
Experience All the Amazing Art & Culture this Community has to Offer With Us!
We at Tri-County Arts Council are proud to offer both art & culture that has been created within our own community! We strive to be an advocate for the creation and the appreciation of all the arts & culture of this region. Offering shows & exhibits from local artists, as well as classes & workshops for people of all ages to learn & create their own art in all forms. We are committed to propelling this legacy forward and hope you will join us in our mission!
Learn More About Us Here!
TCAC June Schedule

Public Art Project
Coming to Olean this Summer, our NEXT Public Mural Project with Alex Derwick of Olean! The mural will be at William O. Smith Rec Center in War Vets Park Olean!
“I wanted to depict an older sibling teaching a younger sibling how to tie their shoes. I really wanted to have a mural on this building that showed the community caring for each other.” Said Alex Derwick about the project.
We are looking for Businesses and Community Partners to support our Community Paints Day similarly to the Heart of Olean Mural last summer! Currently, we are at 68% of the target funding goal.
Call for Artists!
We invite visual artists working in all media (including craft media) to apply for the 2023 Southern Tier Biennial!
Open to NY visual artists 18 years of age or older living in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. The STB runs September 17-November 4th in the stunning Peg Bothner Gallery at the Tri-County Arts Council in Olean, NY. Over $5,000 in awards!

The 2023 Jurors are:
–Andrea Alvarez, PhD is Assistant Curator at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright- Knox Art Gallery) in Buffalo, NY
-Judy Barie is the Director of the Chautauqua Visual Arts Galleries in the Chautauqua Institution
-Tullis Johnson, Curator and Manager of Exhibitions and Collections at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, in Buffalo, New York.
COTA Awards

The Tri County Arts Council is currently accepting nominations for Arts and Cultural Awards, with winners to be announced at the Celebration Of The Arts (COTA) event this summer! COTA is held annually to honor artists, arts organizations, or arts supporters from Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties.
As we continue to advocate for our region, we are taking COTA to Chautauqua Country this year! The event will be held August 13th, at the Pearl City Clay House, at 220 East 2nd Street in Jamestown, NY 14701.
Awards:
– Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement, named after longtime Arts Council board president: This award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization, or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.
– Distinguished Artist of the Year: This award honors individual artists in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2022.
– Outstanding High School Senior: This award recognizes an outstanding 2023 high school senior graduate who will be continuing their education at any college or university, and pursuing studies in dance, fine arts, graphic design, music, or theater. This award comes with a $250 scholarship proudly sponsored by Hedley Brook Insurance and Christie’s Boutique.
– Excellence in Arts Education: This award honors an arts educator for their work in providing art instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in our region and cultivating lifelong supporters of the arts.
– Volunteer of the Year Award: Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show! This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of an unpaid individual or group that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.
– Program of the Year: This award will honor the achievement, dedication, and creativity of an individual or organization from each county of the three counties.
Any individuals in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties can be nominated through July 1st.
Nominations are due by July 1 and can be sent to TCAC Executive Director Paula Bernstein at paula@tricountyartscouncil.org. Please email your name, the name of the person you are nominating, and why you are nominating them. Only individuals from Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties are eligible for nomination.
OUR SPONSORS, Community & Foundational Support











Visit Our Online Store!
Featuring the work of our member artists and craftspeople

Experience All the Amazing Art & Culture this Community has to Offer With Us!
We at Tri-County Arts Council are proud to offer both art & culture that has been created within our own community! We strive to be an advocate for the creation and the appreciation of all the arts & culture of this region. Offering shows & exhibits from local artists, as well as classes & workshops for people of all ages to learn & create their own art in all forms. We are committed to propelling this legacy forward and hope you will join us in our mission!
Learn More About Us Here!
Visit Our Online Store
Featuring the work of our member artists and craftspeople
TCAC June Schedule


Public Art Project
Coming to Olean this Summer, our NEXT Public Mural Project with Alex Derwick of Olean! The mural will be at William O. Smith Rec Center in War Vets Park Olean!
“I wanted to depict an older sibling teaching a younger sibling how to tie their shoes. I really wanted to have a mural on this building that showed the community caring for each other.” Said Alex Derwick about the project.
We are looking for Businesses and Community Partners to support our Community Paints Day similarly to the Heart of Olean Mural last summer! Currently, we are at 68% of the target funding goal.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

Call for Artists!
We invite visual artists working in all media (including craft media) to apply for the 2023 Southern Tier Biennial!
Open to NY visual artists 18 years of age or older living in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. The STB runs September 17-November 4th in the stunning Peg Bothner Gallery at the Tri-County Arts Council in Olean, NY. Over $5,000 in awards!
The 2023 Jurors are:
-Andrea Alvarez, PhD is Assistant Curator at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright- Knox Art Gallery) in Buffalo, NY
-Judy Barie is the Director of the Chautauqua Visual Arts Galleries in the Chautauqua Institution
-Tullis Johnson, Curator and Manager of Exhibitions and Collections at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, in Buffalo, New York.
For full information and the online application, please visit: https://www.southerntierbiennial.com/

COTA AWARDS 2023
The Tri County Arts Council is currently accepting nominations for Arts and Cultural Awards, with winners to be announced at the Celebration Of The Arts (COTA) event this summer! COTA is held annually to honor artists, arts organizations, or arts supporters from Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties.
As we continue to advocate for our region, we are taking COTA to Chautauqua Country this year! The event will be held August 13th, at the Pearl City Clay House, at 220 East 2nd Street in Jamestown, NY 14701.
Awards:
– Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement, named after longtime Arts Council board president: This award celebrates the career of an individual artist, organization, individual at an organization, or individual artist who, among other distinctions, has demonstrated particular commitment to his or her work throughout a long career and has made important contributions regionally, nationally or internationally in his/her field, especially at a milestone marker, such as retirement, job change, posthumous recognition, etc.
– Distinguished Artist of the Year: This award honors individual artists in any discipline for their creative excellence and superior accomplishments in 2022.
– Outstanding High School Senior: This award recognizes an outstanding 2023 high school senior graduate who will be continuing their education at any college or university, and pursuing studies in dance, fine arts, graphic design, music, or theater. This award comes with a $250 scholarship proudly sponsored by Hedley Brook Insurance and Christie’s Boutique.
– Excellence in Arts Education: This award honors an arts educator for their work in providing art instruction that helps to guide the next generation of artists in our region and cultivating lifelong supporters of the arts.
– Volunteer of the Year Award: Many of the region’s arts and cultural organizations rely on volunteers to put on the show! This award recognizes the outstanding volunteer efforts of an unpaid individual or group that has had a major impact on the arts and culture sector.
– Program of the Year: This award will honor the achievement, dedication, and creativity of an individual or organization from each county of the three counties.
Any individuals in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties can be nominated through July 1st.
Nominations are due by July 1 and can be sent to TCAC Executive Director Paula Bernstein at paula@tricountyartscouncil.org. Please email your name, the name of the person you are nominating, and why you are nominating them. Only individuals from Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties are eligible for nomination.
OUR SPONSORS, Community & Foundational Support










