The History of DVAA

1976

Founded

1981

Purchased the former Arlington Hotel

1983

Arlington placed on National Register of Historic Places

1984

Invited by the New York State Council on the Council on the Arts to administer the Decentralization Regrant Program for Sullivan County

1986

Grand Opening of the Alliance Gallery

1988

Tusten Theatre leased from Town of Tusten

1990-91

Renovated Tusten Theatre in partnership with Town of Tusten and Sullivan County Planning

1990

The First Annual Riverfest is held

1994

Premier of Jazzfest at the Tusten Theater

1998

2nd floor Recital Hall renovations begin

2000

Drs. Barry & Jane Bodenstein Music Scholarship launched.
Signature Gifts opened to promote artisans and crafts makers.

2001

Grand Opening of the Loft Gallery
Partnered with Sullivan County to create Sullivan County Arts and Heritage Grants

2003

DVAA launches its first website, artsalliancesite.org

2004

The First Annual Art in Sixes

2005

DIGit Media Festival Premieres

2009

Stanley J. Segal Scholarship for Visual Arts established

2011

Art in Bloom bringing together Visual Artists and Floral Designers premieres

2012

The First Annual Big Eddy Film Festival

2017

Founder Elaine Giguere retires, Ariel Shanberg joins as DVAA’s Executive Director

2018

Fiscally sponsored and co-hosted inaugural Deep Water Literary Festival

2020

Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic, Riverfest presented online & Big Eddy Film Festival held outdoors in collaboration with Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

2023

Retro Cinema launched
Tusten Jazz premieres

2024

Hosted Sullivan County Arts Leadership Summit

2026

DVAA marks 50 years of service