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TESTIMONY

Colby Herschel, Artistic Director and Co-founder of Scantic River Productions, on the organization's contributions to diverse theater and arts programming in NYC

5:20:53

·

119 sec

Herschel testifies about Scantic River Productions, a 501(c)(3) theater and production company founded during the pandemic in January 2021 and based in Alphabet City. The company:

Brings original Mexican-written theater to off-Broadway venues in partnership with organizations like ART New York
Provides diverse cultural programming like educational theater tours, music albums, and audio dramas focusing on youth mental health
Offers internships for students from Puerto Rico to work in the NYC arts community
Exclusively produces original works by queer, racially diverse, and immigrant artists and voices
Collaborates with and receives support from NYC arts institutions for rehearsal spaces and performance venues
Warns that without full restoration of $5 million in funding to Cultural Development Fund grantees, at least 130 full-time arts workers could lose jobs and 3,250 artists could be denied fees

Colby Herchel

5:20:53

Good afternoon, counselors.

5:20:54

Thank so much for your time today.

5:20:56

I'm Colby Herschel.

5:20:57

I'm the artistic director and a cofounder of Skantec River Productions.

5:21:02

A 501 C Three Theater And Production Company founded during the heart of the pandemic in January 2021 based in Alphabet City.

5:21:11

To speak with what we've accomplished in the 1st 3 years of our founding.

5:21:15

We brought to this city with partnerships, like, with ART, New York to speak of examples, original Mexican written theater 2 and off Broadway venue.

5:21:24

We've brought to culture to New York City communities, including in Brooklyn, coming up in Queens, also in Manhattan with educational theater tours, music albums, accessible audio drama, and podcast focusing on young people's mental wellness and providing internships for students from places like Puerto Rico so they can get an opportunity to work with our community here in New York.

5:21:49

Our focus is exclusively on original voices for original works that's queer, racially diverse, and immigrant voices being put on stage.

5:21:59

So we have had the benefit of working with several of these wonderful institutions who have spoken today.

5:22:04

That I think is the most important thing I wanna bring up.

5:22:07

Though we have not received direct CDF funding as a company so far, we have benefited from having help from places who are helping us with rehearsal spaces, performance venues, because we are new, we need help, and we need these foundations to look up to and grow with.

5:22:25

So largely, Yes.

5:22:27

We demand the restoration of funding to CDF grantees in full year 24 by our estimation without restoration of this point 5,000,000.

5:22:37

We stand to lose at least 130 full time equivalent workers from our labor force, and 3250 artists will be denied fees, and that doesn't just stick with the institutions who are receiving fundings.

5:22:49

It's those who will be receiving them in years to come.

5:22:51

Thank you.

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Dian Dong, Associate Director of Chen Dance Center, on the Role of Dance in Education and Community Engagement