That Creative Space, Collection of watercolor landscape paintings featuring trees, houses, and nature scenes layered together.

About

That Creative Space is a welcoming studio, rooted in community, for anyone with an open mind and a curious heart. Through workshops, events, and shared studio experiences, we invite adults to make creativity a regular part of life.

Our Mission

We believe that making time for creativity benefits both the individual and the community. Whether you're discovering a new hobby, reconnecting with something you once loved, developing your artistic practice, or simply meeting someone new around a shared table, the act of making creates opportunities to connect—with ourselves, with one another, and with the community around us.

How We came to be

Hi, I’m Stacey Burgay, founder of That Creative Space. Here’s how That Creative Space came to be.

For much of my life, I searched for a place that truly felt like home, a space that embraced creativity, imagination, and the unconventional. Growing up, maker spaces were my sanctuary, where I could freely create, connect, and be myself.

As adulthood pulled me away from those spaces, I felt lost. Then someone asked me: “What made you happy as a kid?” The answer was clear, making art. Rediscovering my creative practice as an adult was transformational. It rebuilt my confidence, boosted my mental health, and set me on an unexpected path.

In 2020, I joined AlterWork Studios, an open-access studio in Queens. It was more than just a workspace it became a lifeline during the pandemic and helped me find my voice as an artist. That journey led to my first solo show and first art residency in Scotland.

When I moved to Beacon, I saw a need for affordable studio space. That’s when I realized I could take what I’d experienced and reimagine it here. A place where artists and makers at any stage can create, grow, and connect in a supportive, welcoming environment.

After losing my full-time job in December 2024, I decided it was now or never. That Creative Space was born from the belief that everyone deserves the space and opportunity to make and be.

A woman with long light brown hair and a subtle smile taking a selfie in front of a colorful abstract collage on a canvas against a brick wall.

Meet the Founder

— Stacey Burgay

With over two decades of experience as a creative producer, senior project manager, and artist, I bring a mix of strategic know-how, artistic curiosity, and a deep love for building community to That Creative Space.

My journey has taken me from international exhibitions to collaborative projects and arts programming rooted in accessibility and connection. At every step, I’ve seen how creativity can bring people together—and that’s the heart of what I hope to nurture here.

I’m also a founding member of the NY Collage Ensemble.

Teaching Artists

Melanie Delgado

Melanie Delgado is an abstract painter based in Upstate New York. She teaches weekly classes and workshops at the Woodstock School of Art. Working primarily in large-scale abstractions on canvas, Delgado's practice centers on mark-making, repetition, and layered processes that accumulate over weeks or months. Her work investigates what lies beneath the surface—both in painting and in memory—through bold gestural lines, excavation of previous layers, and an intuitive approach to color. Her paintings are characterized by their dynamic energy, sharp scraping techniques, and the tension between quick, instinctive marks and deliberate, reflective layering. You can learn more about Melanie on her website.
Paul McCormack

Paul W. McCormack was born in Rahway, New Jersey, in 1962. He received his formal art training at DuCret School of the Arts, where he later became a faculty member. Working exclusively in watercolors for the first ten years of his career, Paul made his mark early on with figurative work that defied the medium and one's sensibilities of traditional watercolor painting. Returning to Oils in the early '90s and working in both mediums, he has enjoyed a successful portrait career for over 30 years with a long affiliation with Portraits Inc. in NYC. In recent years, he has broken away from portraiture and returned to creating works that are more personal in nature. His work has been featured in numerous national and international publications and books. His paintings have appeared on two covers of the Artist's Magazine, first in 1998, where he won First Place in the Portrait Category in their annual competition. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of many awards, including the "Gold Medal of Honor" from the Allied Artists of America 101st Annual Exhibition and the "Silver Medal Award" from the Oil Painters of America 21st National Juried Exhibition.
Carinda Swann

Prior to her work as former Executive Director of Garrison Art Center, Carinda Swann taught basic drawing and 2-D design at Marist College for 15 years and also taught at Dutchess Community College.
She established the Summer Institute at Garrison Art Center, a three week immersive summer program for serious high school artists and served also as a teaching artist.
She has an MFA in Fine Arts with a focus on drawing and sculpture. She serves on the planning team of ROLL-OUT Beacon, a free community-wide printmaking extravaganza.
Jenny Torino

Jenny has been a teaching artist for the past 10 years and has been working with fiber and textiles for the past 5 years. She loves creating sculptures using needle felting, wet felting and paper. She also has a regular sewing practice and loves teaching children and adults this useful and empowering skill.
You can see her work on instagram @J.torino or on her website.
Kirsten Nunez

Kirsten Nunez is a multi-disciplinary artist and writer based in Beacon. A lifelong maker, she primarily focuses on embroidery, jewelry making, zines, and block printing—though she frequently attends workshops to learn new mediums.
Kirsten also runs Supernova Crafts, which hosts DIY charm necklace pop-ups around the Hudson Valley.
To check out her work (or just say hi!), follow her on Instagram at @kirsten_nunez and @supernova.crafts.
Courtney Salerno

Courtney Salerno who is a fiber artist and teacher based in the Hudson Valley, NY. Since 2016, she's been creating woven art on handmade frame looms in her home studio, working with everything from cotton rope and wool roving to hand-dyed ribbons and recycled materials. Her work has been featured at Upstate Art Weekend, The Yard Gallery in Beacon, Arbor Gallery, and the Phoenicia Festival of the Arts. Courtney is mostly self-taught and brings a warm, experimental approach to teaching beginners the joy of weaving. You can see more of her work on her Instagram
Alison Charlie Smith

Alison Charlie Smith is a textile designer, natural dyer, and quilter based in New York’s Hudson Valley.
She draws inspiration from traditional quilt motifs and the natural landscapes around her. A lifelong nature lover, Ali is often outdoors foraging local plants to create her own dyes and inks.
She studied photography and ceramics at the University of Vermont and discovered her passion for natural dyes through the Textile Arts Center, where she deepened her practice in fiber arts.Learn more more about her on her website.
Jemile Nesimi-Hobson

Jemile is a Gen X Brooklyn-born mama of three, Food Studies Specialist, and co-founder of Baby Science Club, where she brings hands-on science and sensory play to curious little ones.
Through Art by Jem, she hosts collage and craft events for all ages and sell handmade bookmarks at local spots across the Hudson Valley.
She also run Luna Rose Consulting, helping small businesses and creatives build websites, boost SEO, and simplify digital marketing.