We lost two significant arts entities recently: BluSeed Studios and ADK ArtRise.

BluSeed was a not-for-profit that provided opportunities for artists (including dancers, musicians, writers and other performers) to exhibit, teach and create. There were free or low-cost educational programs for local children and adults on a wide variety of topics. The director created a wonderful art thrift store that offered gently-used art materials at rock bottom prices. Located directly on the Rail Trail, BluSeed had expectations of increased visitation.

ArtRise was a brilliant idea of three local women — to offer high-quality instruction in a wide variety of arts, for all ages. These ranged from classes for beginners to experienced artists. One-night sessions to multi-week classes, paint’n’sip events to serious instruction from master artists. ArtRise would even custom design a class if you came to them with an idea.

Why did they fail? COVID-19 had a big impact on all of us, but it hit particularly hard on these two entities. Both had to shut down at critical points in their development, losing valuable opportunities to reach their audiences. It was a challenge to recover from that and many area residents, like me, got comfortable staying home and quit attending community events.

What can we do? I am writing this from the viewpoint of Saranac Lake ArtWorks, the not-for-profit arts organization founded in 2008 with the goal of promoting our community through the arts — but it’s not just art entities that are at risk. Most of our local businesses and organizations struggle to survive. I think we need to give each other a helping hand. This is not an “every-man-for-himself” situation, but more like the “it takes a village to raise a child” scenario. If we want a healthy, happy, productive community, we need to work together.

Here’s what I propose — help promote our businesses and organizations and events. If you meet someone out on a hiking trail and they ask about Saranac Lake, tell them about our area breweries, the ArtWalks, the sporting goods stores that can provide excellent advice, or the play being presented at Pendragon. If you’re a business operator, recommend visitors check out other businesses, or tell them about the Carousel, the Adirondack Center for Writing, or the trails at the VIC. If you’re promoting an event, see what other events are going on and encourage your attendees to consider them as well — perhaps stay another night in a local lodging establishment.

While those of us in the arts like to think that we have established Saranac Lake as an “arts destination,” we know that can’t be the only attraction. We need to consider the whole package our community has to offer and encourage both visitors and residents to explore all the things available to experience. We have so many empty storefronts — if we want them filled, we need to help attract business. If we want our children to be able to grow up with all the benefits of a small rural community, we have to take steps to help keep our local businesses alive, as well as the local jobs they provide.

Attend events. Tell your friends about what they can find and do in Saranac Lake.

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Sandra Hildreth is a founding member and past president of Saranac Lake ArtWorks. She lives in Saranac Lake.