March 4, 2019| Ossining, NY: Bethany Arts Community ( BAC ) announces the opening of the application period for its Fall 2019 artist residency session. Based in BAC’s 44,000 sq ft building on 25 verdant acres in Ossining, New York, the residency program provides an environment where artists from many different disciplines can work near each other, creating opportunities for cross-pollination while also sharing their talents with the regional community.
The Fall 2019 session runs September 15 through October 26. The program will house approximately 28 artists, both individuals and small groups, for stays of 1 – 4 weeks each. There will be 12 artists on site at any given time representing a range of art forms including visual artists, writers, choreographers, musicians, composers, performance artists, filmmakers, and theater designers. All participating artists are required to offer a public program accessible to the outside community. This may include open studio visits, presentations, teaching classes or workshops, works-in-progress showings, exhibition, or other outreach or community engagement project.
The deadline to submit applications for the Fall 2019 season is 11:59 PM EST April 30. For more information and application, click here.
For more information on all Bethany programs, including the residencies, visit www.bethanyarts.org
About Bethany Arts Community
Our mission is to create a space and environment where the many forms of art can be learned, produced and flourish. Artists of all ages and levels of experience are welcome to explore and create. BAC offers a number of important program tracks: short-term residencies where artists live on-site and interact with the community; presenting performing arts in our converted chapel performance space; rotating exhibitions in our galleries; adult and children’s instructional programs; and offering affordable studio space.
Subsidized rehearsal space and other programs at Bethany are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
First published by BWW News Desk via Broadway Worldon May. 10, 2018
Bethany Arts Community (BAC), a new space and environment located at 40 Somerstown Road, Ossining, NY, where the many forms of art can be learned, produced and flourish, is pleased to announce a four week residency, this May, with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, a world-class dance-theater company.
“The Bethany Arts Community has launched its first season with an eclectic mix of performances, exhibitions and classes aimed at showing that art, in its various forms, can be created, appreciated and enjoyed by everyone.” Michael McKinney, The Journal News – see The Journal News article here
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to launch our artist residency program with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane company,” states David Lyons, Founding Executive Director. “From the beginning, we wanted to provide a space that attracts and nurtures this caliber of international talent while also making these artists and their work accessible to our regional community.”
The entire Westchester Community is about to be blessed with access to these incredible artists, such as Dana Levenberg, Ossining Town Supervisor who, “couldn’t be more delighted to have Bethany Arts Community open its doors in Ossining. They have hit the ground running with exciting events, classes, fine art, music, large scale sculptures, poetry and performances. Next we look forward to welcoming world class talent, such as this month’s residency with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. They are responsive to our community, and inspirational. We can’t wait to see what is next. They are true partners in our cultural engagement.” Victoria Gearity
Mayor, Village of Ossining adds, “Ossining is thrilled that the Bethany Arts Community is now open and contributing so much. They are inspiring creative expression in artists of all ages, while enriching our cultural calendars with exhibits and performances to please a diverse and delighted community.”
From May 7 until June 1, 2018, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will be creating a new work and expanding existing work, in residence at BAC. They will use the opportunity to immerse themselves in the creative process, spending valuable time together and with the BAC community through open rehearsals, community dialogues and public events. The nature of a residency outside of the city, even if just a few short train stops away, allows the artists to truly leave mundane activities that can sometimes get in the way of process and focus on engaging in the art form and their colleagues.
Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company is beginning a new work, currently titled The Deep Blue Sea, which they will continue to work on at BAC. Drawing inspiration from Melville’s evocative description of Pip, the young black “cabin boy”, floating alone in the sea, The Deep Blue Sea explores the relationship of solidarity as it pertains to, or contrasts to group identity. The work will begin with a solo figure that will be performed by Mr. Jones or a company member, evolving over time into an ensemble of ten (the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company), that further expands into a community of one hundred people. The Deep Blue Sea will be a meditation on the nature of community building in a confusing era.
Additional programming for the community will be offered during the residency, such as a rare opportunity for young dancers, a FREE 8-week dance Master class (Saturdays 10:00am-11:30m from April 7-May 26) with Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company. Additional opportunities including being able to observe the entire Company in action during their month-long residency at Bethany and even participate in a developing new work.
