30 City, the newly renovated community center downtown is where Plattsburgh State students and locals can go to enjoy and connect with the community around them via art, music, movies and more.
Owner of 30 City and PSUC professor Colin Read said he looked at the empty space of what used to be local bike shop, Mountain Riders, and saw an opportunity. After a few renovations, the community and visitors’ center was born.
“We are really dedicated to Plattsburgh,” Read said.
The center is a place people can use to host events such as art shows, film festivals, plays, forums and readings.
“30 City is a way for the community to mix and thrive and have a space for that. Also for SUNY Plattsburgh to become more involved with the community,” 30 City board member and PSUC professor Julia Devine said.
PSUC fine arts student Mark Bondi was able to utilize the venue this October by hosting an art show there.
“During the B.F.A show last year, I met Julia and her husband Mike. They were really interested in the students’ work, so we got to talking. A few of my friends had the first show here, so I was down there for that and I really got to know them (30 City) a lot more.”
Bondi said Devine approached him because she is essentially a mediator between PSUC and the gallery. Bondi had also attended previous events at 30 City and said his experience has been nothing short of positive.
“The shows are always really nice, and it’s a really professional looking space. It’s great that they’re trying to get young artists involved and bring the whole community down,” he said.
Despite the fact it has only been open since the early summer, the center has seen much success with the turnout of events, most likely due to the fact that it is a unique venue for the Plattsburgh area.
“There is no website yet because it is all volunteer-run,” Devine said.
He said students should be on the lookout, as 30 City is looking for a public relations or marketing intern in the near future to help with promotions and to create a general calendar of events.
Other organizations such as First Weekends and Shine On! have been associated and have held events at the gallery.
“Two or three years ago, there wasn’t much happening in Plattsburgh and then all of a sudden there are all these groups, and they’re all kind of interrelated, and they all work together,” Read said. “This is the perfect time for all these community groups to focus and come together, share the space and bring the campus (downtown).”
Devine agreed and said, “Students can come downtown, not just for certain things, but also to come and hear a reading or a community forum, view some art, hear some music. There is more beyond the campus, and there is more here to bring everyone together.”
As for the future of 30 City, Read joked that there will be a chain of 30 Cities in every city across the world. But focusing on Plattsburgh, Read said. “It’s really part of a revitalization effort. We just want to see it become popular and for it to be used a lot.”
Those interested in learning more about events at 30 City are invited to visit the venue’s Facebook page at 30 City Downtown Community And Visitors Center.
Email Jessica Miles at jessica.miles@cardinalpointsonline.com.
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