Makers

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

Joseph is Doling Out $510K in Statewide Community Regrant Funds : Find Out How to Get Yours

December 19, 2022 By upstatecreative

ACE! connected with Joseph Mastroianni (Vice President of Programming / Statewide Community Regrants Coordinator) of the Arts Center of the Capital Region to find out more about the large pot of money that is being made available to artists and non profits in a two phase round of funding awards. Read on below to find out more about how to submit and qualify.

Joseph Mastroianni – VP of Programs / SCR Grants Coordinator | Photo: Provided

What is the Statewide Community Regrants program?

The Statewide Community Regrants program is an initiative of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and administered by local arts organizations in New York’s 62 counties.

“The SCR program, fosters the continuing development of arts and cultural resources in response to the needs of local communities in each of New York’s counties. The SCR program invests NYSCA funds to serve all communities and people who comprise New York’s citizens and visitors. SCR sites are a network of non-profit organizations that serve local and regional cultural organizations and artists through three categories of support: Community Arts, Arts Education, and Individual Artists.”

The Arts Center represents Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer Counties in the SCR program. In 2023, thanks to a generous one time increase in funding, we will award $510,000 in two rounds.

How much money is available this round?

In Round One, we will distribute $200,000. In Round Two, we will distribute $300,000. Additionally, $10,000 will be available for rolling mini-grants.

Who is eligible?

The SCR program has four categories: Community Arts, Arts Education, Individual Artists, and Pop Up Mini Grants.

In Community Arts, eligible applicants must be or be in partnership with a 501 ©3 nonprofit organization in Albany, Schenectady, or Rensselaer Counties. This category is for public art and fostering creative communities.

In Arts Education, eligible applicants must be either artists over age 18 and in partnership with a community organization, or community organizations. 501©3 status is not required in this category, but all proposed projects must have an educational component, whether in-school or after school.

In Individual Artists, eligible applicants must be artists 18 years of age or over and reside in Albany, Rensselaer, or Schenectady Counties. Projects should all be original work.

In Pop Up Mini Grants, eligible applicants are artists over age 18 or 501©3 organizations based in Albany, Schenectady, or Rensselaer Counties. Mini Grants are for small-scale projects and do not have to include an educational component.

Artists who work in any or all media are encouraged to apply; there is no priority.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement | Photo: Provided

What types of projects are prioritized in the funding?

All projects must have some type of community impact component and there are funding caps for each grant type.

In Community Arts, the maximum award is $5000. In Arts Education and Individual Artist, the cap is $2500. Artists may apply to all three categories if they are eligible; the maximum award any single artist or arts organization will receive is $5000.

Downtown Schenectady Improvement Mural | Photo: Provided

How do I learn more about applying?

We have grant seminars and office hours! At our virtual grant seminars, I’ll go over each type of grant available, so bring your creative ideas and ask questions! At the office hours, I’ll be able to answer very individualized questions about your projects and the application process. Remaining grant seminars are December 20, and January 5, all from 4-5 pm. They are free, but you do have to register to get the zoom link.

REGISTER HERE

Office Hours are Thursdays from 3-4 pm, starting January 12. Office hours may be over the phone, google meet, or email. No registration is required.

Electric City Arts – Jazz on Jay | Photo: Provided

Anything else we have missed we should know about?

Important dates!

ROUND ONE APPLICATION : Opens January 6 and closes March 1. Panel Review will be April 1, and awards will be announced on May 15. Projects must happen between June 1 and December 31 2023.

ROUND TWO APPLICATION : Opens on April 6 and closes on June 1. Panel Review will be July 6, and awards will be announced August 15. Projects must occur between September 1 and December 31 2023.

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

5 Questions with Community Arts Leader Louise Kerr

October 12, 2022 By Corey Aldrich

*Louise Kerr : Executive Director at Saratoga Arts | Photo: Provided*

1) Please state your name, what organization you represent and your role in that organization.

My name is Louise Kerr and I am currently the Executive Director at Saratoga Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY.

2) What is the organization’s core mission and who are you primarily serving in the execution of that mission?

Saratoga Arts’ mission is to enrich the region by cultivating a vibrant arts community and by ensuring that the arts are accessible to all.

