We are thrilled to announce that The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center has received a Rockefeller Brothers Fund 2024 Community Arts Residency! This exciting opportunity includes a $25,000 grant and a six-month residency at the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center (DR Center) at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, NY.
From October 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, The LOFT will present an inspiring series of LGBTQ+ workshops and community programs, hosted at the historic and scenic Pocantico campus. These workshops are open to the public and will be led by prominent local leaders and artists, offering opportunities for creative expression, connection, and empowerment.
Read the full press release HERE.
All participants in Pocantico activities must complete The Pocantico Center Waiver.
NEXT AT POCANTICO
StorySpace Arts Presents: Storytelling for Queer & Trans Healing & Liberation
- Intro to Oral Storytelling -
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Event Overview
Join us for an afternoon of healing and empowerment through the art of oral storytelling. In this nurturing and safe circle, participants will connect with one another by sharing personal stories of resilience, joy, grief, freedom, and empowerment. This workshop is designed to help you embody your truth, harness the power of your voice, and express it through spoken stories.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Location: The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591
No writing or performance experience is necessary. The event is capped at 15 participants to ensure an intimate, supportive experience.
What You'll Experience
- Story Circle Sharing: Connect with others by listening to and sharing stories.
- Voice Empowerment: Learn to harness the transformative power of your voice.
- Skill Development: Gain new tools to express your truth through storytelling.
About the Instructor: K. Elevitch (she/they)
K. Elevitch is a queer, non-binary artist, musician, educator, and community arts leader based in New York’s Hudson Valley. With a passion for process-based storytelling, Elevitch’s work centers on community building, inter-generational collaboration, and empowering queer and trans identities.
In 2017, Elevitch founded StorySpace Arts, a Nyack-based nonprofit that nurtures and amplifies the creative works of women, femmes, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of the Global Majority. Elevitch’s most recent project, Abandoned Places, was an immersive storytelling installation exhibited at the Rockland Center for the Arts in 2023.
Additionally, Elevitch operates Studio 101 Nyack, a creative performance and teaching space that houses DreamCutz Ink, a trans and queer-owned body art studio supporting StorySpace programs.
Learn more:
Event Notes
- This workshop is recommended for those considering the 2/22 follow-up workshop.
- Spaces are limited to 15 participants, so register early to secure your spot!
StorySpace Arts Presents: Storytelling for Queer & Trans Healing & Liberation
- StoryScapes - Intro to Multi-Arts Storytelling -
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Event Overview
Experience the expansive, healing, and community-building power of multi-arts storytelling! Through an exploration of oral storytelling, visual art, sound/music, nature listening, and meditation, participants will discover new ways to understand, own, and share their stories. This workshop is designed to foster creativity and self-expression, and no prior writing or performance experience is needed.
Intro to Oral Storytelling (2/8/2025) is highly recommended, but not required.
Event Details
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Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
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Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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Location: The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591
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Oral Storytelling: Learn to tell your story and connect with others.
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Visual Art & Sound: Explore the intersection of art and sound as a storytelling medium.
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Nature Listening: Experience the healing power of nature through meditation and soundscapes.
K. Elevitch (she/they)
K. Elevitch is a queer, non-binary artist, musician, educator, and community arts leader based in New York’s Hudson Valley. Their work centers on process-based storytelling, inter-generational collaboration, and queer and trans empowerment.
As the Founder and Executive Director of StorySpace Arts, Elevitch has created inclusive programs that amplify the voices and creative works of women, femmes, LGBTQ+ people, and people of the Global Majority. Their most recent multi-arts storytelling project, Abandoned Places, was a month-long installation at the Rockland Center for the Arts in 2023.
Learn more:
StorySpace Arts
Katie Elevitch Website
Instagram
Facebook
Cedric St. Louis (xe/xem/he/him)
Cedric St. Louis is a Black, Haitian American, non-binary artist whose bold lyricism and raw emotional storytelling delve into themes of identity, queerness, and self-worth. Cedric’s monthly program, Cypher/PLUGNPLAY, fosters artistic growth and connection in collaboration with StorySpace Arts.
Learn more:
Website
Zaneta (they/them)
Zaneta is an interdisciplinary sound artist and nature field recordist who weaves natural sounds and rituals of reciprocity into immersive listening experiences. Their work focuses on fostering connections between participants and local ecologies, drawing inspiration from the Filipinx concept of kapwa.
Learn more:
Website
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Spaces are limited to 10 participants to ensure an intimate and immersive experience.
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Registration is required.
Reserve your spot today to discover new ways of telling your story through sound, art, and connection
The Art of Drag - A Crash Course
Unleash your inner queen, king, or fabulous in-between! Join The Art of Drag, a six-part workshop series led by Westchester’s own Angel Elektra and Shay D’Pines. This exciting course is your chance to explore the rich history of drag, discover your unique drag persona, and learn essential skills like makeup artistry, personal branding, and stage performance.
Each month, participants will dive into different aspects of drag culture, experiment with their own style, and work towards a culminating live performance. Whether you're completely new to drag or looking to elevate your skills, this workshop offers a supportive, creative environment for all genders.
Key Details:
- Dates: One Saturday a month - 10/19, 11/16, 12/14, 1/11, 2/22, 3/15
- Final Performance: March 20th, 7:00 pm
- Workshop time: 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
- Location: The Pocantico Center, 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Limited Registration: The workshop is capped at 15 participants, so sign up early!
All supplies provided – just bring your enthusiasm and creativity. Whether you're looking to step into the spotlight or simply understand the art form better, The Art of Drag is your chance to shine.
We’re excited to announce that all available slots have been filled, and we are no longer accepting registrations at this time.
We appreciate your enthusiasm and encourage you to stay tuned for future events and workshops at The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center.
Thank you for your support! 🌈
About The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund:
Once home to the Rockefeller family, The Pocantico Center’s verdant campus in the scenic hills of the Hudson Valley has been host to some of the most influential leaders, thinkers, and creative minds of the last century. Today, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund continues to bring together people at Pocantico through a robust slate of conferences, artist residencies, tours, performances, exhibitions, and educational programs. The David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center at Pocantico is a sustainable and inclusive home for the creative process where artists and the community come together to develop, present, and experience new works of art. For more information, visit www.pocantico.org.