ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The Empire Arts Summit is the premier gathering of New York’s arts and cultural leaders, policymakers, and creative workers. With the theme The Arts at the Heart of Healthy Communities, puts arts and health at the center of the conversation and explores how creativity strengthens community wellbeing, and how the arts and public health sectors can build stronger partnerships across New York.
Keynote Speakers
Michael J. Bobbitt is President and CEO of OPERA America and a nationally recognized arts executive, artist, and advocate whose work connects creativity, public policy, and community well-being. Previously, he led the Mass Cultural Council, advancing historic public investment and integrating arts into statewide health, education, and economic strategies. Bobbitt holds an MBA in Arts Innovation and a BA summa cum laude in Art & Social Change and received honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts from Dean College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. His honors include the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, Boston Business Journal’s Power 50, and induction into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.
A nationally recognized arts leader, Erika Mallin serves as Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the key source of funding for arts and culture statewide. Appointed by Governor Hochul in 2024 as the state’s highest-ranking arts official, Mallin has met the moment, guiding NYSCA through a turbulent period for the arts while strengthening NY’s commitment to the sector. Under her leadership, NYSCA has secured increased funding, expanded grantmaking, and launched innovative initiatives including the Reserve Fund and NYS of Poetry. Previously, Mallin led the Aspen Institute Arts Program and Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre Company.
AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE
Tuesday, Oct 13
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM · Welcome & Networking Cocktail Hour at The Hollow
Wednesday, Oct 14
8:00–9:00 AM Breakfast.
9:00–9:45 AM Opening Plenary & Welcome.
10:00 AM Workshop Breakouts:
11:05 AM Break
11:20 AM Workshop Breakouts:
3:20 PM Workshop Breakouts
6:00–8:00 PM · Networking Reception at The Albany Institute of History and Art
Thursday, Oct 15
8:00–9:00 AM Breakfast.
9:00–11:15 AM Breakout Sessions.
10:00 AM Workshop Breakouts:
11:30 AM–12:00 PM · Closing Plenary
Hilton Albany
- $184.00 / night (pre-tax)
- 10-minute walk to The Egg
- On-site bar & restaurant
- $10/per day parking
- Note: The Room block for the hotels has expired, but please call 518-462-6611 and ask for the conference rate for the Arts Summit, and they will accommodate your request.
Renaissance Albany Hotel
144 State Street, Albany, NY 12207
- $219.00 / night (pre-tax)
- $22/per day parking
- 6‑minute walk/ 3-minute drive to The Egg
- On-site bar & restaurant
- Note: The Room block for the hotels has expired.
Presentation topics include the following:
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Care by Design: Arts and Health Partnerships That Work.
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The Human Work: Creativity, Judgment, and AI.
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Listen First, Build Better: Turning Community Research into Cultural Infrastructure.
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NYSCA’s FY27 Capital Projects Opportunity Seminar
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Art as a Lifeline: Creative Practice as Community Infrastructure
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The Ticket Trap: Who Controls Access to Live Culture?
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Art in the Places We Share.
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Hidden Assets: Space, Memory, and the People in the Room.
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Counting What Counts: What the New York Museums Study Tells Us.
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Listen, Tell, Decide: Artist Tools for Community Conversations.
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Navigating a Shifting Landscape: Federal Arts Update.
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Close to Home: Building Arts Champions in Local Government.
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Get to Know Voices for Creative New York.
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Krysta Aina, Arts Council for Wyoming County
Natalie Bedon, Flushing Town Hall
Brian Belt, ARTLife717
Sergei Burbank, Quick Silver Theater Company
Stephen Butler, CNY Arts
Megan Carpenter, OPERA America
Gonzalo Casals, Arts & Culture Policy Institute
Joe Concra, O Positive Festival (O+)
Mauricio Delfin, Arts & Culture Policy Institute
Michelle Dinsmore, Overit
Marielena Ferrer-Harrington, Unison Arts
C Meranda Flachs-Surmanek, WhyWOW Studio
Aimee Gardner, O Positive Festival (O+)
Kendall Gilvar, National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
Andrea Gordillo, Freelancers Union
Kieran Johnson, Huntington Arts Council
Tamara Keshecki, NYIVA / St. George Theatre
Manon Manavit, Goddard Riverside
Nick Marsella, That One Ensemble
Tony Mazzocchi, Kaufman Music Center
Stacey McMath,Webb Mgmt
Randy Nichols, National Independent Talent Organization
Tanya Roy, Third Places
Lucy Sexton, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts
Nikhil Shah, Nikhil Shah Productions
Shasti O'Leary Soudant, Buffalo State University / Buffalo Arts Commission
Katie Steger, New York State Council on the Arts
Dre Steinberg, Designed To Conquer
Cjala Surrat, Black Artist Collective of CNY
Jen Swan-Kilpatrick, Arts Services, Inc. of Western New York
Dr. Concetta Tomaino, Institute for Music and Neurologic Function
José Tutiven, Colored Colors / Huntington Arts Council
Sarah Van Anden, Museum Association of New York
Cindy Vanden Bosch, Turnstile Studio / Cultural Accessibility NYC
Jade Warrick, Muralist
Martikah Williams,Voices for Creative New York / Black Artist Collective CNY
Help Us Spread the Word About the Empire Arts Summit!
Whether you’re attending the Summit, presenting, or simply excited to be part of New York’s arts and cultural community, we invite you to help us spread the word on social media. We’ve created a Social Media Toolkit with ready-to-use graphics, suggested captions, hashtags, and other resources to make it easy for you to promote the Summit with your networks.
The toolkit can be accessed at the following Link: https://canva.link/nipway34yvnwwo3
Choose your favorite graphics, and share the Summit with your community!
ArtsNYS Member Registration
- This is for all events and meals from Wednesday, October 14 at 9:00 AM through Thursday, October 15 at 12:00 PM.
- ArtsNYS Members, check your email for a promo code to get the $50.00 discount upon registration.
General Registration
- This is for all events (reception included) and meals from Wednesday, October 14 at 9:00 AM through Thursday, October 15 at 12:00 PM.
- ArtsNYS members get a $50 discount! To join ArtsNYS as a member, please visit artsnys.org/membership
Hospitality Pass
- Join us for Summit networking & social experiences! Includes all drinks and lite bites.
- Tues, Oct 13 at The Hollow and Weds, Oct 14 at The Albany Institute of History and Art
- ArtsNYS Members receive $50 off the hospitality pass!
