Workshops Present & Past

“How Will They Know Us? Building a Culture of Peace”

Iraqi and American youth share visions of a peaceful, just coexistence in a mural workshop. Guided by Claudia Lefko, director of the Iraqi Children’s Art Exchange, these murals will be exhibited in the Art, Miles, Mural project in Egypt next year for the “UNESCO Decade of Peace and Non-violence Among Children of the World.”

Wedd and Shahad Painting, Photo by Tyler Boudreau

Registration for youth participation required, adult volunteers would be appreciated! For more information, go to event listing.

Click here to download flyer

Click here to download "getting started" activities

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“A Conversation About UPSTATE GIRLS”

Thursday, April 2

Teenage girls from throughout the Capital Region share stories about the challenges in their lives, gathering with representatives of the institutions with which they are entwined—including the legal, educational, healthcare and penal systems—in response to award-winning photojournalist Brenda Ann Kenneally’s compelling work.

Call or email to register for workshops.

Click here to download Upstate Girls April 2 Flyer.

Media Alliance's spring '09 Arts and Education workshops, “How Will They Know Us? Building a Culture of Peace” and "Upstate Girls," are funded in part by Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and Media Justice Fund of the Funding Exchange.

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Our Be The Media! workshop series provides local artists, producers, and citizen journalists with opportunities to acquire and improve the skills necessary for successful and impactful independent media-making.

Sadly, budget cuts at the NYS Council on the Arts have caused us to postpone further workshops until  fall 2009. Here's what we did last year:

Sanctuary Digital Media Labs

Digital Media Labs (DML) are all ages (14+), monthly workshops introduced by popular demand. Whether you are working on a documentary, making a music video, or learning to blog and post video to the internet, these sessions will benefit you. Bring your own digital media projects and ideas, or just commune and share skills with other makers. DML will focus on media production, web publishing (html & blogging), digital imaging, and video editing. Each session will highlight certain skills, but will not be limited by any specific assignments or software applications. Participants will have access to Sanctuary computers and camcorders during Lab hours.

Fee: $40/session or $100 for all 3

Instructor: Andrew Lynn & special guests
Andrew Lynn is an adjunct professor of electronic media at RPI and HVCC and has taught video and animation workshops to people of all ages up and down the Hudson for the last 7 years. He was the youth education coordinator at Manhattan Neighborhood Network from 2004-2007 and is currently Media Alliance’s director of Education.

Digital Storytelling 
This is an all ages (14+) workshop which combines spoken word, photography, and simple video editing to create powerful and personal narratives. Everyone has a story to tell. With the help of our experienced community media teachers, it’s never been easier to turn your memories or dreams into material fit for television and beyond. Each participant will have the opportunity to create his/her own 3-5 minute video piece.

Fee: $40

Instructors: Devorah Hill & Jennifer Wager
Devorah & Jen are Community Media Specialists at Manhattan Neighborhood Network with many years of experience working with diverse communities and individuals to make their own media. They have conducted Digital Storytelling Workshops with organizations and conferences around the country.

Beyond the Talking Head
For this workshop, The Sanctuary teams up with SAC TV – Schenectady’s public access television station. Learn the skills and tricks of creating dynamic video pieces for television that go beyond “talking head” interviews. Learn about collecting b-roll, covering edits, and adding meaning and illustration to your interviews and documentary work. Get in touch with your creative side, as the instructor helps you explore other genres and techniques to drive your message home.

Fee: $40

Instructor: Jim De Seve
Jim De Seve is a local documentary maker and media producer. In addition to his own acclaimed documentary work, he has shot and produced videos for Nickelodeon, MTV, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the American Museum of Natural History. Jim currently teaches documentary production at Union College

Holiday Animation Workshop
The Sanctuary Youth Media Team hosts yet another animation whirl-wind! Geared specifically for youth (18 & under), this workshop teaches the skills & techniques behind stop motion animation, while encouraging spontaneous creativity and fun. Participants will work in groups to brainstorm and create short animated pieces that will be uploaded to the web for the world to see.

Fee: $40

Instructors: Sanctuary Youth Media Team

SCHOLARSHIPS
We recognize that while $40 is a pretty good deal for a media workshop, not everyone can afford it. We HIGHLY value diverse groups of workshop participants and encourage anyone who is interested in attending, but unable to pay the fee, to apply for a scholarship. Do you know someone who could use a scholarship?

The Be The Media! workshop series is funded in part by New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.