Virtual Arts in Our Communities Residency

The Virtual Arts in Our Communities Residency celebrates the arts of New York State. Our inaugural 2022 residency focuses on the arts in the Capital District region with an emphasis on the Empire State Plaza and the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. During the spring term, students can register for one of five courses related to the practice, performance, support, and creation of the arts. The courses use a blended model that combines online learning with 3 virtual meetings. At these virtual meetings, students will have the opportunity to meet with their instructor and classmates, interact with students in other courses, explore virtual exhibits of historical sites, public arts displays, museum collections, and performing arts spaces. Students are not required to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination for virtual residencies.

Spring Term Dates January 18–April 29, 2022

Virtual Meetings (Microsoft Teams)

  • Wednesday - February 2, 2022 from 5–6:30 p.m. 
  • Saturday – March 19, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays - April 6, 2022 from 5–6:30 p.m.

Residency Courses

ARTS 3075/CRN 14399, advanced, liberal, 4 credits
Instructor: Dr. Cynthia Bates

This course focuses on the history, theory, and practice of arts management. It provides opportunities for practical application of theory and technique through projects such as research and case studies related to the development of marketing, business or strategic plans, arts manager’s portfolio, the role of arts manager in the community, and the development of arts organizations or programs. Comparisons between profit and not for profit organizations provide a context for issues of fundraising and various conceptual approaches to management.

Prerequisites (must complete before registering): Prior knowledge, skills, or experience in art and business or management, as well as upper-level standing with advanced level academic skills 

Meets SUNY General Education requirements?
no

MUSC 3010/CRN 14402, advanced, liberal, 4 credits
Instructor: Dr. Betty Wilde-Biasiny

The purpose of this course is to learn the theoretical and practical issues of curatorial work in the field of contemporary visual arts.

Meets SUNY General Education requirements?
no

DIGA 3040/CRN 14400, advanced, liberal, 4 credits
Instructor: Dr. Lisa D'adamo-Weinstein

Digital Storytelling combines storytelling arts with social, mobile, and digital media technologies. Learn to apply digital storytelling theory and techniques to write, produce and publish digital stories, including autobiographical narratives, mobile stories, and a collaborative digital story. Consider ethical issues such as intellectual property, privacy protection and the rights of storytelling subjects. In this course, students will generate story ideas, develop narrative structures for digital stories, and provide scripts and scene descriptions. Selecting different digital tools, students will integrate images, text, video and audio to create digital stories, and acquire competency in the use of digital media applications. They will be expected to research and select digital applications, create accounts to access free or low cost tools, and use tutorials and other digital resources to learn them. Ideally digital media arts or digital art and design students take Digital Storytelling before Media Arts. Students taking the course must have access to digital devices (such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone, headset or USB microphone) allowing them to take photographs, record audio and video, edit digital assets within the applications of their choice, and upload these to their story blog or the course. 

Meets SUNY General Education requirements?
yes, basic communication and the arts

INMS 3996/CRN 14344 (2cr.)/CRN 14345 (4cr.), advanced, liberal
Instructor: Dr. John Lawless (co-taught with Dr. Cynthia Bates, Dr. Lisa D'adamo-Weinstein, Dr. Elaine Handley, Dr. Raul Manzano, and Dr. Lucy Winner) 

This course takes a multidisciplinary approach to the various dimensions of our Covid 19 Pandemic experience from the viewpoint of an individual or community. In this course students are invited to reflect on and generate a response to the pandemic, either from an academic/research lens or through artistic expression. As well, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students by discussing and researching aspects of the pandemic. The student’s final project for the class is expected to be part of a collective multi-media publication and/or a presentation at a SUNY Empire residency/conference. Projects are welcomed in any of the following genres: Academic research in any field that can include social science, history, science, business, etc. (Work with Mentor John Lawless), Creative writing – poetry, memoir, short-story, etc. (Work with Mentor Elaine Handley), Visual arts – painting, photography, drawing, sculpture (Work with Mentor Raul Manzano, Performing arts: Any area of the performing arts such as applied theater, music, dance, interdisciplinary performance (Work with Mentors Cynthia Bates and Lucy Winner), Multi-media/digital storytelling, video (Work with Mentor Lisa D’Adamo Weinstein)


Meets SUNY General Education requirements?
no

ARTS 1135/CRN 14401, introductory, liberal, 4 credits
Instructor: Dr. Elaine Handley

This course will provide the student with readings and exercises that will sharpen his/her areas of observation and critical assessment, and the elements involved in writing carefully organized responses to non-literary forms: visual art (painting, sculpture, photography, graphic arts, architecture, art installations), performance art (dance, theater, music), film, and emergent art forms in new media (digital/the internet).

Meets SUNY General Education requirements?
yes, the arts

Fast Facts

  • 4-credit courses, some fulfill general education requirements
  • Combination of online and virtual learning
  • Opportunity to virtually explore and experience the arts of the Capital District

More Information

Lori McCaffrey

518-587-2100, ext. 5944