ACE PLACES

STEAM + A = Creative Activism : A Conversation with Kristen Holler

January 19, 2023 By Corey Aldrich

I first met Kristen Holler in her role at the Albany Barn. I have had the opportunity to work with her on projects there and in Schenectady at the Electric City Barn involving ACE! and my own production work with my company 2440 Design Studio. So when I was included on an email from Steve Pierce announcing her new position as Executive Director at the Sanctuary for Independent Media, I immediately knew that this could be a tremendous match for her and the organization. Focused and tireless, Kristen has a deep arts and community background. Though fresh on the job, I wanted to be a part of launching an awareness about her transition and have her share a quick update with us all about the amazing STEAM based approach that the Sanctuary is bringing to a neighborhood community and beyond.

Kristen Holler : Executive Director at The Sanctuary for Independent Media | Photo: Provided

Can you tell us a bit of your background and what you did before this?

Prior to coming to the Sanctuary for Independent Media I was the Executive Director of Albany Barn – a nonprofit org that supports artist development through a wide variety of technical assistance and subsidized/shared resource programs – from 2013 until 2022. In that time I helped to drive the opening of Electric City Barn in Schenectady, and served as a project manager for the Capital Walls public art initiative in collaboration with Albany Center Gallery. My professional background has been almost exclusively in the nonprofit space, but has been a combination of direct service and administrative roles across housing, employment, health, and arts organizations.

Live Performance at Freedom Square | Photo: Provided

The Sanctuary is so many things – from performance art, to science to activism…can you give us an idea of what the main areas of focus will be for you and why this position was attractive to you?

I think the thing that resonates most for me is that although the Sanctuary ‘is so many things,’ each of those things is linked back to the pursuit of social justice, and the use of creativity and independent expression as tools in that pursuit. I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Steve Pierce and Branda Miller – two of the organization’s founders – in my time at The Barn.

Branda Miller and Steve Pierce sitting with daughter Masha, and dog, Rose Fang. | Photo: Provided

It is an honor to step into this beautiful space that they’ve created, to build upon their legacy. My focus will be strengthening continuity and sustainability across the varied initiatives and programs and to provide strategic leadership in a time of transition.

Event Audience at Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided

Collard City Growers participants work the permaculture garden. | Photo: Provided

Can you share with us some meaningful ways in which the Sanctuary is making a difference in the lives of those who are in the neighborhood and beyond?

The Sanctuary’s varied programming really provides something for everyone, and the community of individuals who have created and driven this organization forward for the past 20+ years have shown a true dedication to remaining independent from corporate control and responsive to community input.

One of the major ways that The Sanctuary has impacted the immediate neighborhood is through investment in vacant lots and buildings, reactivating them for community use including Freedom Square – a public performance and gathering space; Collard City Growers – a food justice, arts, and permaculture project; NATURE Lab – a community science lab; and People’s Health Sanctuary – a community-led mutual aid health initiative. Another space where I think The Sanctuary has had real impact is in creating STEAM programming where the arts, sciences, and media are not silos, but an intersection of related disciplines where the arts are tools for scientific discovery, the sciences are a tools for creative expression, and media is the vehicle for sharing the process and the outcomes in ways that are accessible to a wider audience. (Editors Note: This!!)

The Sanctuary for Independent Media Main Entrance. | Photo: Provided

There has also been a consistent effort to develop and maintain strong community relationships with individuals and other organizations through these connections. The Sanctuary has helped to get important community-led initiatives into the media – including stories that depict a more positive image of the N. Central Troy community. Outside of the immediate neighborhood The Sanctuary’s media content and performance series have drawn visitors virtually and in person from other states and countries.

Nature Lab (*Water Justice Project*) participants testing Hudson River water samples. | Photo: Provided

What are the primary funding sources for the organization?

The organization is funded largely by individual donors and sustaining contributors – particularly Sanctuary Radio and Sanctuary TV. Additional funding is provided by NYSCA, DEC, NEA, McCarthy Charities, Howard & Bush Foundation, and The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region.

