BALLSTON SPA — Acclaimed scholar and international social justice activist Dr. James Brewer Stewart will be the featured speaker for the Saratoga County History Center’s January 2021 episode of “Experts Next Door.”

Dr. Stewart, Professor of History Emeritus at Macalester College, is one of the foremost experts on United States politics, law, and race.  His books are assigned reading in both undergraduate and graduate courses, he has appeared in several of the American Experience’s (PBS) historical documentaries, is a co-editor for Louisiana University Press’s series on “Abolition, Antislavery, and the Atlantic World,” and has spoken widely on college campuses.  Equally important, Dr. Stewart has devoted his life to combatting bigotry, racism, and slavery. 

In 2010, he founded Historians Against Slavery, an international coalition of scholars dedicated to raising awareness of modern forms of unfree labor.  In 2016, he spearheaded a national effort to save Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), starting with Tougaloo College (Jackson, MS).  Furthermore, he is the founder and director of the “Celebrate American Heroes Project,” which employs history to inspire a new generation of activists.  In 2020, he launched a national campaign against racism called “Jim Stewart’s Historical Tonic for Fragile White Folks” – a series of online videos that boldly confront 21st century white supremacy.

Stewart’s talk is entitled “From Classroom to Community,” and explores the myriad ways historians today are reaching out to the general public and pushing back against an onslaught of “fake news” and “alternative facts.”  He will also talk about his own personal experiences and his groundbreaking scholarship. 

The January episode of “Experts Next Door” is scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14.  Participants need to register in advance (brooksidemuseum.networkforgood.com/events/25669-experts-next-door-episode-7) and will receive a Zoom link. 

Any questions or inquiries should be directed to Dr. Michael Landis, Public Programs Manager, Saratoga County History Center, at mlandis@brooksidemuseum.org. 

An epic global streaming event “A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day!” will broadcast 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8. 

Hosted by David Bowie’s longest-standing band member Mike Garson, the stream will bring together an array of artists who worked with Bowie, or were deeply influenced by him and his work, for a celebration on what would have been his 74th birthday and weekend of the fifth anniversary of his passing.

Artists on the all-star lineup include Boy George, Adam Lambert, Duran Duran, Taylor Momsen, Ricky Gervais, Perry Farrell, Peter Frampton, Rick Wakeman, Trent Reznor, and many others. 

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased via the event page at HYFI.com/Bowie, along with options for purchasing VIP experiences, and exclusive merch. $2 per ticket purchase will be donated to the Save the Children organization, a charity important to Bowie and the beneficiary of funds raised from his 50th Birthday Concert held in 1997 at a sold-out Madison Square Garden featuring many of the very artists who will be featured on Jan. 8.

LAKE GEORGE — The Peoples Pixel Project was created to provide audience exposure to professional and emerging videographers, and to foster local interest and growth in the medium. We are excited to relaunch The Peoples Pixel Project (or P3), knowing, now more than ever, how important it is for film makers to have a platform to show their work.

Film Categories: 

1. Tunes: Video where primary focus is music. 
2. Get Reel: Documentary work. 
3.Animated: Stop-action, table-top animation, computer-generated, hand-drawn, etc… 
4. 2020 Rewind: Work that reflects, or was inspired by, the crazy year that was 2020 
5. Narrative: Tell us a story! 
6. Other: Work that doesn’t quite fit into any of our other categories.

Guidelines: 

• Artists must be from NY 
• Artists can submit up to three works (links sent via YouTube or Vimeo) 
• Videos must be 5 minutes or less 
• The Peoples Pixel Project is open to artists ages 11 and up.

Awards and Recognition: 20 select works will be featured on our website, our YouTube Channel and at The Arts Project. There will be two Honorable Mention Awards, and a Peoples’ Choice Award. The Peoples’ Choice Award Winner will have their video screened at the prestigious Adirondack Film Festival in October of 2021.  To submit your work, go to: www.lakegeorgearts.org/submit-your-work/

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced that its Student Artist Submission Portal for The 2021 Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists (FOYA) online gallery is now open at spacfoya.org. 

For the first time, SPAC is awarding one student in each of the three categories – Visual Art, Literary Art, and the Performing Arts – with the distinction “FOYA 2021 Outstanding Artist.”  Each of the three artists selected will receive a $500 Award to support the further development of their craft. Submissions for the Festival, which is themed Metamorphosis, will also be accepted in visual art, literary art, and the performing arts. The deadline for all submissions is Feb. 1. 

The Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists is an annual event held at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) presenting student art shows, poetry slams, and live performances featuring hundreds of young dancers, singers, actors, and musicians. In the spring of 2020, an online gallery space was created to celebrate the work of the students involved in the 2020 festival, which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In March 2021 the online gallery www.spacfoya.org will re-launch to showcase a new exhibit called Metamorphosis, showcasing all of the accepted student submissions for the 2021 Festival. In the event that SPAC is able to host a live festival event in the spring of 2021, all students with accepted submissions will be notified in late-March 2021 to make arrangements to showcase their work at SPAC in late spring.

