The Hamptons Arts Network (HAN) will take center stage at The Church’s Knowledge Friday event, which celebrates the thriving cultural environment in the East End. Andrea Grover, Terrie Sultan, and Elka Rifkin founded HAN in 2016. The consortium comprises executives from non-profit cultural institutions ranging from Duck Creek to the Westhampton Performing Arts Center. The consortium promotes cooperation and advances culture in the East End by holding monthly meetings.
The next Knowledge Friday is expected to be the biggest yet, including historical insights into HAN and a rare chance to speak with 19 of the 23 HAN leaders in person. Prominent individuals like Jeremy Dennis from Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, Anne Chaisson of the Hamptons International Film Festival, and Jess Frost, the executive director and co-founder of the Arts Center at Duck Creek, are among this eclectic group.
The event arrangement departs from the custom of having 1-2 highlighted speakers, therefore enabling a thorough examination of the cultural environment of the East End. The opportunity for attendees to have a Q&A session with the cultural leaders will promote direct communication between the audience and the artistic community.
Notable attendees include Alegandro Saralegui, Executive Director of Madoo; Elise Herget, Managing Director of The Watermill Center; and Helen Harrison, Director Emerita of the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. The schedule showcases the richness and diversity of East End cultural institutions, which include historical organizations, art museums, theaters, and film festivals.
Although she cannot attend in person, Southampton African American Museum Executive Director Brenda Simmons has written a message that will be read on her behalf. Even in absentia, its inclusion guarantees a thorough portrayal of the cultural tapestry of the East End.
Every month, on the first Friday, a Knowledge Fridays program highlights exceptional East End residents with various professions and experiences. Through the program, the community may interact with and learn from vibrant, motivating people, strengthening the bonds amongst East Enders.
General admission tickets are $10; however, members of The Church are admitted free of charge with an RSVP. This affordable price plan promotes widespread involvement and enables the community to experience the East End’s rich cultural legacy.
The goal of HAN is to establish a cohesive artistic community that fosters cooperation and the growth of culture, and Knowledge Friday is in line with this goal. Through gathering leaders from different cultural institutions, HAN hopes to fortify the ties that bind the East End’s artistic community and encourage a broader public appreciation of the arts.
Attendees may anticipate an illuminating trip through HAN’s history and a greater comprehension of these cultural luminaries’ contributions to the development of East End culture as the evening progresses. The Q&A session will provide the community with a direct channel to interact, pose questions, and participate in a thought-provoking conversation with the people spearheading cultural innovation in the area.
A unique look into the complex cultural fabric of the East End, the Knowledge Friday event with HAN leaders promises to be exciting for guests. This event will undoubtedly have a lasting effect on the community’s enjoyment of the arts in this region because of its varied lineup and engaging structure.
