In the nonprofit’s gallery on Broadway, Brett Felker, executive director of the Arts Society of Kingston (ASK), showed off a collage timeline of the local arts scene, created by community group Celebrate 845.

Felker pointed out one of the more impactful events in ASK’s history on the timeline.

“Right around here,” he said. “Here it is: COVID-19 2020.”

A note attached to a photo of the final event before the lockdown reads: “This open mic was right here at ASK on March 12, 2020, right before the lockdown. Sad, but a beautiful memory and a big reason to quickly go virtual.”

“So after that, everything moved digital,” Felker recalled.

The members at ASK put extra time and energy into online events and showings, Felker said, and it worked out well for some artists.

“We also saw sales for visual arts — we broke records these last two years for visual art sales,” he said. “Part of that has been our increased online presence.”

It did not go nearly as well for bands and other stage performers, since there were no places for them to play for an in-person audience. Still, ASK kept providing the artists tools and services practically free of charge to keep them from abandoning their passions for more traditional jobs.

“We’ve done some live-streaming concerts where it’s just the artists in the room,” Felker explained. “We offer rehearsal [space]. We’ve had bands record albums in our space. Any way that we can help out.”

ASK restarted in-person events in July 2020, suspended them again in December 2021 when the COVID-19 omicron variant swept through the Northeast, and started back up this past weekend with "Stop, Listen," an in-person exhibition featuring the work of local artist Natalie Fisk.

The member-funded group also worked on other community projects like the one next door: a community pantry with free food for artists and any other neighbors.

“We’re inspired by what you’re doing,” youth advocate Pat Pellicano, who helps with the pantry, told Felker of ASK’s careful pandemic response. “It’s just better to be safer side of things, so I think ASK has been great in terms of taking safety into consideration. So yay for the arts. Yay for being safe. Yay all around.”

Felker is planning more youth art events and live performances soon.

He cannot help but fear another shutdown, so he wants to maximize the next few months.

“The more the merrier,” he said. “As soon as it’s safe, we want to get in there because we don’t know how long that sweet spot’s going to last.”