Troy Based Context Collective is a Creativity Hub for Local Artist Community | | |
Mariah Kitner got on the ACE! radar a few years ago when we featured her clay art work on a social media post. Fast forward a couple of years and I am beginning to hear a buzz about a new gallery space in Troy called Context Collective. At the time, I did not make the connection but I kept hearing about well supported openings and great exhibitions. When I finally got in the loop it all came together and I realized that there was so much more to what was happening there than I could have possibly imagined. Mariah is a skilled business woman who puts the economy in creative, all the while creating a supportive space for artists and makers of all stripes in her little kingdom in downtown Troy.
"Context Collective exists to nurture creativity, connection, and care. We believe in creating space for artists and community members to come together, to make, to feel, to reflect, and to be seen. Our programs are designed with intention, offering moments of pause and presence in a fast-moving world. The space serves as a hub for creativity and community, where art becomes an act of togetherness." Mariah Kitner Director and Co-Founder at Context Collective - Troy New York
Corey Aldrich : Senior ACE Contributor
Image: Debi Gustafson
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RELEVANT REPRINTS!
Two Hot Takes on Community Development
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Religious Buildings and Historic Tax Credits: Time for a New Approach (NYS)
I run into Julian Adams frequently in downtown Troy, usually at his favorite coffee haunt, Jacob Alejandro. A jovial chap and a significant informational resource for all things historic preservation, I recently reached out to him for the deets regarding the ongoing saga with the Holland Avenue Tudors in Albany as a friend of mine was wondering what it would take to repurpose a few of them as a professional live work campus for their small health practitioner / creative based collective. In our discussion, Julian mentioned this recent article he wrote and it has significant relevance to me as I see so many amazing structures in our region decaying away from lack of adequate reuse planning.
"In trying to reuse a religious building, I have seen many different proposals: While some of these would make a preservationist shudder, and rightfully so, I think that it may be time to talk about what can be achieved under a more flexible reading of the Standards or review processes when it comes to the adaptive reuse of this building type and how we might work towards that." Julian Adams - Director of Historic Preservation at Carmina Wood Design
REPRINT WITH PERMISSION | Originally posted on Linked In
Image: Julian Adams : (Left) Provided
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The Case for Revitalizing Lark Street (Albany)
As much as things change, they stay the same. The current discussions surrounding the gentrification of Lark Street in Albany, previously the center of the cities arts ecosystem, are an example of this time worn addage. Joe Bonilla, an Albany based Public Relations professional recently brought up an article he wrote back in 2016 that with minor changes could be torn from the current pages of the ongoing debate happening there. While some details in this article are dated (A reference to Pinto and Hobs), the spirit of it continues to ring with relevance and could represent in some ways a number of neighborhood areas in cities across the Capital District.
"Lark Street has been a breeding ground for many entrepreneurs and breathes urban familiarity for the downstate transplant set. Intrepid restaurateurs and outspoken community leaders Matt Baumgartner and Tess Collins forged their roots on Lark Street, respectively through Bombers and Justin’s. Would another neighborhood, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, have been so accepting of the eclectic leadership of these two? Survey likely would point to a no on this one." Joe Bonilla - Managing Partner and Senior Media Director at Relentless Awareness
NOTE: Joe indicated that he will be writing an updated version of this in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled!
Originally posted on MEDIUM : 11.13.2016
Image: Richie Diesterheft | (Right) CC by 2.0
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First Annual Empire Arts Summit
Post Event Wrap Up!
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The Empire Arts Summit was a premier gathering of New York’s arts and cultural leaders, policymakers, and creative workers. Sporting the theme The Power of Connection : Arts and Government Shaping New York’s Future, this year’s summit focused on statewide strategies for advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.
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WHAT: Empire Arts Summit | The Power of Connection : Arts and Government Shaping NY’s Future
WHEN: October 14 - 16
WHERE: Proctors Collaborative | 432 State Street | Schenectady NY 12305
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Spread over 3 days, the summit featured 40 presenters across 15 sessions in addition to roughly 150 attendees. A first year initiative, it is considered an initial step in creating an annual gathering based around arts and cultural community building, strategizing, education and best practice sharing.
"We launched the Empire State Arts Summit to foster connectivity and growth throughout the state. The federal governments cuts to human services and the arts as well as unviable mandates on arts funding is putting more and more pressure on the State government and private sources. Today, more than ever, we need to work together to share resources and to understand and communicate our collective impact." Elizabeth Reiss - CEO at The Arts Center of the Capital Region and former President at ArtsNYS
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Attendees from across the state where in attendance with a significant representation from the Capital Region, NYC and Western NY.
