Often, the mark of a destination city lies in the ether of its arts community. In Patchogue, the purveyor and conduits that propel the arts ambiance is nestled at 20 Terry Avenue, the home of the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC).

PAC is celebrating their 18th anniversary in 2026 and with its founding mission to implement the village’s arts revitalization strategy, their history and current status as the heart of the Patchogue arts scene is undeniable.

Some of the events organized and championed by PAC include biennials, walking arts tours, PAC festivals, PAC MAC (music, arts, and cinema) Festivals, Arts on Terry, MoCA L.I.ghts (art mapping of town buildings), museum exhibits, satellite exhibitions, U.S. Department of Education funded arts integration professional development program **(PEACE Project), Thriving Latinas Art Therapy program with SEPA Mujer, and public art installation consultants for the Village of Patchogue.

PAC events attract thousands of visitors to the downtown area every year with events like Arts on Terry having multi-blocks of crowds standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Beth Giacummo, executive director of PAC since its inception, credits the support of the business community and the village for solidifying PAC’s presence in Patchogue.

Now a mainstay to local artists, PAC’s well-established reputation as a leading organization presenting exhibitions and cross-marketing opportunities to artists, art professionals, and the community at large, has attracted the attention of world-renowned artists to participate in events.

“PAC’s staff is deeply connected to local higher education, permitting collaborations with local colleges and inviting scholars to contribute essays and lectures to exhibitions, which place the contemporary work it exhibits in the context of art history and leads the general public to a greater appreciation of new works of art,” said Beth Giacummo.

Museum of Contemporary Arts Long Island (MoCA L.I.) is the exhibition space of the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC). By redefining PAC’s exhibition space from gallery to museum, the opportunities for the community and the artists grew exponentially.

“PAC has always been unconventional in comparison to other arts councils. Our primary focuses are to make current and contemporary art accessible to everyone and to serve artists across Long Island. We work to create inclusiveness in all of our opportunities for Long Island’s artistic communities. Through our programming, we support, promote, and encourage early, mid-career, and established artists working in all media and all walks of life,” said Giacummo.

Also owing to PAC’s tremendous success are volunteers, interns, and the board of trustees, who all support PAC initiatives through a diversity of ideas.

“When I left the city, I was so scared about losing a community. I would have never guessed I would find that and a family. Since joining PAC seven years ago, I’ve seen it transform in ways I could have never imagined. The artwork is on a caliber those who are misinformed [and] think you can only experience [art] in NYC, and the opportunities are abundant,” said volunteer Gabriela Mandredi.

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