The Catskill Mountain Foundation (CMF) has announced a total of $4.5 million in investments from New York State and private donors in support of new facility projects going into its 25th anniversary season.

The state provided a $1.75 million grant to help the foundation upgrade theatrical equipment at its Orpheum Performing Arts Center and build two dance studios adjacent to the Orpheum. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority also made a $940,000 commitment in energy efficiency grants for the dance studios. The new CMF dance studios will be home to the foundation’s Orpheum Dance Program, which offers daily ballet classes for aspiring local dancers and culminates each year with six performances of the Nutcracker, with a cast of pre-professional dancers from the New York City area and many young dancers from the mountaintop community.

In addition, as part of the anniversary season, CMF is deepening its partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim and is launching a new partnership with the Joyce Theater. In both partnerships, CMF is providing funding, use of the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, and housing to support creative residencies for dance companies curated by the Joyce Theater or Works & Process at the Guggenheim.

“The pandemic showed us all the vital importance of the arts to the resilience of both the spirit and the economy of the mountaintop community,” said CMF chairman and co-founder Peter Finn. “We are now proud to emerge in our 25th anniversary season with a dramatically expanded artistic program and improved facilities to bring us together and sustain the region.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/alvarez)