Premier Beneficiaries
Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York
The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York (BTTUNY) is a mentoring company based in Albany, NY, that provides a welcoming space for both professional and emerging BIPOC artists to grow and thrive. Since 2010, the company has fostered cross-cultural understanding and helped to create more diversity on stage in the Capital Region by highlighting, producing and promoting performances by marginalized artists. BTTUNY believes in the value of diverse and meaningful representation, the disruption of systemic racism through art, and providing safe spaces for BIPOC artists to hone their crafts. The company values all identities, and it is committed to continuing to evolve throughout the rest of its existence, helping to make the world of theatre a more just, equitable, and inclusive space for all.
Capitaland Chorus
Capitaland Chorus was chartered in October, 1977 as a Chapter of Sweet Adelines International, with only 20 members. Over the years, membership has increased from a handful of local women to a diverse group of women of all ages with varying interests, backgrounds, and occupations. Due to this expansion, the chorus changed its name to Capitaland Chorus. Education is of prime importance and this goal is achieved through international-level coaches and faculty who train the group in vocal production, choreography, and showmanship ensuring success at national competitions.
Palace Performing Arts Center
The Palace Theatre has been Albany’s iconic downtown landmark for the past nine decades, bringing world class arts & entertainment to the Capital Region. The Palace Performing Arts Center, Inc (PPAC) who own and operate the historic venue, work to enhance the area’s cultural and economic development through core programming that includes performing arts entertainment and community engagement initiatives including free summer movies, an annual block party, a safe community trick-or-treat event, free & affordable family events and more.
Capital Repertory Theatre
Capital Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre whose mission is to create meaningful theatre with an authentic connection to the community they serve. They offer extraordinary experiences to young people of the region that support NY State’s education goals and standards and help young people to increase critical thinking, self-esteem, courage and personal skills for lifelong success. Capital Rep works to be a strategic player in the important dialogue about the significant role of the arts in our schools, community, region and nation.
Spotlight Beneficiaries
Albany Barn
albanybarn.org
Albany Barn was founded to provide a hand up for entrepreneurial artists translating their craft into career and to deploy those artists in turn as community change agents. In 2014, Albany Barn opened a 40,000 square foot incubator for creative economy-based enterprise and community art center called “The Barn” by partnering with the Albany Housing Authority to repurpose a long vacant school building in the City of Albany’s historic but distressed Arbor Hill neighborhood. The Barn consists of 22 affordable live-work apartments and over 13,000 square feet of low cost private and collaborative “maker” suites as well as ample exhibition, performance and programming space.
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Playhouse Stage Co.
playhousesstagecompany.org
Park Playhouse augments the quality of life for a diverse audience by producing theater in an outdoor setting, and providing arts education programs to young people in the community. Their education programs teach valuable life lessons about collaboration and teamwork, while helping to the next generation of theatre artists. Since 1989, over one million audience members have enjoyed a performance free of charge in Park Playhouse’s 2,000-seat amphitheater in Albany’s Washington Park. Park Playhouse takes a leadership role in enhancing the cultural landscape of New York’s Capital Region and making the arts accessible to both residents and guests of our community.
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New York Folklore
nyfolklore.org
New York Folklore is the statewide cultural organization dedicated to nurturing and supporting traditional arts and culture wherever it is found within New York State’s communities. For eighty years, New York Folklore has pursued its mission to document, support, and collaborate with diverse cultural communities to encourage the continuance of traditional food, performing arts traditions, narrative, the built environment, craft, and occupational activities. New York Folklore supports folk arts apprenticeships, professional development activities for organizations and artists, community-based presentations such as the Mohawk Hudson Folklife Festival, exhibitions, concerts, and programs for k-12 students. Since 1945, New York Folklore has published a journal, “Voices: The Journal of New York Folklore,” that presents New York’s cultural traditions to a world-wide audience, in digital and print formats.