Sidewalk Talk: Creative Placemaking

Arts and culture are an important component of a thriving main street. One method for supporting and celebrating the arts is through local events and festivals. Join Pattern for Progress for a discussion with the organizers of O+, a longstanding festival in the City of Kingston, and the Phoenix Festival, a new event debuting this year in the Village of Nyack. Register here!

In this webinar you will learn from presenters with first-hand experience about establishing and running an event, creative ideas for celebrating the arts, and how to connect an event to the community where it takes place.

SpeakerS: Joe Concra, Organizer, O+ Festival and  Craig Smith, Organizer, The Phoenix Festival

O+ EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR COLLECTIVE WELLBEING THROUGH THE EXCHANGE OF ART, MUSIC AND WELLNESS. O+ (pronounced O Positive) supports the health of underinsured artists and musicians through festivals at which they exchange art-making and performances for wellness services: the art of medicine for the medicine of art. O+ helps strengthen community wellbeing with Narcan and CPR trainings, expos of local health-and wellness-related nonprofits, cycling events, classes in the healing arts, mural tours and healthcare forums. 

Nyack joins the roster of world class arts events with the launch of The Phoenix Festival: Live Arts in Nyack — an annual celebration of classical theater, music, local culture and the creative spirit of community. For the inaugural year, the event will span five weekends in September and October 2022. All performances will be presented live and outdoors against a backdrop of majestic Hudson River vistas and Nyack’s lively, jazzy riverside village.

The Festival is hosted and produced by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, an internationally recognized leader in creative contemporary theater and winner of multiple prestigious awards for excellence in theater arts. Founded in New York City in 2004, the Ensemble makes Rockland County its second home.

Ensemble artistic directors Elise Stone and Craig Smith lead the Festival creative team, engaging local, county and New York State institutions, educational organizations, businesses and non-profits in support of this exciting event.

“The Festival offers joy to audiences of all ages, while at the same time bringing visitors to Rockland, new revenues for local businesses and workers, a spotlight for non-profits and educational opportunities for young people who want to get up-close and hands-on with live performance.” –Craig Smith, Executive Director