Developing story based narratives at Sanctuary Radio. | Photo: Provided

Anything coming up on the horizon we should be aware of or keep on the lookout for?

People can tune into Hudson Mohawk Magazine daily at 7am, 9am, and 6pm for independent coverage of local news and topics impacting our Region. The People’s Health Sanctuary will have a series of open houses in the winter and early spring that are in the final stage of scheduling. The Sanctuary will continue with its signature annual events including Freedom Fest in the summer and Story Harvest in the fall. Information on upcoming events can always be found on our website.

Freedom Square entrance at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. | Photo: Provided

WEB: mediasanctuary.org

Community Based Design Aspirations : The Albany Riverfront Collaborative

December 20, 2022 By Corey Aldrich

I was approached about the ‘Albany Riverfront Collaborative‘ by an architect friend, Scott Townsend of SWBR. He reached out to me asking if I was aware of the project and wondering if ACE! would be interested in playing a role in the growing chorus of voices that have an interest in participatory collaboration on what is surely one of the most potentially impactful projects for the riverfront in downtown Albany in decades. As the project is entering an important community feedback phase in the following months, it felt right to amplify the exciting opportunity presented to stakeholders associated with the City of Albany riverfront. To get a little more insight I reached out to Jodi Smits Anderson (AIA, LEED-AP BD+C, Well-AP), a managing principle at Einhorn Yafee Prescott (Albany) who happens to be spending a lot of time engaging interested folks about a collaborative design process.

Jodi Smits Anderson – Member at Albany Riverfront Collaborative | Photo: Corey Aldrich

Can you tell me a bit about the project? What is it trying to accomplish and why now?

The core of the project is reimagining the City of Albany’s riverfront. Albany’s upstate sister cities, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, have all been implementing significant changes to their outdated urban highway structures. ARC (Albany Riverfront Collaborative) founders came together to 1) help people see that we can make powerful change to uplift our communities and improve access to the Hudson River, 2) build relationships to gain support for this change with regional leaders and elected officials, and 3) design aspirational goals that guide the current project and future work – doing so together, with no exceptions!

Albany Riverfront Current | Photo: Jonah Michel of @AroundAlbany

The best time to influence a project’s scope is prior to the actual design process, through discovery of what is possible. Once design is completed, the only tools available to inform the work tend to be confrontational ones: lawsuits, criticism, protest, etc. The consultants for the project are set to begin designing late winter/early spring of 2023, and collaborative feedback during the process is vital to achieving goals of equity and inclusion.

Three redesign concepts are currently on the table for I-787: 1) A highway cap consisting of parkland that connects the city to the river above the fast-moving traffic; 2) an urban canal system that brings the river into the city while restoring water-leveling locks, creating marinas, and generating local interest and tourism (similar to that of the Providence River Walk in Rhode Island); and 3) an appropriately scaled boulevard that balances pedestrian, transportation, commercial, and community needs.

It is likely that the best design incorporates elements of all three, for each idea builds on different perspectives and priorities, from water management and environmental health to recreation and economic development.

Albany Riverfront Current | Photo: Provided

I-787 Beltway on the Riverfront | Photo: Provided

From a historical perspective, what affect has the I-787 corridor had on the City of Albany, specifically the people who lived / live in the areas impacted?

It is amazing to me how projects have ripple effects over time and space. I-787 and the highway interchanges, along with the Empire State Plaza itself, initially took out 98 acres of locally owned businesses, homes, and community places. This gutted the city and created a physical gap. The intention was to provide faster circulation for cars, offices for government, and to create an impressive skyline. Over time, this gap, this slice through town, has forged disparities in the economic levels of impacted communities and created a downtown that is primarily for workers who don’t live here. In addition, all the communities of Albany are distanced from the Hudson River, with only three access points, none of which are vibrant or welcoming.

Can you share some current financial aspects of the project and also community based goals being discussed?