We serve the capital region and beyond both at 320 Broadway with our 14,000 square foot facility that houses gallery and exhibition spaces, a 110-seat black box theater, painting, drawing, weaving, printmaking studios, and now a music/studio rehearsal voice lab, all geared towards community access and use, collaborations through our many partner organizations like the libraries, visitor center, train stations and more for artists to show and sell their work. We hosted two ‘Art in The Park‘ events this year seeing well over 8,000 visitors and have rolling pop-up markets and events throughout the year. We have educational kids camps that run each quarter with our summer season being the longest at 10 months for kids and teens aged 5 to 18. Each quarter we offer teen and adult classes in life drawing, painting, improv, workshops in printing, weaving, jewelry making, and more – basically if a teaching artist can think it up we can help facilitate a place for them to make that class or workshop come to life.

We are also responsible as the regrant organization for NYSCA for Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery counties, to distribute direct grant funding support to individual artists, and community and city organizations. We help fund many annual projects like art and book festivals, musical and theatrical performances, spoken/written word projects, and art exhibitions, just to name a few! In 2022 we dispersed $149,000 in grants and to date, we have given more than $1.3 million dollars directly into the community. Our cycle for 2023 just opened so if you live in any of those three counties, please visit our website and let us help fund your artistic project.

*Saratoga Arts Programming and Opportunities*

3) You mentioned to me about annual themes that are being developed as a structure for arts organizations in Saratoga to collaborate on, can you tell me more about that and what the focus for 2023 will be? Why do you feel this approach is important?

I became the ED in August of 2020 and long before I arrived there were collaborations within the arts and culture organizations. The pandemic just expedited the need for everyone to work together and since then I would say those ties grew stronger and more rapidly.

It just naturally evolved as geographically Saratoga Arts is a central, easily accessible community hub that has sat on the corner of congress park for 25 years. All of our relationships with grantee organizations along with the larger institutions like SPAC, The Tang, Yaddo, Caffe Lena and so many more, have continued to flourish and work together.

Beekman Street Arts District continues to grow and our arts and culture opening weekend “All Together Now” in June was a resounding success. Especially with the additional support and collaboration of the Mayor and city, the Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, and the Downtown Business Association, all of the many world-class cultural events that happen throughout Saratoga Springs are finally beginning to be noticed and 2023 is shaping up nicely with collaborative themes of ‘The Earth, people and place, migration and change‘… like I said in the beginning, this strong network already existed but I was just lucky in my timing of arriving when I did and being immediately embraced and accepted as everyone worked together to overcome the pandemic. I think that being part of something like Saratoga Arts that not only is a resource for the community but also a creative connector in a chain of organizations all pulling in the same direction, is vital for the richness of where you call home and key in the expansion and success of the arts especially.

*Main Gallery | Mia Westerlund Roosen | Photo: Provided*

4) What does a typical day look like for you?

The art center is currently a work in progress and in a time of exponential growth. I am usually doing 15 things at once and going 100 mph… emails and text messages start dinging around 7 am. On any given day at SA there can be 200+ visitors coming through, artists of all ages making all kinds of creative work, lots of rambunctious 3-5-year-olds running around the gallery and in the park, a set being built in the theater, actors rehearsing, someone learning to playing a piano, some sort of cleaning and organizing happening by amazing volunteers, meetings in person with board members, contractors, partner organizations, supporting members and donors, zooms with government agencies, budgets, grant deadlines, running across town to attend an event, and never ending planning and paperwork. Then there is making time for my small but mighty staff, who also are wearing many hats and all working on multiple projects to keep us moving ever forwards. It’s usually 7 or 8 pm by the time I force myself to stop working.

5) I believe you have some exciting news about new facility-related upgrades that you and your team are working on, can you share a bit about what those will be and the timeline?

The crazy hours and frenzied work schedules are in large part due to the fact the art center is going through a complete transformation. It was a little bit tired and worn from so many years of use and not enough consistent maintenance or repairs when I arrived so we have partnered with the city to do extensive renovations and updates over the next three years. The city will focus on mainly structural and exterior renovations like gutters, drainage, roofing, HVAC upgrades and such and we have pledged to raise $700,000 to help update everything internally to reinvent the galleries and makers’ spaces, install new modern equipment and make this building multi-purpose and bursting with creativity 24-7. To date, we have already invested almost $200,000 into the building and with the support of key donations and sponsors, a new extended long-term lease and city partnership, 2023/24 is looking very exciting.

