The Mississippi Delta Heritage Project

MAY/JUNE 2008 
Beginning in early May 2008, 651 ARTS will present a series of concerts, performances, symposia, workshops and film screenings examining the influence that the Mississippi Delta has had on culture throughout the United States. The emphasis of the project will be an examination of the roots of Delta Blues in West African traditional music as well as how the Delta Blues has influenced and continues to influence contemporary blues, gospel, rock and jazz. This project will benefit greater New York area audiences, musicians and students, as well as the musicians of the Mississippi Delta. Because of 651’s commitment to reflecting contemporary culture of the Diaspora, we have also included three commissioned dance/theater works related to or by artists from the Delta, which will premiere during our season. 651’s Delta Heritage Project is born out of the desire to preserve a very particular and special part of American culture, as well as to illuminate its important influences. Details on upcoming shows coming soon!

Call for Participants!

651 ARTS and Ping Chong & Company
seek NYC participants for new interview-based theater production
Ping Chong & Company, in collaboration with 651 ARTS, is seeking participants for a theatrical production exploring the histories of people living in New York City whose roots lie in the Mississippi Delta. Directors Ping Chong and Talvin Wilks are seeking 5 men and women, of various ages and backgrounds who have migrated from the Delta, or whose family histories include a migration from the Delta to another part of the United States. This production is being produced as part of a larger Mississippi Delta Heritage project which is exploring the historical and cultural impact of the Delta on the rest of the United States. We are looking for people over 18 years of age, with schedules that will accommodate approximately three to four weeks of rehearsal and two days of performance (approximately 12-15 hours per week). No previous performance experience is required. No memorization is required. All participants will be paid.

651 makes East African connections

In October 2007, 651 Executive Director, Georgiana Pickett, and Managing Director, Anna Glass, traveled to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and met with artists of all disciplines.  Check out the slideshow below for a glimpse of some of the people and places they met.    

Hello blogosphere, it’s 651 ARTS!

651 ARTS has always been about community, and what better way to express, connect, and share than to join the vast community that is the blogosphere! Here we hope to share with you up-to-the-minute updates and information on everything from the latest news on 651 presentations to interesting tidbits on the hundreds of artists and performers who we have worked with over the years. And keep your eyes open for special ticket offers and giveaways!  With this blog, we hope that we are adding another fun and accessible way to  keep you interested and engaged in all that 651 ARTS strives to support- theater, dance, music, and community.