Community Corner
Uptown Arts Stroll To Go Virtual During Coronavirus Crisis
The annual arts festival is instead putting together a "Physical to Virtual" exhibit for artists from Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood.
UPTOWN, MANHATTAN — The annual Uptown Arts Stroll will not be taking to the streets for the first time in 17 years because of the coronavirus, organizers announced.
The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance has decided to shift its annual arts stroll — which usually includes exhibits, open studios, concerts and other events — to series of virtual events given the coronavirus pandemic and its ban on large gatherings.
"We decided to pursue this route because we know that it is during these times, when we seek out acts of humanity and opportunities to express our deeply felt feelings, that we need the arts more than ever," wrote NoMAA Executive Director Niria E. Leyva-Gutiérrez in a statement online.
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"As an organization dedicated to the arts, we recognize how critical it is to provide these spaces, albeit virtual, for our community to share, collaborate, and engage in trying to make sense of this world through our collective artistic expressions."
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The Uptown Arts Stroll typically takes place every June in Upper Manhattan. This year was meant to coincide with the world premier of the "In the Heights" movie this year, which was also postponed because of the coronavirus.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that all non-essential June events in New York City would be postponed.
The Uptown Arts Stroll will instead kick off with an exhibition helping artists promote their work in new virtual formats.
The exhibit, called "Healing and Community: Physical to Virtual," is accepting submissions from artists who lived in El Barrio, Harlem, Washington Heights or Inwood. The exhibit will be curated by Patricia Miranda, who will also host a Technical Assistance Workshop. The submission deadline is April 22.
The "Virtual Arts Stroll" will also include #StayHomeOpenStudios, a weekly Thursday evening virtual exhibition followed by Zoom artist chats.
Find out more about the Uptown Arts Stroll here.
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