Letters

This is a challenging time for individuals, families, businesses and institutions in our community, and we’ve all needed to adapt and make difficult decisions.

Following health and safety guidelines, the Parrish closed the building in March. But with a dedicated staff and volunteers, we’ve continued to be a robust online resource for adults, children and families through live education programs, family art projects and livestream programs.

The arts are needed now more than ever to lift our spirits and provide inspiration — and it’s our mission to provide that.

That mission has been supported for over 40 years by Southampton and Tuckahoe school district residents through the annual tax levy, and we look forward to their vote of confidence once again. Sustained funding ensures that we continue our community and school programming, and provide a safe, inspiring learning environment for all.

This year, qualified voters in the districts can support the museum through propositions in mail-in school budget ballots: Proposition 6 in Southampton, Proposition 5 in Tuckahoe.

For the 2020-21 school year in Southampton, based on the tax rate, a homeowner will pay $1.36 toward the appropriation for the museum for every $100,000 of assessed value — or $6.68 for the year for a home assessed at $500,000. This is a 4 percent rate decrease from last year. For Tuckahoe, homeowners pay about 37 cents per $100,000, or $1.66 for the year for a home assessed at $500,000.

Funds from the tax levy have no impact at all on the funding of the school budgets.

These funds directly support exhibition, education and program expenses, including Resident Benefit memberships. Since it launched in 2014, nearly 1,600 residents signed up to enjoy free admission to the museum and many programs. All district residents are eligible for Resident Benefits, and I hope those who haven’t enrolled will sign up.

A formative education program is Artist-in-Residence, enabling 350 students from Southampton and other local schools to make art projects with practicing artists. Year-round, we collaborate with teachers to create unique programs for Southampton and Tuckahoe school students, kindergarten through 12th grade. Access Parrish, developed with six partners, including Southampton Public Schools and the Flying Point Foundation for Autism, provides learning experiences for youth and adults with special needs. Increased participation attests to the importance of this program.

These efforts reflect the museum’s dedication to being an accessible, unifying place for the community — online or in person. Funding through the tax levy allows us to continue our mission to provide inspiration through art for all.

Please vote in support of the Parrish through the mail-in ballots, and thank you for your continued support.

Chris Siefert

Interim Director

Parrish Art Museum

Water Mill