There was a 2018 study completed by DOT for the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) that clearly stated that creating a boulevard, located on either side of the railroad tracks, was a distinct possibility for further study and analysis. The budget this time is more than fifteen (15) times the funding for that study.

Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has $5 million dollars to reimagine the City of Albany’s riverfront to promote access to it while adapting to the Hudson’s current and future tidal rise, reconnecting neighborhoods, spurring economic activity, and creating opportunities for current and future residents.

Albany Riverfront Proposed Redesign Features | Photo: Provided

We’ve been hearing from communities including the Albany Downtown BID, South Albany, the Pastures, and North Albany among others. I, myself, live in Pine Hills and have worked downtown for 15 years, mostly biking and walking to and from the office. The visions of joy being shared through the work of the ARC center around access to Nature and removal of the great weight of concrete over people’s heads. There is a lot of concern over development and a way to do it without pricing our current residents out of the city. This is why local voices are vital. We also hear about slowing down traffic and increasing access points into the city. This last piece is particularly impactful because it can lead to economic growth – for all of the city. Studies show that this approach helps people spend more time and more money in cities, as they are more likely to be part of the community after work hours.

Can you tell us about the public and private stakeholders and cultural and community organizations who have signed on to help make this happen?

The list of stakeholders / partners is impressive. They include residents, neighborhood and community groups, for and not for profit organizations, businesses and government entities. The intent of the Albany Riverfront Collaborative has always been to be a connector. ARC’s goal is to facilitate a growing understanding for all the communities of Albany, including commuters and visitors. That we all have a right and a responsibility in the vision for the city. We want elementary school kids to write about the Hudson, and college students to do the carbon calculations on the plans. We want people to propose legislation to clean and heal the Hudson, and all the streams we have buried in Albany. We support Radix Center‘s urban gardens and the South End Butterfly Sanctuary pollinating them. Local artists and local advocates can agree about the need for a shared, co-created, inclusive, climate smart, and healthy future. CDTA and the local neighborhood associations can inform the plans, and you and I can love our city. That’s the potential we all can see and work for.

Where can folks go to get more information?

You can check out our website and follow us on social media. We are currently looking for more people with a vested interest in the long term development of the City of Albany to connect with the process so please, reach out if you have an interest!

WEB: albanyriverfrontcollaborative.com
IG / FB: @albanyriverfrontcollaborative

Made in America : Tech Valley Center of Gravity Provides Makers a Space to Learn and Grow

November 16, 2022 By Corey Aldrich

Having done several projects with COG over the years it was an exciting surprise to see the amazing new offerings that the facility developed since the pandemic. In a recent tour after a long hiatus, I was literally blown away by the level of professional equipment, variety of applications and the on-sight expertise available in what is surely the regions premier community Makerspace. To get a better handle on it all, I spoke with Dan Falkenstrom – Operations Director at Tech Valley Center of Gravity.

**Dan Falkenstrom** – *Operations Director* at **Tech Valley Center of Gravity** | Photo: Provided

Please state your name, title, and background. What do you do at COG on a daily basis?

Dan Falkenstrom, Operations Director. After graduating RPI with a dual degree in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, I spent time as a manufacturing engineer at Pratt & Whitney, Knolls Atomic Power Lab, and GE. I joined the COG as a member to make motorcycle parts, began serving as the volunteer treasurer, and have been an employee since 2018. In my current role I oversee our day-to-day operations, perform training, and maintain equipment. But most importantly, I help makers and startups overcome hurdles by connecting them with other creators and resources.

Tech Valley Center of Gravity – Downtown Troy, NY | Photo: **Corey Aldrich**

What makes COG different from other ‘coworking’ spaces in the region?

The main difference is that we are so much more! While we do have a traditional coworking area, which is predominantly visible through our street-level windows, I hesitate to consider ourselves a typical ‘coworking’ space. Makerspaces are more of a workshop environment – it’s perfectly acceptable (and encouraged) to start drilling, hammering, or soldering. Our aim is to support individuals, startups, and established businesses by providing low-cost access to fabrication equipment, workshop space, education, and a network of passionate creators.

