LiveTalks: Take 2
Hosted by Ryan Leach
La MaMa LiveTalks Weekly conversations with artists, activists and thought leaders from around the country and around the world who join in discussions about art and life in time of crisis. Every Wednesday @ 6:30PM (EST)
This week features:
Shawn Escarciga and Nadia Tykulsker of the NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund
in conversation with Ryan Leach (Digital Media & Outreach Associate at La MaMa)
Shawn Escarciga and Nadia Tykulsker of the NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund talk about the biggest challenges facing artists and freelancers during this crisis. The relief fund has currently raised over $74,000 which will be disbursed directly to artists.
ABOUT NYC LOW-INCOME ARTIST/FREELANCER RELIEF FUND
Shawn Escarciga and Nadia Tykulsker are two artists/administrators/advocates in NYC raising money to support other artists and freelancers who are taking financial hits as a result of closures and lost income from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their intention is to collectively raise funds to provide emergency and preventative resources to those at financial risk.
The relief fund seeks to provide support for low-income, BIPOC, trans/GNC/NB/Queer artists and freelancers whose livelihoods are being effected by this pandemic in New York City. Whether it’s from cancelled gigs, lost jobs, or a lack of business due to coronavirus scares, the hope is to orchestrate an egalitarian approach to crowdsourcing.
They are so thankful to the support received so far from donors, other artists, and the vibrant and far-reaching arts community in New York City–from drag queens, to performance artists, to musicians, to theater and dance makers, to freelancers in a variety of creative fields. Currently the relief fund is working closely with Dance/NYC, the Indie Theater Fund, and the Dance Union to cross-check their lists and collaborate on sharing resources to ensure as many people as possible can be supported.
Shawn Escarciga (he/they) is an artist and arts administrator based in Brooklyn. Shawn makes body based performance and collage work around class, labor, and intimacy. He is the Assistant Director of arts non-profit Culture Push and does freelance advising to low-income and other marginalized artists. As a historically poor, queer person, Shawn believes in shifting paradigms around class and resources. Shawn is incredibly proud to be working alongside Nadia Tykulsker as a co-organizer of the NYC Low Income Artist + Freelancer Relief Fund. Photo: Jun Park
Nadia Tykulsker (she/her) is an Artist/Arts Advocate/Organizer born and raised in Brooklyn, she forefronts her work with anti-racism, currently makes movement based performance, is on staff at ArtsPool and works as an administrative partner to Jonathan Gonzalez, Jennifer Harge, Fana Fraser, and Ivy Baldwin. She is also deeply grateful to be working with Shawn Escarciga organizing the NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund.
Ryan Leach (he/him) is a New York based actor, writer and comedian originally from Virginia. Film credits include We Demand (Berlinale 2016, BAM), Little Men (Sundance) and The Ducks Migration (OUTFest, Queer Lisboa). Television credits include Comedy Central’s The Other Two and At Home With Amy Sedaris on TruTV. He has performed at La MaMa, HERE Arts Center, Ars Nova, Dixon Place and the New York International Fringe Festival. His comedy can be seen at Broadway Comedy Club, MTV News, StandUp NY, Littlefield, Union Hall, The Bell House, Upright Citizens Brigade, Caveat and more. He is proud to be a co-founder of Awf Magazine — the first online LGBTQ+ satire publication
La MaMa LiveTalks
La MaMa LiveTalks are conversations with artists, activists and thought leaders from around the country and around the world who join in discussions about art and life in time of crisis. La MaMa will continue to use emerging technologies to create a new venue for artistic expression that questions how art can function and how we as a society can survive challenging periods of history.
Online Happenings
Presented by La MaMa and CultureHub, La MaMa is exploring ways to respond creatively to a situation that is potentially changing how we gather as a community in our theatres. La MaMa is working with CultureHub to provide online streaming of select productions and events on Howlround Theatre Commons.