areas in Vermont and Québec, through a multi-disciplinary Arts Center and performing arts Theatre. The SCA strives to improve the quality of life for all members in our community by promoting creativity and self-growth, creating strong models for cultural & civic engagement, and by providing resources for better physical, mental & emotional health. We work to offer these services regardless of socio-economic status, age, or abilities. The SCA is a cultural and economic driver, and hub for family engagement, unique in capacity, reach & caliber as the only 

major arts center in a 50-mile radius: vital in the surrounding rural areas of the North Country region. Through diverse programs & partnerships, the SCA contributes toward improved personal wellbeing for people of all ages and ability with high-quality visual & performing arts classes; robust theatre offerings, including music, dance, comedy & film; and digital engagement efforts widely distributing arts resources. For more information on the Strand Center for the Arts visit our website: StrandCenter.org 

###