Tupper Arts awarded $99,000 by NYSCA for theater sprinkler-system installation

Tupper Lake, NY – Tupper Arts announced today a grant award totaling $99,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s renovation of the historic Adirondack State Theater. This grant will cover the cost of the installation of a sprinkler system and is part of a capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals more than $82 million to 132 arts and culture facilities across New York State.

Tupper Arts had requested a grant to add a fire-suppression system to the renovation project of the Adirondack State Theater at 100 Park Street. The 1914 structure, which Tupper Arts purchased in 2024 and has continued to operate, survived two major fires that demolished most of the other buildings on the block. Tupper Arts is revitalizing the building with funding from New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) previous capital funding from NYSCA, and other funding, with work planned on both of the building’s two theater spaces, along with its façade, lobby, marquee, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, and basement.

The fully renovated Adirondack State Theater will add to its current schedule of first-run movies, classic films, and special events by expanding the number and variety of live performances on a brand-new, state-of-the-art main stage.

“New York’s powerful arts and culture sector is a formidable asset,” New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Our continued investments in museums, theaters and art centers generate incredible returns — sparking innovation, boosting local economies, driving visitors and making us the global epicenter of arts and culture.”

NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We know that when the arts flourish, communities follow — bringing energy, creating jobs, expanding accessibility, and increasing tourism. This grant program is a critical investment in our creative sector, empowering our creative community and inspiring innovation. Congratulations to all the grantees, we look forward to seeing these diverse projects develop all throughout the state.”

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2027, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts, and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.