The New York Foundation for the Arts is opening up their Affordable Workspace for Artists program. If you're an artist - or you're running a small arts organization - and you've been slammed by the recession, you may be eligible for cheap admin space in NYFA's offices on Jay Street in DUMBO. (You still qualify if you're a NYFA-affiliated artist as well; you're a NYFA Fellow, Sponsored Project, etc.)
So, if this is something you need, click here for information, eligibilty, and applications.
OK, we're blogging lots here today at NYC Performing Arts Spaces, but people just keep sending us stuff we think you might want to know about. This is from our friends at the League of Independent Theater (LIT) - not to be confused with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - and their new series of talks, "Get Lit with LIT."
The League of Independent Theater is proud to present the first Get Lit with LIT event of 2010 with special guest David Pincus, Chair of the Theater Task Force for Manhattan Community Board 4. David will discuss the important new Tax Credit proposal that is making it's way through the the Community Boards now.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Lark Play Development Center
939 Eighth Avenue, 2nd Floor
7:00 PM
Come and join an important conversation with the League and David Pincus on this exciting new legislation that could really make a difference for the viability and sustainability of small theaters in New York City.
Plus free beer.
Six (6) residencies will be awarded, each providing a suitable workspace for three months plus a stipend. In addition, each hosting facility will present a free public program featuring their resident composers' work (that's a built-in audience!).
Queens-based composers take note: four of the six residencies are open only to Queens residents and will be hosted by cultural facilities in Queens.
One of last year's winners, Matt Schickele, describes how his Con Edison Musicians' Residency helped his career:
"My residency at Flushing Town Hall in 2009 gave me the time and space, both physically and mentally, to complete the chamber opera that had until then been written in whatever niches of time I could find. Now the opera, which would have taken me ages to finish without the residency, is already being performed."
This info came from our friends at Jazzmobile....
The Theater Subdistrict Council is pleased to announce the second round of a grant program designed to recognize the vital role that theater plays in the overall economic and social well-being of New York City. Projects receiving support will seek to celebrate the live art form of theater and create and expand the audience base attending live theater, as well as enhance the body and quality of performance options. Funding for the grant program is provided through contributions to the Theater Subdistrict Fund made in connection with the transfer of development rights from Broadway theaters.
Eligibility in this second phase of the grant program is open to organizations and/or consortia that:
*offer theater-related cultural programs based in and operating in the five boroughs
*are incorporated in New York State
*have been in existence and providing cultural services for two years
*had an operating income of $200,000 or more in FY09
Further background information on the grant program as well as an Intent to Apply form and instructions will be available on the NYC Department of City Planning and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs websites as of the close of business Friday, February 12th, 2010. Completed Intent to Apply forms must be postmarked by April 9, 2010. The Intent to Apply is the first step in the application process. Respondents to the Intent to Apply will be notified in June if they will be invited to submit a full application; a decision regarding which projects will be funded in the pilot phase of the grant program will be announced in September, after a review of the full applications.
Those considering submitting an Intent to Apply are strongly urged to attend one of three information sessions to learn more about the application process. All three sessions will cover the same information, and reservations are essential to assure we can accommodate you. Locations and times are as follows:
Friday, Feb 19, 2010 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (enter at Amsterdam Avenue at 65th Street)
Monday, Feb 22, 2010 2:00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.
Marriott Marquis Hotel - Astor Room, 7th floor - 1535 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Streets)
Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Spector Hall, NYC Dept. of City Planning, 22 Reade Street
You must register for the information sessions by emailing theatersubdistrictcouncil@gmail.com. Be sure to indicate which session, the number and names of people attending, and the organization/s they represent. Also be sure to bring downloaded application materials to the information sessions; these will not be available at the sites.
To review grant program materials and download the Intent to Apply form go to
www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/home.html or www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/home/home.shtml.
Courtney Jones worked at NYCPAS as Assistant to the Director for two years before embarking on the national tour of “WICKED” as an ensemble cast member. She is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College and has danced professionally in New York City with Jennifer Muller/The Works, among others. This is her eighth blog from the road (click "blogging from the road" in our tag cloud [right column] to see all her blogs!).
Believe it or not, five straight weeks of sunshine in San Diego left me yearning for a gloomy day, so heading to Seattle was actually quite exciting. The moment I stepped into downtown Seattle, I immediately felt rejuvenated. I remember thinking if my alma mater, SUNY Purchase, were its own city, it would be downtown Seattle. Youth groups rallying on the street, local musicians playing their music on every corner and lots of energy.
I was so inspired by Seattle that I did something I had not done since I had been on tour. I contacted an old professor of mine who I knew had completed his MFA in Dance at the University of Washington to find out if there were any dance studios where I could take a class as a visitor. He referred me to a wonderful space called Velocity Dance Center (thanks, Michael!).
Professionally, Seattle brought changes to the cast of Wicked: we said goodbye to both Myra Lucretia Taylor, who played the lovely Madame Morrible, and Lenny Wolpe, who played The Wizard (see photo of cast on their final performance). And we welcomed Randy Dawson and Richard Kline of "Three’s Company" fame!
The Paramount Theatre had a lovely charm, however the backstage layout proved to be more than difficult. With only one elevator and the women’s ensemble dressing room on the fifth floor, visits to and from the dressing room were nearly impossible. If you did decide to wait for the elevator, you would be waiting a very long time and risked the possibility of getting trapped, which happened on more than one occasion (sorry, Shanna!).
Since we were in the “Emerald City” and had played the house before, the audiences were knowledgeable and really great. The staff members at nearby restaurants were used to ou
r time constraints between shows -- they showed us great respect, and got us in and out with lovely service. I would also like to thank the Taphouse Grill for letting me celebrate my 28th birthday there with the entire cast -- we had an awesome time.
For those who have never visited Seattle, make sure you make it down to the Pike Place Market and, although I regretfully did not make it there, don’t forget the Space Needle. Seattle was a beautiful and exciting city to play. Thanks, Seattle. I will definitely be back!