Hornell: The Finger Lakes’ Next Great Art Town
Hornell already has the raw material: a proud Erie Railroad heritage, two new downtown sculptures by Sam Castner (2025), world-class ceramics just up the road in Alfred, the Corning Museum of Glass an hour east, the Canisteo Living Sign down the valley, and a location right at the Southern Tier gateway to the Finger Lakes. Our goal is to bring it all together and make Hornell the art center of the Finger Lakes.
What Hornell already has
- Railroad heritage: Hornell grew up as an Erie Railroad town, and the Hornell Erie Depot Museum preserves that history.
- New public art: Atlas Shrugged and The Tracks of Hornell by Sam Castner, installed downtown in 2025 (see public art).
- Ceramics next door: Alfred, home of the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum.
- Glass down the road: the Corning Museum of Glass.
- A landmark in living art: the Canisteo Living Sign.
- Location: the Southern Tier gateway to the Finger Lakes.
The roadmap (goals)
- Artist directory: we plan to create a free, opt-in directory of Hornell-area artists and makers.
- Murals & public art: we plan to create more public art across downtown Hornell.
- Workshops & classes: we plan to create hands-on workshops for all ages.
- Maple City Arts Festival: we plan to create a signature festival in Hornell (dates to be announced).
- Gallery & studio space: we plan to create a place to show, make and sell local art.
- Hornell art trail: we plan to create a self-guided trail linking public art, museums and nearby art towns.
All of these are planned. None is complete yet, and we will not announce dates until they are confirmed.
Four sites, one goal
- Hornell Arts: the guide for residents and visitors
- Hornell Arts Network: for artists and creators
- Maple City Arts Alliance: membership and advocacy
- Maple City Arts Festival: the festival (dates to be announced)
How you can be part of it
- Artists: email network@hornellarts.com
- Supporters: email tony.jones@maplecityartsalliance.org
- Volunteer and artist sign-ups: Coming soon