County: Rensselaer
- Arts Center of the Capital Region Rensselaer County
- With a reach extending beyond Rensselaer to Albany and Schenectady Counties, this major exhibition, studio and teaching facility hosts shows by national and local artists and provides studio space, classes and lectures for artists of all ages. Among many popular events, the annual Fence Show open to local artists is a regular draw in the capital region.
- Children's Museum of Science and Technology Rensselaer County
- Through its planetarium and interactive exhibits, the museum introduces children to science, history and the arts. A special exhibit on the Hudson River provides a virtual tour of the river from its source at Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondacks to New York Harbor.
- Crailo State Historic Site Rensselaer County
- A state museum of colonial history since 1924, this 18th-century house was once part of Rensselaerwyck, the large estate of the Van Rensselaer family on both sides of the Hudson. Exhibits and guided tours tell the story of the early Dutch inhabitants of the region.
- Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company Rensselaer County
- The resident dance company at the Egg, a centerpiece in the Nelson Rockefeller Plaza opposite the State capitol, this modern dance ensemble presents choreography by its founder and namesake, Ellen Sinopoli. In addition to performing at the Egg, the company also tours, hosts residencies and leads workshops in venues around the Northeast.
- Friends of Chamber Music Rensselaer County
- Founded in 1949, Friends of Chamber Music brings chamber musicians from around the country and the world to Rensselaer County. Performances are usually held at Emma Willard School’s Kiggins Hall and are broadcast by the local NPR affiliate.
- Rensselaer County Historical Society Rensselaer County
- Located in downtown Troy in two adjacent town houses, the Rensselaer Historical Society has been documenting and exhibiting the history of the region since 1927.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute—iEAR Presents! Rensselaer County
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With its world-famous faculty, its high-tech
labs, and its practical goal of integrating knowledge, culture, and industry,
the country’s oldest (founded in 1824) technological university has
long attracted some of the brightest minds in the country to its campus
of mixed Georgian and modern architecture on the hill above Troy. Its
experimental arts program, known as iEAR or Integrated Electronic Arts
at Rensselaer (West Hall, Room 107; 518-276-4778; www.arts.rpi.edu), was
founded in 1985 and capitalizes on the university’s technology focus
while exploring innovations in computer music, video art, image processing
techniques, and performance. The program received a significant
boost with the completion, in 2008 of:
• Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (518-276-4133; www .empac.rpi.edu). This extraordinary glass building designed by the English architect Nicholas Grimshaw combines in one great space a concert hall, a theater, and two studios designed to accommodate both the most traditional and the most technologically advanced music, dance, theater, film, and electronic media. The 1,200-seat Concert Hall—a pod of curved cedar planks seemingly suspended inside a larger glass box—was designed for both traditional orchestras and performances that involve electronically generated sound and video projection. The theater, with a 40 by 80 foot stage and flexible seating and orchestra pit, was designed for both professional and student productions and can accommodate projection screens and loudspeakers to create virtual environments. A major addition to the cityscape of Troy, EMPAC dominates the hill above the city and has a commanding view of the Capital Region
- Sanctuary for Independent Media Rensselaer County
- This telecommunications production facility dedicated to media arts hosts screenings and performances and provides production facilities, training in media production, and a meeting space for artists, activists, and independent media makers.
- Sand Lake Center for the Arts Rensselaer County
- This thriving community theater and arts center hosts regular art shows, music and dance performances and theater productions by the local Circle Theatre Players. Children’s programs include a Kids’ Arts Day and Kids for Kids Theatre.
- Troy Chromatic Concerts Rensselaer County
- A classical music presenting organization, Troy Chromatic Concerts curates a series of four to five concerts at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall each year.