The organizational structure of makerspaces is also very different from coworking spaces. As a non-profit organization, we have a strong focus on accessibility and community. In addition, our members have voting rights and help steer the direction of the organization. We are supported by a great group of sponsors, which allows us to keep membership and all of our resources financially accessible.

**Sharpening Class** at **Tech Valley Center of Gravity** | Photo: Provided

Can you tell us a bit about the types of facilities that you have available for use?

Within our 15,000 square feet, we have Maker Zones dedicated to 3D printing, children’s STEAM activities, laser cutting, electronics, fiber & glass arts, woodworking, welding, and machining. All told, we have over $200,000 of equipment available for members to use. Our kitchen, meeting room, and classroom/event space are also available to rent.

**John** and **Sean** working in the Woodshop at the **Tech Valley Center of Gravity** | photo: Provided

Who is COG best suited for? Can you tell us a bit about the people and projects happening there?

In our experience, at some level, everyone’s a maker. Our membership spans artists to engineers, students to retirees, and hobbyists to entrepreneurs. Over the past year I’ve seen our members make everything from prom dresses, cutting boards, bio-leather prototypes, physics experiment components, custom watches, welded steel sculptures, and more.

As a state-certified Incubator, we’re especially equipped to help hardware startup companies developing physical products through our Manufacturing Incubator program. In line with that, we’ve placed an emphasis on making digital fabrication equipment accessible. It’s really exciting to see so many small businesses get their start here.

Sewing Area at the **Tech Valley Center of Gravity** | Photo: Provided

Talk a little about the value of a STEAM over STEM based approach.

It’s a more holistic approach that acknowledges how interwoven these disciplines really are. All STEM fields are intrinsically creative disciplines. Beyond the ability to design products that look good and are enjoyable to use, problem solving requires out-of-the-box thinking. Take, for example, the scene from the movie “Apollo 13,” where engineers had to design a way to connect air filters using only what the astronauts had on board – “We have to make this, fit into the hole for this, using nothing but that.” Exercising both halves of the brain improves the ability to look at materials in new ways, to consider alternate processes, and to develop novel solutions to seemingly impossible constraints.

**Kyle Moise** makes and sells custom leather watch straps at the **Tech Valley Center of Gravity**
Photo: Provided

What are your goals for 2023? Anything your especially excited about?

2023 will be our 10 year anniversary, which is extra exciting because it puts us in the company of the few makerspaces that have reached the decade mark. As we continue to grow, we’ve been fortunate enough to secure additional funding to our Community Access Fund, which will allow us to expand our financial aid programs, such as our Pay-What-You-Can program and field trip assistance for Title 1 schools. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow our socials to learn more! Now that we’ve added a Community Developer to our team, you’ll be seeing much more activity about what we’ve got going on. Our main goal is to eliminate the phrase “I had no idea all of this was here!” from the reactions of our first-time visitors.

*Inventor* **Nancy Tedeschi** speaks at an event for entrepreneurs at the **Tech Valley Center of Gravity**
Photo: Provided

WEB: tvcog.net

Creating Upstate : 5 Questions for 5 Capital Region Creatives

November 15, 2022 By Jonah Michel

I asked the same five questions to five different creatives in an attempt to understand exactly why they’ve decided to plant a flag in the Capital Region’s Creative Economy. We tapped in with Screen Printers, Pizza Makers, Brand Developers and Social Media Entrepreneurs. Each person brings in their own unique ingredient helping us to write the recipe that will continue to feed the souls of folks around the Capital Region and beyond.

Lets meet the team…

**Joe Bonilla** – *Managing Partner, Senior Media Director, and Co-Founder* at **Relentless Awareness**
Photo: Facebook

Drew : 5ifth Place – Screen Printer

Drew is the Founder of the local clothing brand ‘Fifth Place’ an Albany based lifestyle brand. Drew is also host of his own podcast and is a regular personality on Two Buttons Deep.

