Mission

The mission of Living Artist Society (LAS) is to use arts-based programs to promote cultural exchange and to cultivate the creative capacity of communities to achieve positive social and economic impact. 

History

Living Artist Society was born out of the founder’s personal life experience straddling artistic pursuits as a classical pianist and educator while earning a living in the field of data science. First formed as an LLC in 2017, the Society focused on using data and technology to make advanced digital marketing services available to independent performing artists.

The pandemic forced a lengthy hiatus, but the need for services increased. Direct observation of displaced arts and culture workers in Sleepy Hollow prompted a pivot in the business model to address sustainability issues more broadly.

A two-year search for suitable yet affordable space for Tarrytown based Rivertown Dance Academy led to the Society’s first project to acquire and renovate a vacant building and transform it into an Arts and Culture Community Center. In the course of participating in the New York Forward/Downtown Revitalization, multiple arts groups emerged sharing a common vision and facing similar challenges. We decided join forces.

In 2023, a second opportunity presented itself in the Town of Cortlandt to create a public memorial commemorating the Peekskill Riots, an important historical and cultural event of national significance in the birth of the civil rights movement. The site of the Peekskill Riots will be evaluated for inclusion on the National Park Service registry.

In June of 2024, the Society reorganized as a nonprofit corporation in the state of New York, registering as a charitable organization, and attaining 501c3 status from the IRS.

The name Living Artist Society reflects the networks of artists and arts organizations served and their impact on the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Commitment to DEI

We’re committed to being nondiscriminatory and providing equal opportunities for employment, volunteering, and advancement in all areas of our work.

We respect the value that diverse life experiences bring to our board and leadership and we strive to listen to their views and give them value.

We’re committed to modeling diversity, inclusion, and equity and maintaining fair and equal treatment for all.

We strive to have a staff and board comprised of talented people from diverse racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, cultural, professional, and class backgrounds and to provide a range of programming and resources that acknowledge these backgrounds.