Each of the three artists selected will receive $500 to support the further development of their craft. 

Students considered for a FOYA 2021 Outstanding Artist Award must meet the following criteria:

• Student must be enrolled in grades 9-12
• Students must live in or be part of an organization or school located in one the following NY counties: Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington
• Student’s submitted work should ideally adhere to the Festival theme of “Metamorphosis.” Definition: A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.

Works inspired by the Festival theme are strongly encouraged. However, it is not mandatory to adhere to the festival’s theme in order to be considered for inclusion in the exhibit. All submissions are welcome!

PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act, any works of art that are deemed discriminatory, derogatory, intimidating, violent, harassing, taunting and/or bullying will not be accepted into this festival.

All Artists will be notified by email whether their submission was or was not accepted by March 1, 2021. For more information, contact the SPAC Education team at education@spac.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Three area performing arts venues have come together to provide a free virtual ‘field trip’ for local students. 

The School of the Performing Arts at Proctors Collaborative, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall are bringing Black Violin into classrooms of all grade levels so students may experience artists who fuse traditional and contemporary genres while upending perceptions of what it means to be a classical musician. 

 Capital Region teachers who register may stream the Impossible Tour by classical-meets-hiphop duo Black Violin for students from Feb. 22 through April 2. Black Violin is led by classically trained string players Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin); joining them are DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. The group uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music, often described as “classical boom,” to overcome stereotypes and encourage people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers.    

“Teachers have been given the enormous and challenging task of teaching their students in person and, or virtually at the ready,” says Christine Sheehan, Director of Education at Proctors Collaborative. “Arts education has suffered during the pandemic. Tens of thousands of students would have visited any one of our venues for educational programming during this school year. Opportunities such Black Violin can straddle the disconnect of social distancing, support wellness and foster creative development and critical thinking.” 

 “SPAC is proud to be working with our colleagues at Troy Music Hall and Proctors on bringing Black Violin back to the Capital Region, this time virtually” says Saratoga Performing Arts Center President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol. “I had the privilege of working with Kev and Will when I was at Universal and we signed them to the label. At SPAC, Black Violin were one of the first bands we contracted to appear on our brand-new SPAC on Stage series and they returned a year later for education events. Their talent, spirit and message are powerful and meaningful, even more so now than ever: they open hearts and help break down stereotypes.” 

 Capital Region teachers can register for this virtual streaming event beginning January 5 at https://school.proctors.org/blackviolin/ Educators who register will receive a study guide and a unique link and access code prior to the event going live. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It may have been an unconventional, but the 2020 Date Night Gala benefiting the Saratoga Springs History Museum was a huge success, raising nearly $10,000. 

“When we knew we would be unable to host an in-person gala, we were stymied and stuck. Then we met with Fred McNeary Jr. and John Rowe from Prestwick Chase at Saratoga and they said, we have an idea,” James Parillo, Museum Director said, in a statement. Their idea and generosity paid off. 

The History Museum which is located in the Canfield Casino, was forced to cancel three fundraising events due to the pandemic. Funds raised help the museum to provide educational programming, create exhibitions and care for collections. 

To learn more about the museum, visit www.saratogahistory.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — This winter, Nacre offers an innovative educational experience for dance students and adults 14 years of age and older. Nacre’s Choreography Lab will be held virtually starting Jan. 3.

The workshop consists of six sessions focused on providing the fundamental tools used to create movement. Students will receive individual instruction from professional choreographers as well as collaborate with other dance students.  The workshop is perfect for dance students looking to prepare a choreography piece for college, build a portfolio, or prepare extracurricular programming submissions. 

“Students have become accustomed to learning virtually. We have designed a program that will allow them to express themselves creatively while continuing to learn the fundamentals of choreography,” said Beth Fecteau, Artistic Director of Nacre Dance Group, in
a statement.” 

The virtual lab will use Zoom to provide large group, small group, and one-on-one instruction. 

Registration for the Virtual Choreography Lab is open, and sessions begin Jan. 3 and run through Feb. 7, on Sundays, once a week. For more information and to register, visit nacredance.org or email info@nacredance.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bow-Tie Cinemas on Dec. 18 reopened its Criterion Cinemas 11 & BTX on Railroad Place. In conjunction with its reopening, the theater has announced the following safety measures: 

• Remain home if you are sick: We will ask that if you have experienced any symptoms of illness of any kind in the 14 days prior to your visit, that you please refrain from entering the theater. If you have purchased tickets or concession items in advance but don’t feel that you should enter the theater for this or any other reason, we will gladly issue a full no questions asked refund through our touchless process. Just email your refund request to safecinema@bowtiecinemas.com and we will process it electronically.

• Wear proper protective equipment: Bow Tie Cinemas employees will be wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing.

• Face masks: Face coverings will be mandatory for all guests in all parts of the theater unless eating and drinking in your auditorium seat.

• Box Office: Plexiglass partitions will be in use at all box office, concession and bar stations.