Cristian Virgiglio : Sovrana Pizza – Creative Director

Cristian Virgiglio was born into Albany’s pizza culture and 20-something years later has taken the scene by storm. As Creative Director, Cristian collaborates with local artists and artisans whether it be on merch, new menu items, or pop-up pizza events.

Salah Harris : Career InTouch – Founder, Executive Director

Salah was born and raised in Albany’s South End neighborhood and is currently in his Senior year at the University of Albany. He founded “Career InTouch” and currently serves as a Youth Program Facilitator at The RED Bookshelf. Salah has previously Interned at the Albany Mayor’s Office of Equity & Community Engagement as well as at the Office of Senator Schumer.

Joe Bonilla : Relentless Awareness – Managing Partner, Senior Media Director, and Co-Founder

Joe is the managing partner, senior media director, and co-founder of Relentless. Bonilla was also a regular panelist of WAMC Northeast Public Radio’s nationally-syndicated and award-winning news and discussion program The Roundtable, co-host of CivMix’s The Mix podcast with former journalist Liz Benjamin, and presently is a recurring guest on the Two Button’s Deep Podcast : ‘Behind The Buttons’

Isabella Marchese : Marchese – Entrepreneur and Content Creator

Isabella is currently enrolled in Harvard Business School Online, pursuing a certification in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. While in college, Isabella worked in the U.S. House of Representatives and The Senate. After that, she decided to try her hand in media and worked at a campaign firm and SiriusXM. Now, you can find her co-working at different coffee shops around the Capital Region.

PRO-TIP: Keep your eyes peeled for relevant hyperlinks scattered throughout.

**Salah Harris** – *Founder, Executive Director* at **Career InTouch** | Photo: **Eddie Quinn**

What is something you’ve discovered within the Capital Region’s Creative Economy that you may not find anywhere else?

Drew: Affordable Rent with places next to me within walking distance.

Cristian: People tend to call Albany, Smallbany, and that’s exactly what I think makes the Capital Region so special. Being in Albany gives a sense of one giant family, the community itself is so supportive. My family’s pizzeria, Sovranas, has been open since 1985, and without the community I don’t know where we’d be. (Sovranas was featured on TMZ in 2015)

Salah: One of the most unique aspects of our creative economy here in the Capital Region is our ability to cultivate with local resources and uplift as well as collaborate with local organizations. I can recall working with a local school on a fall harvest event and Nine Pin provided (youth appropriate!) ciders. As an Albany native, and fan of the brand you have to admire the sense of community and effort from local businesses.

Joe: The sense of true and authentic collaboration between those in the creative economy.

Isabella: There is so much opportunity here! This creator space in Albany is itching for more people to join!

**Isabella Marchese** – *Entrepreneur and Content Creator* at **Marchese** | Photo: Provided

What is a piece of advice you would give a fellow creator who is considering planting their flag in the Capital Region?

Drew: It’s on you to make what’s best out of any area. Ask yourself ‘Why am I moving?‘ and ‘Does this place suit me?’ Then hit me up when you get here – @5ifthplace. I’ll show you around 🏆

AUTHORS NOTE: Listen to Drew’s latest podcast episode where he chops it up with $300 Million Dollar ex-marijuana kingpin turned Author, Eric Canori – the man who buried millions of dollars in the Adirondacks, and snag a copy of his recent memoir: Pressure.

Cristian: Believe in your idea and believe in Albany, I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say they don’t believe there’s value here, or that we’re in the shadows of bigger cities. It drives me crazy because if you just look AroundAlbany, it’s full of variety in creators whether it’s food, music, art, or clothing. The Capital Region has such a personality and it continues to grow.

Salah: Endurance beats enthusiasm. Albany is a place that takes patience, you have to be willing to put in the long-term goals and planning. We have a diverse community of leaders and people, learning to resonate with their needs and how you fit with local partners will make you better off in understanding what you can create for the benefit of the Capital Region.