“It was a joy to gather in person, listening to and learning from leaders and peers across the NYS arts community. The experience underscored how essential it is to share knowledge and resources so we can support one another in our collective goal of strengthening the arts in Upstate.” Helen Toomer - Founder at Upstate Art Weekend
Keynote speakers for the summit included NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin and Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts.
| | INSIDE ACE! | Creating a New Path | | |
The holiday season beckons! As we move forward to what is hopefully for all a more relaxed and centered season, we had a few things to get you up to speed on. First up, Mariah Kitner and her community based art and maker space Context Collective. My attention was drawn to CC due to the buzz they have been creating in downtown Troy with super well supported openings, great exhibits and educational workshops. We dove into the mission and biz plan a bit. Next up I decided to work with a couple of regional professionals who had some interesting things to say...both in the spirit of community in their own way. Julian Adams of Carmina Wood Design, a seasoned historic preservation professional regarding some suggested changes to activate underutilized historic structures and then a piece by seasoned PR professional and Albany booster Joe Bonilla of Relentless Awareness on the state of Lark Street in Albany. Written in 2016 this piece feels almost completely up to date and that is what makes it feel important to me - the need for meaningful activation, to bring back the spirit of arts and culture that made it so damn attractive in the first place!
A hearty congratulations to the team at ArtsNYS on their successful first year event, the Empire Arts Summit. Special accolades to Executive Director Elizabeth Lane, Co-President Jennifer Swan-Kilpatrick, former President Elizabeth Reiss and Summit Planner Patricia Walsh. A herculean effort for sure but one that has planted a seed for the future. The keynote addresses by NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin and Erin Harkey, CEO of Americans for the Arts were especially inspiring!
October saw my participation in the month long, 1st annual ARCHTOBER series that was a celebration of all things architecture and design in downtown Troy. This entailed 26 events across the calendar month ending in a collaboration between TAP Inc and Collar Works that featured a large commissioned light structure designed by ME Studio Design in conjunction with lighting expertise of lighting design firm, Lightexture. The sculpture will have a second life in a vacant storefront at 2 3rd Street in downtown Troy for the holiday season, make sure to drive or walk on by after dusk each night!
I had the privilege of being included as a judge for this years 2025 Annual NYS AIA Awards (American Institute of Architects). The annual Design Awards program celebrates projects that epitomize what we continue to expect from architects in New York State. A real honor and super interesting experience that saw our 5 person jury, located across the country, review over 200 submissions from the US and a handful of international projects. A Virtual Design Awards Presentation on December 11, 2025.
Finally, I have been appointed to a new, year long initiative called Voices for a Creative New York, an offshoot of the Creative Rebuild NY project (specifically the POLICY PLAYBOOK New York isn't New York Without Artists suggestions), is a statewide collaborative effort to build networks for amplification of important policy initiatives that affect the arts in general. More on how folks can get involved as things develop.
As always, if you have any cool creative job listings, open calls, industry news or grant funding opportunities, drop me a line and get them included in our next issue.
Corey Aldrich
ACE! : Executive Director
E: hello@upstateace.org | W: upstatecreative.org | SOCIALS: @upstatecreative
| | Regional & Beyond : News / Opportunity | | Capital Region Job Opportunities | | |
NYS ARTIST OPPORTUNITY SURVEY
Regional Results Released
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NYS Artists Opportunity Survey
After months of strategy, outreach and construction, the Phase I, NYS Artist Opportunity Survey is complete and ready to be shared! What started as a simple question – what do our artists need to thrive – turned into an incredible collaboration, pilot project and a valuable resource for the field.
Spearheaded and conceived by the Arts Center of the Capital Region, the survey was designed to 'layer' on the important work Creatives Rebuild NY which contributed to a better understand practical needs and resource impacts for working artists. CRNY agreed to coordinate demographic information we collected which allows for integration with their data. ACE! Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy and CREATE Council on the Arts where asked to help build a survey that would investigate many concerns of capital region artists: workspace, housing, funding, and professional development. This survey is designed as a pilot for a Phase II implementation that will eventually be rolled out state-wide as a tool to create a broader understanding of what is needed to support a vibrant arts community in New York State as a whole.
Additionally, ArtsNYS has stepped in as the potential state-wide partner. Siena College Research Institute built the survey and the searchable report.
Next Steps
We live in a data-driven world and in an era in which arts funding is perilous, working with proven facts substantiates our value proposition and provides leverage with elected representatives and other relevant stakeholders. As such, we are building a document of recommendations for future state-wide implementation.
Please take a look and see for yourself the state of the capital region creative. Use the stats - let’s all work to strengthen our artist community. And importantly...feedback is requested and welcome!
Comments can be sent to:
Corey Aldrich (ACE!) at hello@upstatecreative.org or
Elizabeth Reiss (Arts Center of the Capital Region) elizabeth@artscenteronline.org
NYS Opportunity Survey was funded by the State of New York through a special Senate Initiative.
| | ACE! is made possible with the generous support of the Kiwi Foundation, the Saratoga Institute and the Nordlys Foundation. | |
ACE : Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy
For inquiries, hot tips or requests: hello@upstateace.org
web: upstatecreative.org
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