In the immediate near future we are focused on the completion of a few things including an environmentally safe printmaking studio and a rehearsal/music and voice lab. These are already beginning to be used while we expand equipment and build-outs, thanks in part to generous donations of presses and a rehearsal grant from NYSCA allowing us to extend over 1000 hours of studio time for free through December 2022. These spaces will be community accessible as well as places to teach, learn and do specialty workshops.

Also slated for completion by the end of 2022 is re-establishing Film and screenings on a regular basis in our theater thanks to a generous donation of equipment from the now-dissolved film forum. This is very exciting and much requested by our community not just because it opens the doors for so many collaborations with new partnerships, creative programming with filmmakers, small documentaries and other screenings, animation creation, immersive film/performances, and more, but is something that lends itself well to a community center like ours. It offers an intimate and connected regular community meeting place, not intimidating or generic like a big movie theater space, somewhere to nurture constructive dialog and debate, rooted and filled with creative and interesting work from all genres, accessibility for entry level students at the beginning of a careers through to seasoned professionals. I really am looking forward to seeing more people discovering the versatility of what they can do at our facility, and hopefully, be inspired to participate and create!

WEB: www.saratoga-arts.org
IG | FB: @saratogaarts

This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.

Visit CapNY on Instagram at @gocapny.

CAP NY ACTIVATE! : 3 ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS FOR FAMILY FUN

August 3, 2022 By Nellie Ackerman-Vellano

Summer time for me as a child, meant practically living outdoors until school started. We played outside for hours with friends, our parents took us on picnics and hikes… but our favorite was going to festivals. As an adult, I love festivals even more than I did as a child, and my own children love exploring craft and vendor tables for unique handmade treasures or collectables. We plan meal times around visiting the various food vendors at each unique arts or cultural event.

I love handmade crafts and eclectic art, and finding things to bring home and display. More than one or many times actually, I’ve also been known to “accidentally” forget to bring a bag or tote of my own and of course I must buy a new tote, purse or reusable bag to hold all my festival finds in. My family thinks I do it on purpose, because I have a reusable bag obsession… and maybe, they are on to me. LOL!

Here are a few wonderful Arts and Cultural Festivals located in the Capital Region that are worth putting on your calendar and planning to bring your family to and spend the day at.

This article is presented through a content collaboration with ACE and CapNY.
Visit us on Instagram at @upstatecreative and @gocapny

THE ALBANY LATIN FESTIVAL
August 27th | 11:00 to 6:00

Founded in the early 90’s by Vichente Alfonso, Pedro Diaz, and Carlos Maldonado…. these three visionaries saw the need to “create an event in the Capital Region that would honor the cultural diversity of hispanic performers.” Pedro stated when he shared the groups motivation for this event when I interviewed him on the phone.

This festival has grown into a full day event. It is a “family-oriented festival with musical performances highlighting the diversity of Hispanic musical genres; a wide array of food, arts and crafts vendors; children’s amusements; and community, government, and business information booths.“

There will be great live music, delicious food for sale, and lots of local vendors to support.

“As a cultural event, LATINFEST celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Hispanic cultural heritage and acknowledges the contributions made by Hispanic Americans on local, state, national, and international levels.. It has established a hallmark, traditional cultural event for a burgeoning portion of the local community that is currently underserved and underrepresented, as well as for the larger Albany community.“

This event has been significantly supported by the City of Albany NY as an important part of the cultural landscape and recognized in the past at the Albany NY Bicentennial Celebration.

The Albany Latin Festival Association (ALFA) has offered Latin Festival every year for over 20 years now. ALFA is a non-profit organization that raises funds for this entire event, through donations and sponsorships. The organization’s mission is to promote and develop Hispanic cultural events in the Capital Region of the State of New York, for the purpose of acknowledging the contributions of Hispanic performing artists and promoting an appreciation for multi-cultural diversity.

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more info check out the EVENT PAGE

The festival is staged in Albany’s Washington Park at the end of August each year from 11am to 6pm.

