Collaborating in Community: West Side Fest & The West Side Cultural Network

90-minute session

Location: Hilton Albany, Governor D

Day/Time: Sunday, April 7 // 1 - 2:30 PM

About: On September 30, 2023, over 20 arts and culture organizations from the West Side Cultural Network (WSCN) collaborated to present the first-ever West Side Fest, a daylong festival celebrating the cultural offerings on Manhattan’s West Side. Join members of the West Side Cultural Network to hear how they collaborated across institutions to create a unique program that is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Presenters:

Salvador Muñoz, Associate Director of Public Programs & Outreach, Poster House

Salvador Muñoz is an artist, cultural worker, and arts administrator based in Brooklyn, New York. They currently serve as the Associate Director of Public Programs and Outreach at Poster House, where they strive to make the museum accessible to marginalized communities. Their work has been exhibited at the Leslie Lohman Museum, Wave Hill, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center, among many others. Salvador serves on the Board of Directors of the Laundromat Project and on the Recess Advisory Circle.

Jane Carey, Director of Community and Government Affairs, Whitney Museum of American Art

Jane Carey is a public affairs professional specializing in New York City and State government and community affairs and the city’s cultural sector. Jane is the Director of Community and Government Affairs at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Jane is a founding member of the West Side Cultural Network, a collaboration of 20+ nonprofit cultural organizations along Manhattan’s West Side who work together to create meaningful moments for New Yorkers to access and engage with member organizations. Prior to the Whitney, Jane worked in both New York City and State government as a Chief of Staff to elected officials. Jane received her M.A. in Political Science from the New School for Social Research and her B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland - College Park. Jane lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.

Tamara McCaw, Chief Civic Engagement Officer, The Shed

Tamara McCaw is a cultural programmer, producer, arts professional, and community strategist with over 25 years experience in government and nonprofits arts and culture. She shapes equity-based change in arts & culture that pushes society forward and reimagines new just systems for cultural preservation and production. She is a co-founder of Public Assembly, a creative impact advisory and producing group. During her nearly 8-year tenure as The Shed’s Chief Civic Program Officer, she produced and presented socially engaged work in collaboration with New York City artists and communities, including the Open Call commissioning program for early career artists. In addition she organized public programming, social impact initiatives, and youth and community engagement. Prior to her work at The Shed, she directed community public programming, audience development, community relations, and government affairs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She served as the inaugural Board Chair of the business improvement district FAB Alliance (2009-16). Tamara also serves on the board of the Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development to facilitate continued progress and accountability for the Atlantic Yards project.