The Beat

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will present a summer virtual children’s program series beginning Thursday, July 16, geared toward ages 3 through 8. These free online programs will be prerecorded and posted to the Museum’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NMRHOF each week for families to experience at their convenience. A new program will be posted every Thursday through Aug. 27. This week’s program, “Get Ready for the Races,” focuses on fun facts for children about the role of jockeys. There will also be opportunities for children to draw their own racing silks on a downloadable coloring sheet.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will host a re-imagined “TRF BBQ at the Barn” summer fundraiser on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at The Saratoga Winery.  This year’s BBQ will be carry-out with a twist!

Guests will drive thru the grounds to enjoy a TRF “Experience” with miniature ponies, racing celebrities, goodies for the kids, and a special appearance by Joey, the TRF Herd Ambassador, who will be returning to Saratoga from the TRF Second Chances Program at Wallkill.  The event will feature BBQ from Barnsider BBQ in Lake George; a TRF Specialty cocktail created by the Winery; and locally made pies from Mourningkill Bake Shop.  Items will be individually ordered online for carryout (only). Proceeds from the event will benefit the hundreds of TRF horses in the organization’s national herd.

Video Series Featuring All Three Resident Companies: New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 

SPAC will release new videos from July 14- July 25 on social media and its website for a virtual "Ballet Month," coinciding with NYCB's previously scheduled residency 

Saratoga Springs, NY (July 13, 2020) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces "SPAC REIMAGINED," a series of unique, locally-shot dance videos that pay tribute to the 2020 classical season and feature all three of SPAC's resident companies. Created by videographers and NYCB dancers, Emily Kikta and Peter Walker, the project combines the talents of seven dancers and four choreographers from New York City Ballet, alongside music performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The videos will be released starting on Tuesday, 7/14, the previously scheduled date of New York City Ballet's Opening Night, and will culminate with a longer-form, exclusive performance on Saturday, 7/25.

Tai Chi and Guided Meditation Classes offered as part of a larger initiative to enrich the Saratoga Spa State Park as a destination for the healing arts 

Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center and COESA announced that they will partner to present a series of health and wellness events on the SPAC grounds in the Saratoga Spa State Park including Tai Chi classes instructed by Mark Tolstrup of the Tai Chi Center (July 7-28) and Guided Meditation led by Pierre Zimmerman of One Roof Saratoga (July 12-August 30). The classes are part of a larger initiative to create opportunities for the community to safely gather. Wellness teachers and their students will be able to meet in person once again in a controlled, socially-distanced way.  And all proceeds will go directly to the teachers.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame recently resumed construction on the new Hall of Fame Education Experience after a two-month delay because of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent “New York State on PAUSE” executive order. The Museum, which has been closed for the renovations since January, was originally scheduled to open to the public on July 16 coinciding with opening day at Saratoga Race Course. A new opening date for the Museum will be announced later this summer.

In consultation with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Saratoga National Historical Park has cancelled the Naturalization Ceremony, traditionally held on July 4. The popular event draws hundreds of visitors and participants to witness the moving ceremony of citizens taking the oath of allegiance for the first time. The size of the crowd, and nature of the seated event, makes it unsafe to carry out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exhibition inspires new ways of thinking about our relationship to the environment through art

Saratoga Springs, NY (May 28, 2020) — The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announces the opening of Lover Earth: Art and Ecosexuality, a student-curated online exhibition that encourages viewers to think critically about their bodies and the planet. The exhibition opens Saturday, May 30, on the Tang website.

Organized by Caroline Coxe ’20, Lover Earth draws on the ideas of Elizabeth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle, collaborative performance artists who coined the term “ecosexuality” to describe an erotic connection to nature. Instead of “Mother Earth,” they opt to use the phrase “Lover Earth” to denote a reciprocal relationship between humans and Earth.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced today it will cancel the 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Museum Ball as a result of the ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are incredibly disappointed we won’t be able to have these time-honored special events this summer, but the health concerns we are facing right now take precedence,” said John Hendrickson, president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. “The Hall of Fame ceremony is an experience we want to be able to share with the fans. With racing at Saratoga this summer likely to take place without spectators, we believe it is in the best interests of everyone involved and for the integrity of the event to postpone the ceremony for a year.”…

Beyond My Battle’s “Art with Heart and Hope” moves online, providing a timely voice for those using art to cope with medical challenges

Saratoga Springs, NY: While plans of holding annual fundraisers and events continue to change, local nonprofit Beyond My Battle has opted to not only bring its big event online but partner with legendary folk music venue Caffe Lena to make the experience extra special. Art with Heart and Hope, now in its second year, is an exhibition celebrating the herapeutic power of art for those living with medical conditions and caregivers. 

On Saturday, May 30th at 8 pm EST, you can attend the show from the comfort of your home by watching it live online from Caffè Lena's YouTube channel. The experience is free to enjoy and leaves an impression on all.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that it has unveiled its new Learning Library, created to bring free original arts educational content to students, families and educators at a time when previously scheduled in-school presentations and classes are not feasible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Center's mission to provide meaningful educational programming to the community while also supporting local artists, the videos and exercises feature more than 25 professional musicians and dancers who have been affected by the pandemic such as Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, professional stepping company Soul Steps and Caroga Arts Collective, as well as former Broadway performers, composers and local storytellers.