Theresa Kump Leghorn pictured with Vito Pinto in New Rochelle.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Theresa Kemp Leghorn

Theresa Leghorn is one of the co-founders of ArtsFest in New Rochelle.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Theresa Kemp Leghorn

Theresa Kump Leghorn wants to share her appreciation of New Rochelle's artists with the rest of the community. In both her career and volunteer activities, she understands the rich history of artists in New Rochelle.

Three years ago, Leghorn, vice president of the New Rochelle Council on the Arts, was one of the co-founders of ArtsFest, a weekend which celebrates the artists of New Rochelle. She and Judith Weber wanted to share the rich arts history of New Rochelle, while celebrating the artists of today.

"New Rochelle has a really deep background of being an arts town. There are a lot of artists and performers."

This year's ArtsFest, which will be held on Sept. 24 and 25, has grown to include a Glee Workshop, a LEGO ®'s Workshop, and a performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble. There will also be an antique car show at City Hall with cars from the 1920s to the 1960s. Arts exhibits will be scattered around the city at venues which include, Iona College, the College of New Rochelle, the library and the United Hebrew Home.

Leghorn is excited that ArtsFest added another trolley to the day so that people can travel around the city from one event to the other throughout the weekend. She thinks the trolleys are another example of tying history to today's artists. Debra Hampton, for example, is doing "mash-up" collages and sculptures with recycled materials.

Currently the director of the Museum of Arts and Culture, Leghorn has been involved in many volunteer activities throughout Westchester, first in Larchmont and now in New Rochelle. She and her husband Tom were instrumental in saving it and renovating the Hugenot Children's Library. Along with many other supporters they converted it into a freestanding children's library, the only freestanding children's library in New York.

Leghorn encourages families to explore the arts through the ArtsFest and the Arts Council.