Catskills Art & Culture: Top 5 Spots You Won’t Want To Miss

The Catskills, so, that hilly area not too far from the Big Apple, might just come as a bit of a surprise, specifically, for those that think it’s just for hiking or taking in some scenery. We might actually find a surprising amount of cool spots connected with art and all sorts of interesting cultural stuff. You see, there are tons of galleries, spots to hear some cool music, and theaters – actually, too, a few places that really get into the history around here. We are going to check out the places you might like the most when visiting.

1. Thomas Cole National Historic Site

First, you’ll discover the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, NY, which seems a fine beginning, seeing as it used to be the house and studio of Thomas Cole, who was, arguably, the founder of the Hudson River School of painting. You will almost feel that you’re actually stepping into a painting yourself with the tours, particularly given that they give you the full story of Cole’s life and his work. It also means, they help you to check out how much he impacted the whole American art movement. So, too, you can wander through the old house. Imagine viewing how the guy created some of the country’s most stunning works right there.

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2. Hunter Mountain’s Arts Scene

Next, Hunter Mountain seems most often on many people’s radar, because it tends to be a cool spot for hitting the slopes. It seems that quite a lot of folks aren’t very aware that it is really becoming known for its own art happenings. The Hunter Arts Council and its galleries, such as the distinctive Catskill Mountain Foundation Gallery, could be worth a detour. These spots actually highlight native and visiting artists, putting forward quite a few types of visual and performing arts. So, really, you can mix your ski trips with experiencing some awesome creative flair.

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3. Woodstock Film Festival

Woodstock Film Festival occurs every autumn, so too, it tends to be another great find. The festival, which very much shines the spotlight on indie films, does tend to pull in filmmakers and movie lovers from all around. Now, apart from actually just checking out flicks, that is, one can also actually take part in Q&As with the filmmakers and perhaps go to some workshops. It is quite cool for everyone, even people, who might actually create or adore film.

Read our full review: Woodstock Film Festival Full Review and Details

4. The Art Omi International Arts Center

Art Omi International Arts Center in Ghent, so, it’s not directly located inside the Catskills Park, although, it may just be worth mentioning given that it is near enough. It provides a completely unique way to, like your, experience art by, actually, displaying art pieces on big outdoor spaces. So, too, people, very, really, often point out how great the architecture and design are here, which means the art looks like it interacts together really well with what’s around. People that are really keen to look at modern art may be excited with what they might be presenting.

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5. Belleayre Music Festival

For all you music enthusiasts out there, so, too, the Belleayre Music Festival that might be more or less what you want to see, that occurs, basically, during the summertime at the Belleayre Mountain ski resort in Highmount, provides quite a variation of shows. It isn’t all just that single style, but so too they manage lots of things starting with jazz and up, naturally, to pop music and also classical stuff. The venue by itself may also come off great as it features the hills and gives shows some of that naturally enhanced sound. So, you may find music to suit almost every taste while you can enjoy some views around you.

Read our full review: Belleayre Music Festival Full Review and Details