Joe: Get out there and meet people. We are all so interconnected and there is always an opportunity to collaborate and work on projects together. Don’t think of them as competition; think of them as project partners.

AUTHORS NOTE: Here’s a great example of what would be two competing parties, collaborating and involving others in the quest to address the Central Warehouse situation in Downtown Albany.

Isabella: This is the time because there’s still space! The small businesses here need you to help support and highlight them. Plus, we’re only two hours from Boston and NYC so if you ever need big city vibes, we’re pretty close.

AUTHORS NOTE: There are whispers that additional service between Albany and Boston may be coming our way. This would be huge – almost as good as high-speed rail!

**Drew** (*right*) – *Screen Printer* at **5ifth Place** shakes it up with **Stewart Shops’** *President* **Gary Dake**
Photo: Provided

Which Capital Region city do you think has the best opportunities for creators, and why?

Drew: Troy – They let graffiti live. Which allows people to see creativity outside. Instead of the daily mundane scenery.

Cristian: Albany for sure! The city is constantly evolving, it’s very welcoming to all demographics. Albany also has creators’ work showcased all over the city with murals, and the thriving Lark Street is mostly run with local creators’ businesses.

Salah: Again, as an Albany native and SUNY Albany student, I’ll have to go with Albany. We’re home to a rich history, diverse communities, amazing architecture, a strong City Hall and presence in government, and most importantly an abundance of opportunities for creators interested in expanding their network and growing within our city. (Not to mention we are the Capital!)

Joe: Albany for sure and overall. But I would say Cohoes and Rensselaer are great places due to the untapped potential in both of those cities. Nothing against the bigger cities in the region, but a small cities like those that have grit, determination, and history can make for a great canvas.

AUTHORS NOTE: Cohoes is making wise investments in their downtown – when was the last time you’ve checked out Remsen Street? That place is begging for street art – a canvas in more ways than one.

Isabella: Troy – I love Troy. It grows every single day and new small businesses are popping up all the time. There are so many creative people and spaces there.

**Cristian Virgiglio** – *Creative Director* at **Sovrana Pizza** | Photo: Provided

The Capital Region would be a better place for creators if…

Drew: Downtown Albany serviced people past 4pm.

Cristian: If we had a physical space to create. In many larger cities such a Philadelphia they have REC centers, which allows creators to have a space to do what they love. The REC centers are great for creators because it provides all the equipment you would need. Such as podcast space, lectures on the creator economy, and concert halls.

Salah: It continues what we have been doing as of late, creating spaces and being a hub for a talented and diverse generation of creators, leaders, and innovators moving the Capital Region in the right direction.

EDITORS NOTE: If you’re ever A roundTroy and want to work in a collaborative environment, or need a podcast studio, or just some wifi and several hours – hit up the Troy Innovation Garage. Thank me later!

Joe: We invested more in public art and things for young people to go into.

Isabella: If we had more access to get together and build a community with each other.

**Sovrana’s Pizza and Deli** in Albany, NY | Photo: Facebook

Where can people find your favorite slice of pizza in the Capital Region? 😀

AUTHORS NOTE: Troy Business Owner and Entrepreneur Vic Cristopher says something along the lines of: There’s no such thing as the best pizza, just your favorite pizza.

Drew: Sovranas 💎 Thank me later.

Crisitan: I’m a bit biased, but I’d have to say my family’s pizzeria, Sovranas! Other than the pizza being delicious, by just walking into the place you can really feel the charm of the business itself.

Salah: I’d have to say it’s between Pizza Bella in Westgate Plaza or Belt Line 3 near Center Square.

Joe: Donna’s Italian. The Broccoli Bob is too good.

Isabella: Bacchus Wood-Fired, always.

Jonah Michel can be found creatively connecting in the City of Albany. Additionally, he focuses on ‘stuff worth talking about’ around the Capital Region and beyond as a core member and producer for the media outlet Two Buttons Deep.

