SaratogaArtsFest announces community grants, special price
Planning is well under way for SaratogaArtsFest 2013, the seventh annual citywide celebration of the arts scheduled for June 6-9. As the ArtsFest organizers gear up for this year, they have awarded grants to nine local arts organizations and have announced a one-time promotional price of $30 for ARTSPASS admission packages, a $10 discount.
Each year, proceeds from SaratogaArtsFest's fundraising event, Prelude, and a portion of funds received from donors are awarded to Arts Partners to help them provide programming for the festival. For the 2013 festival, the board of directors has awarded Arts Partner organizations programming grants totaling $25,000, a 75 percent increase over last year.
"The Alliance of Arts Partners provides the core of the festival programming, and our grants program supports these arts organizations," said Mary Ellen O'Loughlin, executive director of SaratogaArtsFest. "The proposed events are exciting and emphasize, once again, the value and richness of the arts in the Saratoga region. This holiday pricing is an extraordinary value."
The grants program, now in its fourth year, will provide support to the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Caffè Lena, Home Made Theater, Myers Dance Center/Northeast Ballet, Opera Saratoga, Saratoga Arts, Saratoga Chamber Players, Saratoga Children's Theatre, and Saratoga Film Forum.
SaratogaArtsFest 2013 will participate in the city's wide-ranging celebration of the Saratoga Race Course's 150th year, with many ArtsFest events and programs drawing on historical and equine themes. This is reflected in the list of grant-supported performances:
Albany Symphony Orchestra: The symphony's Tiny Tots program will present Cowboy Dave, featuring the roughest, toughest cowboy conductor of all time leading children ages 2 through 8 on an action-packed, interactive musical trail-ride.
Caffè Lena: Composer Elizabeth Woodbury-Kasius and Skidmore College theater students will collaborate in the creation of an original performance piece that evokes the last 150 years of Saratoga Springs history.
Home Made Theater: Through a cabaret performance of songs and stories, eight thoroughbred "horses" will give sweet, funny, and endearing accounts of their lives in a "stable chat" titled Straight from the Horse's Mouth.
Myers Dance Center/Northeast Ballet: The troupe will present a dance performance exploring the training and similarities between dancers and horses, and the athletic and emotional demands on humans and animals in their respective art forms.
Opera Saratoga: In Opera 150, Opera Saratoga general director Curt Tucker will lead an informative talk about how opera has evolved over the past 150 years, with examples performed by members of the Opera Saratoga 2013 Young Artist Program.
Saratoga Arts: In Gary Lucas and the Golem, musician Gary Lucas will perform to the 1920 expressionist film The Golem, the tale of a rabbi who made a man out of clay to save the Jewish community of Prague. Lucas will also perform shorter pieces to recent film clips, followed by a discussion.
Saratoga Chamber Players: 150 Years of Music and Art in Saratoga—a chamber concert with bassoon, violins, viola, and cello—will highlight works that audiences heard 150 years ago, as well as pieces composed by the principal bassoonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who performed at SPAC. The concert will be accompanied by slides of 150 years of art in Saratoga.
Saratoga Children's Theatre: The theater troupe will present various children's performances at the Beekman Street Arts Fair. Program offerings will include an open-mic segment, various theater skits, and youth Elvis impersonators.
Saratoga Film Forum: Yaddo, the venerable artists' community in Saratoga Springs, has nurtured over 70 filmmakers. The Saratoga Film Forum celebrates Yaddo's commitment to the art of filmmaking with three nights of Yaddo filmmakers showing their works and discussing them.
SPECIAL ADMISSION PRICE
Just in time for holiday shopping, SaratogaArtsFest is offering a one-time promotional price for an ARTSPASS admission package of $30, a $10 discount.
An ARTSPASS provides admission to most festival events and discounted admission to the others. The ARTSPASS also provides discounts at Saratoga Springs restaurants and shops during the festival, as well as discounts throughout the year at area arts organizations.
To purchase an ARTSPASS at the one-time price of $30, go to www.SaratogaArtsFest.org today, or to any participating local retail location, effective November 29. This special pricing is good through Dec. 31.
Passes may be purchased at three Saratoga Springs stores: Impressions of Saratoga and Mimosa Gallery, both on Broadway, and Saratoga Beads, on Henry St. The passes will also be available at the Skidmore Shop on the Skidmore College campus. Advance ARTSPASS purchases at these locations may be made with cash or check only.
More information about the festival, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, is available at www.SaratogaArtsFest.org.