There are many exciting activities happening at BAC, including an afterschool program which is currently in progress, a second large sculpture to be installed in the garden, readings from Westchester Collaborative Theatre, a summer camp from Theatre O called The Camp of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and many upcoming residencies to be announced in the near future.
First published by Michael P. McKinney via LOHUDon May 9, 2018
OSSINING – The Bethany Arts Community has launched its first season with an eclectic mix of performances, exhibitions and classes aimed at showing that art, in its various forms, can be created, appreciated and enjoyed by everyone.
For the remainder of the month, the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, a presence on New York City and global stages, will be at the center’s Somerstown Road campus.
For a dance project it’s working on, the company will have members of the public who show up Saturday afternoons participate in the project — they don’t need dance experience. There is also a free master class on Saturday mornings where experienced dancers ages 16 to 22 can work with the company.
The center has been up and running since January. The 25-acre property, formerly used by missionaries for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, was acquired in 2015.
“From the beginning, we wanted to provide a space that attracts and nurtures this caliber of international talent, while also making these artists and their work accessible to our regional community,” said David Lyons, founder and executive director.
On a recent afternoon, as the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company was using one space, 11 girls from an Ossining elementary school were in another space learning flamenco.
“I’m willing to put in 30 years of time, energy and money to have those flamenco dancers who are down there today change the world tomorrow,” Lyons said of the group.
Meanwhile, another area was set up for children participating in the Scribble Art summer program, and in yet another, an exhibition of works from various artists was being prepared for an opening.
The vision for Bethany Arts is a place where people can come to see the world through different perspectives and perceptions and learn “how to pass on the word of art,” said Lyons, who grew up in Croton-on-Hudson and has lived in Dobbs Ferry and Sleepy Hollow.
Plans are to eventually offer studio spaces for artists, given that such space can be difficult to find and expensive in Westchester, said Zak Shusterman, the attorney for Bethany Arts.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Bethany Arts Community. WHERE: 40 Somerstown Road, Ossining. COST: Varies. For example, Cumbia for Kids and Spanish Art of Flamenco for Kids is $40 for eight weeks. Scholarships are available. There is no charge for the Saturday afternoon sessions with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, and no charge for the Saturday morning master classes. An exhibition of various visual artists, this Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m., is also free to the public.
First published by Jane Ozer via PATCH on 01/03/2018
THEATER O to start 2018 with a residency at the Bethany Arts Community
Theater O is delighted to announce that January 12-14 they will be in residency at the new Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, NY. Theater O will present 4 performances of Eric Coble’s adaptations of Lois’ Lowry’s Newbery Award Winning Novels The Giver and Gathering Blue. The plays are presented in tandem as two acts. Act I is The Giver and Act II is Gathering Blue.
Artistic Director Jessica Irons says, “I could not be more excited to present these plays at Bethany. Bethany is such an important addition to the artistic community in Ossining, Westchester, and well beyond. David Lyons, the founder of Bethany, has a unique and inspiring vision for what collaboration, community and art-making can be. Being able to participate in that collaboration from the outset is exhilarating not only for me personally, but also (and most importantly) for our Theater O participants.”
THE GIVER and GATHERING BLUE are companion pieces, both set in dystopian futures with different sets of rules and similar conflicts within their communities. Both stories center around young teens who are saddled with the responsibility of holding the history of their communities.
Theater O at Bethany Arts Community
The cast for the performances includes: Eoin Carr, Asher Cort, Daniel Hannan, Henry Hoffman, Zachary Hoyer, Jacob Irons, Charlotte Kane, Leah Mione, Elena Prisament, Derek Rudley, Julian Salcedo, Audrey Schnecker, Claire Schnecker, Orry Shackney and Kate Ubriaco. Jessica Irons directs. Andrew Irons designs. Teddy Dengler is the assistant designer and Eli Hersh is the stage manager.
Performances are Friday January 12 at 7pm, Saturday January 13 at 3pm and 7pm and Sunday January 14 at 3pm at Bethany Arts Community, 40 Somerstown Road, Ossining, NY 10562. Tickets are $10 available for purchase beginning January 1 at www.theatero.org. For more information about Theater O please visit www.theatero.org. For more information on event visit www.bethanyarts.org/events
