Douglas Shindler and Michael Davis worked with the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre (HPAC) to increase visibility and opportunities for local artists, as well as create a safe, fun, educational, and creative space for residents of Sullivan County and beyond. The artists renovated a historic bank building on Broadway in Monticello, NY, transforming it into The Black Library, a library and community art space focused on celebrating and educating on Black history and culture. The Black Library hosted over 65+ events to thousands of visitors since August 2023, including an extensive three-month artist residency for local artists, fashion shows featuring local designers, financial literacy workshops, writing workshops, agricultural weekends, and more. The space contains a 1000+ book library, a photo studio, artist studio spaces, a conference room, lounge area, general work areas, and wall space featuring local artists’ work. The collaboration concluded with a culminating event celebrating the last two years of the project, as well as the establishment of The Black Library as an independent organization.

The mission of The Hurlevyille Performing Arts Center is to celebrate the human spirit through dance, art, film, food, and events by engaging artists and people of all ages and cultures in the experience of movement and creative expression, cultivating connection and community in the Catskills.