Our Mission

To celebrate the human spirit through dance, art, film, food, and events by engaging artists and people of all ages and cultures in the experience of movement and creative expression, cultivating connection and community in the Catskills.

As a premier multidisciplinary arts center, HPAC strives to succeed in its mission by:

1. Providing the highest quality and diverse array of visual, performing, literary, and educational experiences.
2. Providing entertainment and shared experiences that evoke joy and a sense of belonging for participants.
3. Providing a safe, comfortable environment where all are welcome and dialogue is encouraged.
4. Fostering imagination, self-expression and critical thinking as an integral part of programming.
5. Focusing on ensuring cultural diversity in all efforts.
6. Partnering with community organizations addressing the root causes of our region’s greatest challenges, with a focus on equity and inclusion.
7. Assessing internal and external data to appropriately address the needs of the communities we serve.
8. Being environmentally conscious and a good steward of natural resources.
9. Developing solutions to overcome barriers to participation.
10. Supporting our region’s professional artists and the artistic development of our community

Our Vision

We envision a society guided by reverence and mutual respect for people and the planet.

Our Values

• We treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
• We value the contribution of the arts to individual wellbeing and community vibrancy.
• We strive to meet the highest nonprofit governance standards.
• We believe in the power of youth and their limitless potential as a key to a brighter future for our communities and our world.
• We foster safe spaces that enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of individuals, while also making our community a safer place to live.
• We believe in the value of healthy, lasting relationships between our staff, board, participants, and families, and do our part to contribute to the communities of which we are part.
• We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live their full potential, and that our communities are stronger when they are full of opportunities for people with diverse identities, backgrounds, and perspectives.