• Touchless Cash Exchange: We have enhanced our touchless ordering capabilities on the Bow Tie Cinemas Mobile App: Purchase tickets and order your favorite concessions with the touch of a button at no additional cost. Cash and credit/debit cards will still be accepted at our registers, but we encourage the use of our mobile app or lobby kiosks for a contact-free experience.

• Reserved Seating: All seating will now be 100% reserved and advanced ticketing fees will be temporarily waived through our site and on the Bow Tie Cinemas Mobile App.

• Limited Capacity: 50%+ of the seats in each auditorium will be left unsold to allow for ample social distancing and seats will be sold in an alternating pattern so that each patron will have an empty seat on either side.

• Safe social distancing: Social distancing markers and directional signage will remind you to maintain an appropriate distance from others, and restroom capacities will be limited.

• Disinfect high-touch surfaces: Frequent touch points will be cleaned and sanitized by a dedicated staff member throughout the day.

• Increased cleanings: Show times will be spaced farther apart to facilitate enhanced cleaning of auditoriums between shows.

• Professional sanitization: Our regular nightly professional theater cleaning will be enhanced with additional sanitizing measures and attention to frequent touch points.

GLENS FALLS — The new feature documentary, My Native Air: Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks, is premiering on-demand in a limited run from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.

The 43-minute documentary tells the story of the life and career of Glens Falls native Charles Evans Hughes, his role in Adirondack forest land conservation and preservation of the springs at Saratoga Springs, and his connections with cultural attractions in the district such as The Hyde Collection art museum and Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, Fort Ticonderoga, Silver Bay Association in Hague, scenic Lake George, and Lady Tree Lodge at Upper Saranac Lake.

Co-produced by MDT Publishing and Snarky Aardvark Films, the film’s premiere is a major fundraiser to benefit the Arts District of Glens Falls and the Charles R. Wood Theater. Advance tickets are on sale at woodtheater.org for $15. 

The film, two years in the making, is the creative effort of filmmaker Caitlin Stedman, sound engineer Tom Appler, and history writer, author, and former longtime Post-Star reporter Maury Thompson.

“We are not taking any revenue from the virtual screenings in order to assist the art community during this difficult economic time,” says Maury Thompson. “The Wood Theater will use funds to continue and expand initiatives launched with recent state funding through the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative.”

Singer-songwriter Ray Agnew, who composed and recorded original theme music for the documentary, will be releasing a soundtrack album which will also benefit the Charles R. Wood Theater.

The Charles R. Wood Theater’s mission is to promote cultural and artistic endeavors, thereby fostering the economic development and improving the quality of life within the greater Glens Falls, New York, area. The 300-seat theater is located at 207 Glen Street in Glens Falls. For more information, visit woodtheater.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — “Just over seven months ago, SPAC took the unprecedented measure of cancelling its whole Summer season in the face of the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Taking that step felt literally like walking off a cliff,” SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol explained, as the Board of Directors for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center gathered virtually Dec. 10 for its winter board meeting.

Like many cultural institutions around the world, 2020 at SPAC was remarkably different than initially planned.

As a result of the cancellation of SPAC’s classical season, the organization’s earned income dropped by $6 million, or 60% of its budget.  SPAC had projected a potential shortfall of over $1 Million, “a breathtaking gap that brought our very survival into question,” said Sobol.

At the meeting, Sobol extended gratitude for the extraordinary generosity of the community, with which  the potential deficit was eliminated leaving SPAC ending the year in the black. 

The 2020 recalibration led to over 50 hours of online programming including: Freihofer’s Jazz Fest Stay Home Sessions in partnership with Caffè Lena; the SPAC Reimagined series of locally-shot dance videos that paid tribute to the 2020 classical season; the world premiere of Testament – a radio play about Beethoven written by Damian Lanigan and co-produced with Saratoga Shakespeare Company, as well as exclusive performances by Joshua Bell and Time for Three filmed in Saratoga and at SPAC, and a GPS-enabled work of public art in the Saratoga Spa State Park that used music to illuminate the natural environment created by Ellen Reid. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue was unable to celebrate the completion and opening of its transformational new construction project, The Pines @ SPAC. Nonetheless, The Pines and its various indoor/outdoor spaces allowed SPAC to open its gates for over 200 events.  Over 8,000 attendees came through the doors from July to December, just 50 people at a time, abiding by strict COVID-19 protocols. 

Fall of 2020 brought the launch of CulinaryArts@SPAC showcasing innovative chefs and restaurants in the region with safe, intimate dining events, and throughout the summer and fall, audiences attended wellness, art, dance and drumming classes; screenings of classic films, chamber music, orchestral music and dance; meetings and gatherings that could not have happened safely in their usual indoor locations.  All proceeds from the culinary, wellness, dance, drumming and art classes went back to chefs, farmers, teachers and practitioners.

Given the uncertainties of what 2021 may bring with regard to the pandemic, SPAC is currently planning a number of potential scenarios to present a season that will be ready to meet whatever the prevailing conditions are this Spring and Summer.

“What we know is this,” said Sobol, “one way or another, there will be a SPAC season – and one way or the other, we are committed to ensuring a Saratoga presence by our beloved resident companies.”