IG: @aroundalbany | @twobuttonsdeep

Saratoga Sounds Under ‘Acoustic Clouds’ : Re-envisioning the Arthur Zankel Music Center

October 12, 2022 By Corey Aldrich

*The Arthur Zankel Music Center | Photo: Provided*

The Zankel Music Center on the Skidmore College Campus opened in 2010. The 54,000 sq-ft facility features the 600-seat, acoustically brilliant Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall. In addition, the building also houses a 100-seat lecture and recital hall, rehearsal and practice rooms, and the Skidmore Music Department. It’s not uncommon to walk into Zankel and hear the sublime sounds of piano, violin, or operatic singing floating through the corridors. A campus and community asset, it welcomes roughly 25,000 visitors each year.

*The Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall at The Zankel Music Center | Photo: Provided*

THE MISSION

The mission at Zankel is two-fold: 1) to strengthen it’s role as a cultural resource for upstate New York by refining and expanding it’s world-class programming, and 2) to diversify and transform Skidmore’s music program in collaboration with faculty. The concert hall features tunable acoustic “clouds” and a look resembling Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall (named for Arthur and his wife, Judy). A unique offering among regional venues, hits a sweet spot in capacity, aesthetics, and experience of sound. A regional best kept secret outside of the Saratoga Springs community, one which the facilities newest addition Zhenelle LeBel looks to change.

Zhenelle LeBel joined Skidmore College as the Managing Director of the Arthur Zankel Music Center on August 1 of this year. Previously, she was with an important Troy based performance space, the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she was a senior arts administrator for the curatorial team.

*Zhenelle LaBel : Managing Director at The Arthur Zankel Music Center | Photo: Provided*

PROGRAMMING NOTES

Programming at the Zankel spans a range of musical genres, from Western classical to jazz to music from cultures around the globe. The audience reflects that in its multi-generational and multi-ethnic composition. In coming seasons, Zhenelle states that they will interrogate these genres with questions like: What happens if you center Black experiences and expressions of classical music? Where are the women in jazz? Is the term “world music” problematic, from the perspective of American colonialism? They plan on supporting these dialogues with lectures, screenings, and related convenings with the aim to include a diversity of voices.

*John Batista and Stay Human | Photo: Rudy Lu*

Zankel is bustling with the student body daily, between students enrolled in Music programs and a staff of around 30 student employees who help run events. They also facilitate collaborations across departments, working with faculty and their students to engage campus with programs that complement the events–master classes and workshops, screenings, talks, and exhibits, understanding that these interdisciplinary activities enrich the arts for all.

“These collaborations have a direct impact on student’s awareness of and interest in performances at Zankel, and are what I think contribute most to their attendance. Unlike our public audience, who attends primarily for entertainment, the Skidmore community shows up because in most cases, they’ve gained a new way of relating to the music and are curious. We love to inspire curiosity!” Zhenelle LeBel

A RICH PEDIGREE

The Zankel has had laudable roster of talent perform on stage including: Branford Marsalis, Jon Baptiste, Emanuel Ax, Ani DiFranco, the Indigo Girls, Paul Simon, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. In addition to presenting student recitals each semester, which is seen as an essential service to provide burgeoning artists the opportunity to perform for an audience, they also welcome performances by professionals who may be emerging in their field.

*Recent performer Taína Asili | Photo: Nathan Bogardus*

As for near future developments and focus, Zhenelle says, “Next year will bring exciting changes to our program, with new artistic residencies and a shift toward more multi-disciplinary performances. I am working on a thematic framework for our 2023/24 season that seeks to respond to some of my earlier questions, curating artists whose music both uplifts and informs. Can’t name names just yet!“

Follow them on social media to keep abreast of the new programming as it develops or reach out to Zhenelle directly.

WEB: www.skidmore.edu/zankel/index.php
IG: | FB: @zankelmusiccenter