EDITORS NOTE: They do have room for more local Craft Vendors. The application is on their website.

Saratoga Arts : Art in the Park | Photo: Provided

ART IN THE PARK
Saturday, September 17th | 10:00 to 4:00

“The Saratoga Arts Festival is an extension of the Saratoga Arts Center mission, to make the arts accessible to all. The festival is held outside in a communal location and is accessible to someone who may not wander into the gallery. It’s held outside and it’s beautiful. It features so many local artists and brings fine art outside into the community” Olivia Walton, Membership and Development Coordinator, shared with me in a phone interview.

This festival is going to offer a day full of outdoor art exhibits, artist vendors, wonderful local craft vendor tables, kids zone, a community booth in Saratoga Springs’ beautiful and historic Congress Park in Downtown Saratoga. Curated and presented by Saratoga Arts in partnership with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Art in the Park will feature a variety of art and crafted work from local and national artists. The event will also feature live music, artist demos, and MORE!

This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
For more info visit the EVENT PAGE

Olivia also shared that the Arts Center also offers week-long summer camps, theater arts classes & various workshops for youth that make it worth traveling to Saratoga County with your children.

Did you know that the Saratoga Arts Center also offers grants or artists? They reported that 39 grants totaling $123,010 have been awarded to support community-based arts events taking place in 2020. Saratoga Arts has awarded over $1,536,000 in grants since these programs began!

Their Grants Coordinator, Mae Hailu, commented: “Since the 1990s, Saratoga Arts has been pursuing the mission of making the arts accessible to all through our regrants program funded by the New York State Council of the Arts, which has provided millions of dollars worth of funding for community arts projects and arts educational programs, as well as directly funding the work of individual artists. The effects of these works have been felt by people from ages 5-99 throughout Saratoga, Fulton, and Montgomery counties.“

Mabee Farm Arts and Crafts Festival | Photo: Provided

MABEE FARM ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 27th | 10:00 to 3:00

The Mabee Farms Arts & Crafts Festival is a wonderful event coordinated and run by the Schenectady Historic Society.

“We’re bringing together the very best of the Capital Region’s handcrafted goods! Join us as 85+ artists and crafters spread out over the Mabee Farm grounds with their eclectic, beautifully handcrafted items. All items are handmade here in our region, and include jewelry, home decor, fine art, ceramics, artisan foods and wines, soaps, candles, woodworking, and more! Featuring live music!”

I spoke on the phone with Mike Diana, of the Schenectady Historical Society, and shared with me that the event also will Blacksmith and Carpentry demonstrations during the day. “This is a very juried festival” Mike said when we chatted about the different local vendors that would be at this specific event. Mike also wanted everyone to know that there will still be tours available of the House during the festival as well.

This is truly going to be a wonderful event to bring your entire family to, and worth traveling to Schenectady County.

A VIRTUAL MAP of Mabee Farm is available online.

ADMISSION: is $10 / parked car
For more information check out the FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
This event is a fundraiser for the Mabee Farm, a not-for-profit organization.

Mabee Farm Historic Site
The oldest farm in the Mohawk Valley (1705), Mabee Farm Historic Site offers visitors today vibrant educational and recreational opportunities. With its deep history and riverside beauty, it’s the perfect place to explore the Mohawk Valley.
Walk across weathered pine floors in the home of 18th century settlers. Say hello to our resident farm animals. Ogle the hand-pegged Dutch Barn (1760s) or just meander through our orchards, gardens, and forest trails. Tied to the dock or parked behind the Dutch Barn sit our reproduction 18th century bateaux, giving visitors an idea of how goods were shipped up and down the river when Schenectady was America’s frontier.

Mabee Farm is also home year-round to interactive exhibitions, lecture series, workshops, and school programs plus extensive historical collections.

Makers

THE ALBANY LATIN FESTIVALAugust 27th | 11:00 to 6:00

ART IN THE PARKSaturday, September 17th | 10:00 to 4:00

MABEE FARM ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVALSaturday, August 27th | 10:00 to 3:00

THE ALBANY LATIN FESTIVAL
August 27th | 11:00 to 6:00

ART IN THE PARK
Saturday, September 17th | 10:00 to 4:00

MABEE FARM ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 27th | 10:00 to 3:00