NYSCA in the News: Ailey Biopic, Free Albright-Knox Admission, New CNY Arts Districts
NYSCA in the News is our digest of top reads about our grantees across the state. Read on to find out how arts organizations are creating essential programs in your community, and be inspired to take your art to the next level!
Fox Searchlight Giving Movie Treatment To Choreographer Alvin Ailey
“Fox Searchlight has closed a deal to develop a film based on the life and work of Alvin Ailey, a groundbreaking figure in American culture and one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century. The project is fully supported by the Ailey organization, which controls the rights to Ailey’s choreography. Fox Searchlight and the producers will be working closely with Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, to bring Ailey’s story and choreography to the screen. They have also secured the rights to Jennifer Dunning’s seminal biography Alvin Ailey: A Life In Dance.” NYSCA supports Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater through our Dance, Individual Artists and Special Arts Services Programs.
Albright-Knox opens doors for week of free admission
“This week, as it has done for the past four years, the [Albright-Knox Art Gallery] is showing its thanks to [Erie County] by waiving admission fees for a week for Erie County residents, from March 29 to April 5…The museum timed the week to coincide with spring break season, in an effort to encourage students and their families to attend. Past free weeks have seen about 2,100 visitors, significantly more than visit during a typical week when admission fees range between $6 to $12.” Exhibitions on view include "We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965-85," which takes on the work of late 20th century black women whose work merges political activism and artistic experimentation; "Introducing Tony Conrad: A Retrospective," focusing on the late Buffalo art legend; "Picturing Niagara," a century-spanning display of paintings and photographs exploring the beauty and power of Niagara Falls; "Matisse and the Art of Jazz;" and "Ingrid Olson: Forehead and Brain," featuring the young artist's photographs and sculptural reliefs. NYSCA supports the Albright-Knox through our Museum Program.
Effort to create arts and entertainment districts in Auburn, elsewhere awarded $100K
“The next stage in the creation of an arts and entertainment district in Auburn will be supported by $100,000 from the state. Empire State Development, in partnership with the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, awarded the money to CNY Arts, which announced it Monday. The money will support CNY Arts' creation of a master plan for arts and entertainment districts in Auburn, Cortland, Oneida, Oswego and Syracuse… Preliminary work on the districts began in 2017, supported by $49,500 from ESD and the council, as well as funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, Onondaga County and the CNY Community Foundation…CNY Arts is currently seeking proposals that will support the development of the districts. For more information, visit weare.cnyarts.org/programs/districts.” NYSCA supported the new districts through the REDC initiative and provides additional support for CNY Arts through our State & Local Partnership, Museum and Arts Education Programs.
Take Note: 3 Music Education Initiatives Making Moves in NYC
“Music education is vital to raising well-rounded children, but not all schools have equal access to the resources they need to ensure it’s a substantial part of the curriculum. Thankfully, there are a few dedicated organizations that strive to fill the gap, and we celebrate three New York City non-profits providing access to the arts inside and outside of the classroom.” NYSCA grantees highlighted include Harmony Program, which provides free instruments and intensive instruction to underserved communities across NYC and Long Island, and Third Street Music Settlement, “the oldest, longest-running community music school in the nation. Based in the East Village, it has numerous partnerships with schools and community centers across the city, and offers dance, instrumental, composition, and sound recording instruction, and has multiple ensembles in which students can participate.”
Asteroids, Call of Duty and John Madden Football among finalists for Video Game Hall of Fame
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
“From Asteroids to Minecraft, The Strong museum has announced the finalists being considered to be part of the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The 2018 finalists include: Asteroids, Call of Duty, Dance Dance Revolution, Final Fantasy VII, Half-Life, John Madden Football, King’s Quest, Metroid, Minecraft, Ms. Pac-Man, Spacewar! and Tomb Raider. These 'finalists span decades, gaming platforms, and countries of origin — but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture,' Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games, said in a news release…The winners will be inducted as the Hall of Fame's Class of 2018 at the Rochester-based museum on May 3…This year, the museum received thousands of nominations from hundreds of countries. For the first time, video gaming fans can vote on their favorite finalist as part of a Player's Choice Award. Ballots can be cast through April 4 at worldvideogamehalloffame.org.” NYSCA supports the Strong through our Museum Program.
