The art education business has been a hub for creation in Saranac Lake, especially for children. But its co-owners say they haven’t been able to keep it financially viable after five years of offering art classes, events and community.

”I’m really proud of us,” co-founder Julia Csanko said. ”We made a difference in the community. We made it through COVID.”

Still, it comes with great sadness.

”It will be hard to say goodbye,” Csanko said.

Julia Csanko of ADK ArtRise, right, paints Britt Sternberg’s face at the annual Mountain Mudfest in April 2024, which was held at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. (Provided photo — Meachele Manchester)

ArtRise is where people have learned to draw, paint, sculpt, sew, do printmaking, stain glass or weave baskets through weekly courses or guest teachers. It’s been a staple of holidays like North Country New Year and Halloween, as well as local events like Mountain MudFest and the Northern Current music festival. In 2023, ArtRise won the Enterprise’s Best Of the Mountains award for ”Best Kid’s Party Venue.” Over the past year, art from students at the studio has been displayed in vacant storefronts in the downtown business district.

In 2022, ArtRise owners made their struggle to keep the center up and running and earn a living wage public, saying that their costs were rising, but their earnings weren’t.

”It was just really hard to survive,” Csanko said.

There were ups and downs like any business, she said.

Co-founder Brittany Sternberg said they always chose what was right for the kids and the art community. Looking back, she has no regrets.

Jess Ackerson shows Britt Sternberg what she’s sewing at ADK ArtRise in October 2022. (Enterprise photo — Lauren Yates)

”We gave it our all,” she said.

”We are incredibly proud of the impact we have made,” co-founder Jess Ackerson said in a statement, ”and grateful for the support we have received from our students, their families and the wider community.”

Csanko said her friends are ”the best business partners that one could ask for.”

They all quit their full-time jobs to start ArtRise, and their opening came at a crucial time — during the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, after-school programming had come to a stand-still in the fall of 2020, so the studio opened early and became a child care facility for children of emergency essential workers to play and learn while their parents were at work.

Csanko still tears up remembering these children in masks working on paintings and sculptures and seeing them now as young adults with their blossoming artistic voices and visions.

Julia Csanko demonstrates how to make a frozen suncatcher for the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival outside ADK ArtRise in Saranac Lake in January 2022. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

”There were a few kids we watched grow up,” she said through tears. ”It’s been a blessing and a gift to see that.”

Sternberg saw shy kids learn new ways to engage with the world, their emotions and their peers.

”We still get messages from parents saying that we made a positive impact in their child’s day-to-day life,” Sternberg said. ”We just had a parent email us that her daughter made a stuffed animal with us last summer and that she still carries it around every single day and sleeps with it and made some for her friends because she learned the skill of how to make them.”

Csanko will be continuing ArtRise in a different form with pop-up events, private events, lessons, workshops at local hotels, and paint and sips. She can be contacted at julia@adkartrise.com.

”We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has been a part of this adventure,” Ackerson said. ”Your support and encouragement have made this a beautiful and inspiring journey. While we may be closing our physical location, we hope the spirit of creativity and learning that we have nurtured will live on in the community.”

Classes are continuing for the final months of ArtRise, with the spring session starting in two weeks and spring break classes scheduled during the school vacation.

”If you’ve been thinking of joining one of our classes, learning to sew or gathering with some friends for some art making, now is the time!” the co-founders wrote in a message to their supporters. Let’s celebrate the art, friendships, and memories that have made ADK ArtRise so special and go out with a creative bang!”

ArtRise can be found in the former Sears parking lot on Main Street.