PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Katie Hill, Assistant to the Executive Director of Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center (PAC NYC)
1:57:19
·
3 min
Katie Hill presented testimony on behalf of PAC NYC, highlighting their commitment to working with indigenous artists and communities. She detailed various initiatives, partnerships, and programming that showcase indigenous voices and artistry at PAC NYC.
- PAC NYC has a foundational alliance with Lenape Center and includes indigenous artists on their board and as artistic advisers.
- Their inaugural season featured indigenous productions, including a 3-week run of "Between 2 Knees" by the 1491s.
- The center held various events to uplift native voices, including installations, performances, and marketplaces.
- Hill expressed support for potential DCLA funding opportunities specifically for indigenous programming and partnerships.
Katie Hill
1:57:19
Good morning, chair Rivera and members of the Committee on Cultural Affairs.
1:57:22
My name is Katie Hill.
1:57:23
I am the assistant to the executive director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center, also known as PAC NYC.
1:57:30
I appreciate the opportunity to share a few details related to PAC NYC's commitment to working with indigenous artists and communities.
1:57:38
Serving and representing all people who call New York City home is one of the key values of PAC NYC.
1:57:43
To help us reach this goal, we created a department of civic alliances to develop partnerships with key organizations who serve different constituencies.
1:57:52
One of these partnerships is a foundational alliance with Lenape Center.
1:57:57
We work closely with alliance partners throughout the year, providing free tickets and access to our programming, a stage to engage in dialogue with our artists and audiences, and the opportunity to curate performances on our lobby stage.
1:58:11
Celebrated indigenous playwright and activist, Mary Kathryn Nagel sits on our board, while native American artists, Ty Defoe and Muriel Boris Tarrant are 2 of our artistic advisers, who you met earlier today.
1:58:23
Our inaugural season included a 3 week run-in our large theater of Between 2 Knees by the intertribal sketch comedy troupe, the 19 40 ones, the creators of the hit television show, Reservation Dogs.
1:58:36
The show is an irreverent satire spanning 90 years in the life of a fictional Native American family.
1:58:42
We intentionally programmed the show for our 1st season to honor the Lenape land upon which PacNY sits and demonstrate our commitment to presenting work by living native artists.
1:58:54
The audience was 30% indigenous with many attending for free through our access ticket initiatives.
1:59:01
We held special events to uplift native and indigenous voices throughout this 1st season, this 1 year.
1:59:07
Kishicks, a photographic installation conceived by Joe Baker from the Lenape Center, a preshow opening night performance by the band Yellow Trees, 2 performances of Good Medicine, an all native stand up comedy show, 2 post show conversations on native representation and contemporary media with native artists and change makers, a community curated post performance panel featuring speakers from multiple indigenous organizations, 2 pop pop up marketplaces in partnership with Relative Arts to showcase indigenous owned fashion and design.
1:59:40
On January 8th through 11th, we will run Tipi Tales from the stoop, a solo show by indigenous artist and performer, Muriel Boris Tarrant.
1:59:49
The show is about growing up in Brooklyn, where her family were the only indigenous residents on a mafia run block.
1:59:55
We plan to work with native communities once again to bring indigenous audiences to the show and plan associated programming.
2:00:03
As we move beyond our inaugural year, we look forward to continuing key partnerships and an uplifting native voices.
2:00:10
However, few dedicated funding sources exist to support programming and partnerships of this nature.
2:00:17
If DCLA were to initiate funding opportunities specifically for indigenous programming and civic partnership, then we would be supportive of such an initiative.
2:00:26
Cultural organizations are eager to develop work and partnership with indigenous communities, and DCLA can make an impact.
2:00:34
Thank you very much again for holding this important hearing, and we hope to see you at PAC NYC soon.
