KINGSTON – Seven members have been appointed to the inaugural Ulster County Arts & Culture Advisory Council, following a competitive month-long application and review process that drew nearly 40 qualified candidates from across the county.
The council was established by the county legislature in November 2025 to guide the implementation of IMAGINE Ulster, the county’s first comprehensive arts and culture plan. The newly appointed members will advise the county executive, the county legislature, and the director of Arts, Culture, and Open Spaces on strategies to support the county’s arts sector, which generates approximately $814 million in annual economic impact.
The inaugural Ulster County Arts & Culture Advisory Council members are:
Sara Pasti, Kingston
Mathew Pokoik, Phoenicia
Elisa Pritzker, Highland
Brendan Burke, Ellenville
Bill Merchant, High Falls
Maggie Inge, Kingston
Meira Blaustein, Woodstock
The council will hold its first organizational meeting in January 2026.
The Ulster County Arts and Culture Plan is the first comprehensive cultural plan for the county. Completed in April 2025 following extensive community engagement, the plan establishes strategic priorities for supporting artists and the arts economy while defining the county government’s role in advancing arts and culture as both an economic driver and a source of cultural enrichment throughout the region.
For more information about IMAGINE Ulster, visit:
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