KYRA D. GAUNT PhD is Unapologetically
Pushing Back and Taking Space | | |
I recently attended an event hosted by the The New York Writers Institute with author Keach Hagey regarding her recent book on Sam Altman, The Optimist. Though I am not convinced of Sam's motives I was pleasantly surprised at a post event dinner (that Paul Grandal and Elisabeth Gray were kind enough to include me in), to meet SUNY Albany's AI and Society Fellow Kyra D. Gaunt PhD. Her perspectives on the AI tool set, her research on specific biases in the music industry, and in the roots of culturally driven video editing practices intrigued me so, I just had to find out more about this dynamic personality and pick her brain about the universe of things she has poured herself into.
"Black girls game songs have that added dimension of rhythmic intricacy and contrast expressed in polyrhythms, complexity and touch. We share hormones that keep us alive through touch, through hugs, through smiles and through laughter. AI doesn’t know how to tell a good black joke is my bet. It doesn’t know how to give sass and clap back to boys and men who think they can turn you into a joke or a punch line..." Kyra D. Gaunt PhD Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, AI and Society Fellow at University at Albany - Albany New York
Corey Aldrich : Senior ACE Contributor
Image: Provided
| | Tapping Into Creative Community Design with TAP's Barb Nelson | | |
If you have spend time in Troy (and beyond!) in the arts scene you know her work. Breathing Lights, Uniting Line, Creative Crosswalks, Troy Alley Action...the list goes on. Barb Nelson is more than just a public arts instigator and supporter. Her firm TAP Inc has been at the forefront of the arts and affordable housing for decades. I caught up with her to hear about what she has percolating currently and it's impressive. A public recreation space in Troy's Little Italy neighborhood, an affordable for purchase condominium project, and a month long riff of NYC's ARCHTOBER...a Troy Edition! with over 25 events in October ranging from lunch and learns, hard hat tours, TAPpy hours and a killer art exhibition. And this is just a small sampling of the projects currently in process, all done enthusiastically and with an on eye on community building.
"I spent 24 years with RPI as an architect, planner and adjunct professor. But I had never wandered far from TAP’s community development mission and as such, I jumped at the chance when they needed a director in 2015. Along the way I’ve married, raised 2 daughters, renovated 2 homes, painted a dozen public murals, produced some circus shows, and served on a dozen boards, task forces and commissions." Barb Nelson, Executive Director at TAP Inc. - Troy New York
Corey Aldrich : Senior ACE Contributor
Image: Corey Aldrich
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First Annual Empire Arts Summit
to Reach Statewide Audience
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The Empire Arts Summit is the premier gathering of New York’s arts and cultural leaders, policymakers, and creative workers. With the theme The Power of Connection : Arts and Government Shaping New York’s Future, this year’s summit will focus on statewide strategies for advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.
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
TICKETS: Use Code Capital35 for a $35 discounted ticket (Full Listed Value $150)
THE AGENDA
Advancing Arts-Driven Change
Creative Economy Plans & Statewide Policy | Sustainable Public Funding Models | Public Sector Partnerships for Community Impact
Arts as a Catalyst for Growth
Cultural Districts & Place-Based Strategies | Public–Private Partnerships | Measuring the Arts’ Economic Impact
Addressing Challenges Through the Arts
Arts in Education & Health | Corrections & Reintegration Initiatives | Inclusive, Equitable Program Design
Make your voice heard while joining in solidarity with arts and cultural leaders across the state.
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FREE TICKET ALERT!
Friends of Chamber Music Troy
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ACE! is excited to offer, in collaboration with the Friends of Chamber Music Troy a block of tickets to a classical extravaganza : The Verona Quartet with saxophonist Steven Banks in a performance titled: Dialogismós: A Meditation in Music.
WHAT: The Verona Quartet with Saxophonist Steven Banks
DATE: Saturday, October 11 | Meet the Artists Talk 2:30 PM | Performance at 3:00 PM
WHERE: University at Albany SUNY Recital Hall
To get the FREE tickets enter code ACEVERONA at checkout. There will be a $1 processing fee.
Tickets are first come first serve and are limited to two per person.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
The Verona Quartet (Jonathan Ong, Dorothy Ro, Abigail Rojansky, and Jonathan Dormand) and saxophonist Steven Banks will present an immersive program that will invite the listener to explore and reflect on the various forms of love as understood through the lens of the ancient Greeks. These include Agape (selfless love), Mania (obsessive love), Philautia (self love), Pragma (enduring love), Ludus (playful love), Eros (erotic love), Philia (affectionate love), and Storge (familial love).
"To ground and guide the audience, the program will be bound together by a series of guided meditations that will lead the listener to realize the vital importance of self-love." Works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Janáček, and the Regional Premiere of Christopher Theofanidis' Visions of the Hereafter (Co-commissioned by FoCM).
| | INSIDE ACE! | Creating a New Path | | |
October turned out to be a bit more hectic than normal with about 30 events that I am corralling in one way or another for the month. As such, we ran a couple weeks long but...the wait was worth the wait! First up, I am thrilled to have met Kyra D. Gaunt PhD Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, AI and Society Fellow at University at Albany who has a lot to say about a variety of things but primarily in the vein of equality and respect. Energized and engaging, you are sure to learn a bit from this interview. Second up we met up with Barb Nelson, Executive Director of NFP Architectural firm TAP Inc. Don't let the name mislead you, Barb is up to her elbows in community arts, public infrastructure and affordable housing. So much going on at that firm!
Excited also to be a part of an important new initiative spearheaded by ArtsNYS called the Empire Arts Summit. This timely event will be well placed for best practice sharing, strategic alignment and importantly, forming solidarity in advance of next years budget hearings / allocations. It's high time we all started working with a coordinated playbook and shared messaging and this is exactly the opportunity we have needed to move in that direction. Use the code and get a significant discount. If you're in a leadership roll in the region in arts and culture you should be there.
The Friends of Chamber Music Troy is back with a wonderful offering of free tickets to the acclaimed The Verona Quartet. Jump on that fast, these tickets won't last! Big thanks to ED Michael Kirsty for making them available.
Finally, a big congrats to Collar Works in Troy on the groundbreaking for their $2.8M facility project, sure to be a major upgrade on many levels, importantly with exciting and expanded programming. Kudos are also in order for our friends up north at the Hyde Collection on their recent challenge grant award of $500K from the estate of Patricia B. Hoopes to support the transformation of the historic Hoopes House into The Hyde Center for Arts Education. Add this to the $1.3M awarded to them in June from NYSCA towards the same project and it makes you wonder what's in the water up there and how can I get some of that! Thanks for the update on that one goes to the Hyde's very own Kate Wilkins, a woman who is making some impressive strides.
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
| | Collar Works Ground Breaking Event | | TROY New York: On September 29th, Collar Works broke ground on their new headquarters, the historic Neemes Iron Foundry in South Central Troy. In attendance was the New York State Council on the Arts together with local and state representatives, project partners, board, staff, and community of supporters. This exciting new $2.8 million project — supported by $960,000 in funding from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) — promises to reshape the region’s cultural landscape and expand access to contemporary art. Congratulations are in order! | | 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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