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Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

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Capital Roots Creative Economy Mixer: Photo Highlights

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Thanks to all who came to our #creativeeconomymixer at Capital Roots in Troy. We enjoyed beverage tastings from Browns Brewing, delicious food from Field Notes, and a performance by Belle Skinner. Our discussion with Amy Klein: CEO of Capital Roots and Monica Kurzejeski: Deputy Mayor of Troy was very enlightening. We learned a bit about how downtown Troy developed into what it is today, as well as a glimpse of where the City of Troy might be headed. 

We would not be able to have events like this if it weren’t for our sponsors, Community Loan Fund and MVP Healthcare.

Photography by Ska City Photography

Creative Economy Mixer: Arts Letters & Numbers Studios

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Thank you for joining us at Arts Letters & Numbers Studios, where we toured their facility, met resident artists, enjoyed food tastings by Laughing Earth Farm, beverage tastings by Albany Distilling Co, a performance by Rachelle Smith-Stallman and more!

We’ll also had an engaging discussion with Arts Letters & Numbers Founding Director David Gersten, and Andrew Frishman of Big Picture Learning.

Without the generous support of our sponsors, this event would not be possible. Thanks to Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, MVP Health Care, and promotional partner Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Lessons from Austin” Moderators’ Notes

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Thank you to everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to join us for ACE’s First Cultural Tourism Summit: Lessons From Austin with Meredith Powell of  Public City. We hope it was as enlightening and engaging for you as it was for us. We are grateful to have had Meredith Powell share her knowledge with us and impart some important lessons that we can use as we continue our mission of shining a bright light on the powerful and thriving Creative Economy of the Capital Region. We also want to thank you for sharing your thoughts with us in our breakout groups. Here’s what we heard:

Your opinions are important to us and we take what you tell us seriously. You can review the photo highlights of the event here.

Making the Scene: Lessons From Austin Photo Highlights

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Our Making the Scene: Lessons from Austin event was a wonderful experience. With about 200 people in attendance, the event featured a presentation by Meredith Powell of Public City—leaders of Austin’s cultural tourism efforts—about the decades of planning and team building that went into their plans, as well as lessons about what hasn’t worked and benefited all residents. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas on how to make the greater Capital Region into an international travel destination.

The event began with a keynote presentation by Meredith Powell, and then our group broke out into 4 breakout sessions around downtown Troy- Lucas Confectionary, Plumb Oyster Bar, Bacchus Wood Fired, and Elixir 16. After the breakout sessions, we all joined up at The Arts Center of the Capital Region for Music provided by DJ Intell Hayesfield, live painting by Elizabeth Zunon, and refreshments provided by Sunhees Farm & Kitchen as well as cocktails from Arts Bar and beer tastings by Rare Form Brewing Company.

This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, Capital District Transit Authority, Troy Industrial Development Authority, Redburn Development, Columbia Economic Development Corporation, co-mads, Sunhees Farm and Kitchen, Rare Form Brewing Company, Troy Innovation Garage, and Startup Grind.

Creative Economy Mixer at Opalka Gallery

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Our March 2019 our ACE #CreativeEconomyMixer was at Opalka Gallery on The Sage College of Albany’s Campus. We saw screenings of amazing Capital Region film projects in the gallery’s Screening Room, including “Safehouse” by Micah Khan of Golden Horde Films and “Zebra” by Lisa M. Thomas of Thin Edge Films. Sam Margolius shared a “behind the scenes” breakdown of a video-enhanced by special effects by visual effects house Branch VFX.

A short tasting menu was featured by Albany-based restaurant UMANA — “Meeting Place for all People” and Druthers Brewing offered a beverage tasting at the event.

In addition to the films, food and drink we also toured the “In Place of Now” Afrofuturism exhibit with co-curator Judie Gilmore.

Special thanks to our sponsors MVP Health Care and the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. Photos by Ska City Photography.

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