Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA)

Overview

Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA) is a multidisciplinary community arts center located at 27 South Greenbush Road in West Nyack, New York, serving Rockland County and the broader Hudson Valley region. Founded as a nonprofit arts organization, RoCA attracts over 25,000 visitors and students annually. The center includes the Emerson Gallery, Gallery One, Gallery Two, two Media Project Spaces, and the Catherine Konner Sculpture Park. RoCA's School for the Arts enrolls more than 1,800 students annually across ceramics, fine arts, glass and jewelry, and media arts programs.

RoCA is not a dedicated film residency program. It is a community arts center that offers filmmakers in the Hudson Valley region exhibition opportunities through its Media Project Spaces, screening partnerships, and professional development workshops. Filmmakers seeking a formal residency with stipends, housing, and dedicated production time should look to programs like the Woodstock Film Festival Filmmakers Residency or Bethany Arts Community's Multidisciplinary Residency instead.

RoCA's programs are made possible in part with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and from the County of Rockland. The Catherine Konner Sculpture Park is closed until September 1, 2026.

What It Funds

RoCA does not provide grant funding, stipends, or production financing to filmmakers. What it offers is exhibition space, screening partnerships, and professional development workshops at a community arts center in the Hudson Valley.

Filmmakers can access:

• Media Project Space exhibitions for completed short films, documentaries, and experimental media work
• Rockland Filmmakers screening series in partnership with Rivertown Film
• Editing workshops taught by working professionals
• Media arts classes through the School for the Arts (beginner-oriented)
• Exhibition submissions for gallery-appropriate video art and installation work

Typical Award Size Range

RoCA does not award grants or cash prizes. No funding is available through RoCA for film production, post-production, or distribution.

Eligibility

RoCA's programs are open to the public. Workshop registration is available online at the RoCA website or by phone at 845-358-0877. Exhibition submissions are reviewed by RoCA's curatorial team. There are no published restrictions on who can submit work for exhibition consideration, though priority may be given to Rockland County residents or artists whose work engages with Hudson Valley or New York subjects.

The Rockland Filmmakers screening series is specifically for filmmakers based in Rockland County. Filmmakers from outside the county should contact Rivertown Film to inquire about submission possibilities.

Payment Structure

RoCA does not pay filmmakers for exhibiting work in the Media Project Spaces or participating in the Rockland Filmmakers screening series. Exhibition is offered as a community platform, not a compensated opportunity. Filmmakers retain all rights to their work.

For workshops, filmmakers pay RoCA a registration fee (e.g., $50 for the Intermediate/Advanced Editing Workshop). No payment flows from RoCA to the filmmaker.

Past Exhibitors and What They Showed

The Media Project Spaces have hosted work by Rockland County filmmakers across short films, documentaries, and experimental work. Past exhibitors in the Rockland Filmmakers screening series include:

• Lindsey Buckley - She Always Comes Back (short film)
• Edward Caban - Friends and Strangers (short film)
• Charles Caster-Dudzick - Horchata (short film)
• Pirate and Tribe - Can See Clearly Now, RowRowRodeo, Oxymorons, Padded Sky (multiple short works)
• Cherie Raglin - Outside In (short film)

RoCA's Luminaries of Rockland County virtual series has featured profiles of artists connected to the center, including Sari Dienes, whose work spans painting, sculpture, and mixed media. The series documents the creative history of Rockland County and its role in American art movements.

The editing workshop program has been led by Jamin Bricker, an Emmy-nominated editor based in the New York area who has edited several documentaries and feature films and works on the television show Damages.

RoCA does not track or publish outcomes data for filmmakers who have exhibited in the Media Project Spaces. The exhibition serves as a local showing opportunity rather than a career-launching platform. Filmmakers seeking industry exposure or distribution opportunities should pursue festival submissions and formal residency programs instead.

What Makes an Application Competitive

Exhibition submissions to RoCA are reviewed by the curatorial team. Competitive submissions typically demonstrate:

• Completed work suitable for gallery exhibition (video art, short films, experimental media)
• Connection to Rockland County or the Hudson Valley (subject matter, filmmaker residency, or community relevance)
• Technical readiness for gallery display (proper file formats, resolution, duration appropriate for looped screening)
• Clear artist statement explaining the work's intent and relationship to the exhibition context

For the Rockland Filmmakers screening series, filmmakers must be based in Rockland County. The series runs for limited periods (for example, February 26 through April 15 in a past season) and filmmakers should check the RoCA and Rivertown Film websites for current schedules.

Application Process

RoCA accepts submissions for exhibitions through its Submissions page. Filmmakers and media artists with completed work that could be exhibited in a gallery context can submit for consideration. The submission process and review timeline vary.

For workshop registration, visit the RoCA website or call 845-358-0877. Workshop availability varies by season.

For the Rockland Filmmakers screening series, contact Rivertown Film through their website for submission guidelines and deadlines.

Watch

What Filmmakers Should Know

RoCA provides local exhibition opportunities for filmmakers based in Rockland County or the broader Hudson Valley. The Media Project Spaces and Rockland Filmmakers screening series offer a community platform for completed work, not a career development program or funding source. Filmmakers seeking formal residency support should explore the Woodstock Film Festival Filmmakers Residency (for environmental and sustainability-themed projects) or Bethany Arts Community's Multidisciplinary Residency (for all disciplines including film). The key trade-off: RoCA offers free exhibition space and community connection but no stipend, housing, or industry access. Use RoCA for local showings and workshop-based skill development. Use formal residency programs for dedicated production time and professional advancement. Check the RoCA website or call 845-358-0877 for current exhibition and workshop schedules.

See Also

For the Woodstock Film Festival Filmmakers Residency, visit the WFF Filmmakers Residency page. For Bethany Arts Community's Fall 2026 Multidisciplinary Residency, visit the BAC residency page. For planning a development-to-production timeline, use the Production Schedule Calculator.