When people picture a small city in upstate New York, it’s likely that very few envision a thriving hub of art, music, film and other cultures — unless that city is Ithaca. Ithaca has a long history of supporting and fostering the arts and this creates an ideal environment that every student — but especially students focused on art, media, theater, music and other areas — should take advantage of.

Silent City Film Festival, Reproductive Justice Film Festival, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca Short Film Festival and Ithaca Experimental Film Festival are just some of the festivals that have been held in Ithaca in a given year. Outside of film, local venues like Deep Dive celebrate small and indie music, the State Theatre invites musicians, comedians and other performers to the city, Hangar Theatre is a venue for local theater, murals can be found on nearly every street and most businesses feature local art on their walls. It is hard to go anywhere in Ithaca without encountering art and culture. 

These venues also mean that there are artists, musicians, actors, filmmakers and more people in the community who are experts in often highly competitive and inaccessible fields. Students should take advantage of venues, people and events to explore their passions and build connections in the industry. With film festivals in particular, Ithaca College students are often able to show their work, which allows them to experience sharing content with a wide audience and receiving feedback from experts. 

There are few places like Ithaca, where art is accessible and people want to help students make their mark on the art scene. If Ithaca were to lose this aspect of its identity, it would be a massive loss. The best way to keep things as they are and allow art to continue to foster and grow is to maintain an audience. Not taking advantage of these opportunities would be a mistake for any student — whether they want to make art, or would simply benefit from learning about different people’s experiences through their art — and it could have a lasting impact on the community.