Arts Spotlight: Keene International Festival
In 2017, a team of educators and community organizers met to establish the Keene International Festival, a free multi-generational, family-friendly event that showcases and celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the local community by engaging members in activities and connecting people. The first event, held in 2018, drew more than 500 people from around southwest New Hampshire and beyond. The following year, the City of Keene's Human Rights Committee became a partner of the event. Approximately 1,200 people attended. The pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 festival, but in 2021 it was back in full force at the Keene Recreation Center.
We spoke with festival committee co-chair, Elizabeth Nieuwsma-Dell about the history of the event in this month’s arts spotlight. We’re proud to share their story.
Arts Incubation Stories: Nova Arts
Located at 48 Emerald St. in Keene, Nova Arts Block is a creative and collaborative arts and business space that contains Nova Stage, a place where emerging artists perform, underrepresented voices are heard, and unexpected juxtapositions happen. It shares a location with Brewbakers. A rotating open stage night allows for different hosts and genres – including music, theater, poetry and comedy The Nova Arts vision not only encompasses the performing arts - interactive group events such as craft night, a drop-in writing salon, and after-school art classes are also offered in the space. This is made possible with fiscal sponsorship from Arts Alive!
Buy Potstickers, Support Artists - its a yummy win!
From September 21-25 Machina Kitchen & Art Bar will be donating all the profits made on potstickers to fund Arts Alive!’s new mini-grants program - a way to give artists an extra boost to get their project off the ground.
Arts Spotlight - Stories from the Pandemic: Drum Production Studios
Rory Hurley and Eddie Gomez started their company, Drum Production Studios in Peterborough, to be able to use their creative skills in dance, music and translate them to video to help people deliver their message to audiences. When the pandemic led to clients cancelling live events, effectively emptying their calendar, the partners changed tack and began livestreaming. This helped them continue to keep audiences engaged and inspired during very difficult times. We’re proud to share Rory and Eddie’s story, in their own words.
Arts Incubation Stories: Ashuelot Concerts
A spotlight on a local organization that was incubated by Arts Alive!’s fiscal sponsorship arts incubation program. “(The program) was Instrumental in us being able to establish and operate as a nonprofit,” said Burns. “We learned important lessons to operate as a legal entity. It allowed us to start to build our organization around what we were doing, organize, establish plans and garner the support of the community. (Arts Alive!) provided a sounding board and was a source of advice.”
Arts Spotlight - Stories from the Pandemic: Illustrator Robert Seaman and his Daily Doodles
As many of us were isolated during the pandemic, especially in its early days, artist/illustrator/teacher Robert Seaman, 88, was especially so. During a lockdown period at the assisted living facility he calls home, he desperately needed a creative outlet and turned to his life-long passion–drawing—to help buoy him in dark times. He began creating a doodle a day. These Daily Doodles turned his activity into a way to give back.
We’re proud to share the story of Robert Seaman, in his own words.
Tell Gov. Sununu to add ARP money to the Save our Granite Stages Fund
Write an email to SAVE OUR GRANITE STAGES
Deadline: August 13, 2021
A email-writing campaign to Governor Sununu and the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee has begun! We are requesting that a minimum of $1 million of the state’s American Rescue Plan funds be deposited into the Fund. Suggested language (feel free to edit as you see fit!) and email addresses follow.