Interview: Theresa Kraft, President of Howland Cultural Center, NY

1. Tell us about your professional background

My present board service began in 2019 having previously served on one of the original boards when the organization was first established. I was elected as president in May 2022, after serving as the treasurer for a year. I studied advertising design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and still run my own design practice.

My work spans across various areas, including graphic design, consumer goods, historic preservation, and assisting with design for a local construction company. I also previously served as a trustee of the Beacon Historical Society, spending two years as vice president, and I continue to be active with several historical organizations. I had the opportunity to serve on the City of Beacon’s Main Street Access Committee and was the city's co-historian for three years. Additionally, I was a member of the Association of Public Historians of NYS.

2. Tell us about the "Jewel of Beacon" HCC’s history, architecture, and its use of clean energy in its operations

Referred to as the "Jewel of Beacon," the Howland Cultural Center building was the first in Beacon to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Norwegian Gothic in style, it was designed as the Howland Circulating Library in 1872 by the preeminent architect Richard Morris Hunt at the bequest of his brother-in-law, Joseph Howland, a Civil War general.

Today, the building is powered by clean geothermal energy, making it the first building in Beacon to achieve this status. Installed over a decade ago, the geothermal system involved drilling five water wells deep into the side courtyard. The non-profit Howland Cultural Center owns, operates, and preserves the historic building. The center has earned its reputation for its exceptional acoustics and its Northcutt Hall gallery. The gallery is open free to the public during weekends and by appointment. The organization relies solely on its working board and many volunteers with no paid staff.

3. Tell us about HCC cultural activities

For over 45 years, our nonprofit has brought people together in the spirit of community. We promote and encourage local artists of the Hudson Valley and beyond and showcase their unique artistic talents. We produce many of our own events along with hosting events produced by outside organizations that showcase the historic building. The Howland is home to the Howland Chamber Music Circle concert series, Mid-Hudson Music Together mixed age music classes for children, and the Tioronda Garden Club. HCC receives funding from ticketed events, the annual Friends Appeal, private and public grants, and donations to support operating expenses and preserve the building's historic significance.

You can find HCC’s events here.

4. Tell us about the process to apply for a cultural event at HCC

We have an exhibit and event selection process overseen weekly by our Program Committee members; including myself, Thomas de Villiers, HCC Vice President; and Craig Wolf, HCC Secretary. 

For example, the approval of the Pink & Blue art show curated by Selva Ozelli was a multiple month long process where she met with the board several times to show samples of international artists work shipped from overseas for consideration. 

5. Tell us more about the program for this art show: 

The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, who has been appointed the co-chair of the US Climate Alliance, announced on the 15th anniversary of and Climate Week NYC (CWNYC) last year that the largest annual climate summit, which is held alongside the United Nations General Assembly, would become an even larger climate event as it would be celebrated state-wide going forward.

For the statewide celebrated historic CWNYC, HCC is featuring the Pink & Blue art show  with work by award-winning Hudson Valley and international environmental photographers Ross Corsair, Zinnia Gutowski, Ian Hutton, Mene Liondos, Jim Richards, Alfons Rodriguez (COP28),  and painters Semine Hazar (COP26), Fatma Kadir (COP26, 28), Mehmet Kuran (COP26, 28), Selva Ozelli (COP26, 27, 28), Ilhan Sayin (COP26, 28) who have exhibited at museums, United Nations Environmental & Climate Change Conferences (COP 26-28) around the world.

The Pink & Blue Art Show runs from August 10 to September 29 parallel to the United Nations General Assembly meeting and CWNYC.

The art show's opening day event featured the music of Pete Seeger by Environmental Singer and Songwriter Lydia Adams Davis, and there was attendance by David Toman, Executive Director of Clearwater, and documentarian Karen Michel, who told us about her "What Matters Project.”

Beacon Mayor Lee Kyraciou, in his opening day speech told us that before he became Beacon’s mayor he served as the Treasurer of Pete Seeger’s foundation Clearwater and moved the foundation’s headquarters from Poughkepsie to Beacon, located at Hudson Valley’s highest point with the best Hudson River views where Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi lived. While a council member the Mayor was involved with establishing the Pete and Toshi Seeger River Front Park, where the Beacon Sloop Club hosts the Strawberry, Corn, and Pumpkin Festivals in June, August, and October each year.

Clearwater’s sloop was named to the National Register of Historic Places that is free for the public to ride from Beacon to explore the beauty of the Hudson River. The sloop has a groundbreaking role in the environmental movement and its dedication to the preservation of the Hudson River which artists Semine Hazar, Fatma Kadir and Ilhan Sayin capture with their sloop paintings on exhibit at the Pink & Blue art show.

Pete Seeger was a local hero and our neighbor and held many musical performances at HCC during his lifetime. We have a portrait painting of him at HCC in the office.

For the Opening video, click here.

7. Tell us about HCC’s Climate Week NYC program on September 22 for the historic CWNYC event that is celebrated New York state wide for the first time.

On September 22 we will hold a CWNYC opening day event to celebrate the inaugural Statewide celebration of CWNYC.  

The event will feature videos and films about climate change from around the world as follows:

America
Peter Bynum, The Interconnectedness of All Life.
Climate Week NYC Art Shows by Selva Ozelli for 4 Museums.

Asia 
CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, Hong Kong, China. MoCC video 2024.

Australia
Climarte
Lord Howe Island Museum, Lord Howe Island.

Europe:
Spain:  Alfons Rodriguez & Jose Bautista “Melting Age.”

Middle East:
Turkiye:  Future of Power COP28.

South East Asia:
SEACHA has submitted 7 films that was shown in the Thai-based film festival Changing Climate Changing Lives (CCCL) Film Festival, which has been a regular partner of SEACHA lately. These short films showcases the impact of climate change from across Asia.  

I. Japan:  how the occurrence of "miwatari", a natural phenomenon that forms in the winter in Lake Suwa, Japan, has been decreasing due to climate change. #1 at CCCL

Ii. Philippines - REFLECTION IN THE MARSH.

Iii. Thailand คน-ป่า (WE AND THE WOODS) As humans fall into a whirlpool of greed, a group of Karen people many have migrated to Thailand, having settled mostly on the Myanmar–Thailand border finds a way to connect nature and mankind through their annual tribal ritual.  The film won the Second Runner-Up at the 2022 Yale Environment 360 Film Contest organized by Yale School of the Environment, Yale University.

Iv. Thailand, PANARE, SHIP ON THE SHORE (15 min) A film from the Changing Climate Changing Lives (CCCL) Film Festival ‘Panare’ fishing community in Pattani is surrounded by sandy beaches and vast sea. Fishing is the main source of making a living for the people. This documentary explores the community's views on climate change, the impacts they experience and the adaptation methods they use to save local fisheries, the backbone of the community.

V. Thailand:  ผัดไทย (PAD THAI).

Vi. Thailand: AVOCADO ON PANCAKES.

Vii. Thailand:  ห้วง (ABYSS).

8. Anything else you would like to add

Next year we will have a three month exhibit of  Beacon’s Now & Then  photography exhibit which was made possible by a donation of old photos of Beacon.  This show is particularly dear to my heart as it shows the historic progression of our town.

9. How can people get involved with HCC

We are always looking for volunteers to help out with the cultural activities at HCC. Some of our volunteers have dedicated decades to volunteering. We are like family.

10.  How can people reach you?

Theresa Kraft
Information@Howlandculturalcenter.org.