OneBeat 14 Kinship and Gathering celebrates the spirit of kinship in our practices and lives. Focusing on both physical and conceptual spaces that serve as sanctuaries for connection and belonging, this residency invites fellows to uncover the threads that weave us together, recognizing the inherent strength and beauty found in the tapestry of community. Fellows will collaborate with guest artists and local partners throughout the New England region who are dedicated to building both physical and conceptual spaces of gathering and connectivity, thereby contributing to resilient communities and creative economies that strengthen the region.
During the residency, fellows will collaborate on new music and participate in professional development workshops and masterclasses in response to the program’s theme. Guest artists for the OneBeat 14 residency include composer and saxophonist Matthew Evan Taylor, and composer and producer Emily Wells, each of whom will lead fellows in creative exercises and masterclasses.
OneBeat 13 and 14 marks the first year of OneBeat global music program in the New England region, paving the way for exciting new collaborations and partnerships, including a new residency partnership with the Avaloch Farm Music Institute in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Avaloch Farm Music Institute (AFMI) is a residential arts center in New Hampshire which serves as a cultural hub for the northern New England community through revitalizing and enriching the artistic landscape with curated public performances, artistic partnerships and educational opportunities. OneBeat 14 establishes new partnerships throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.
The OneBeat 14 residency will be held at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute from September 23rd to October 14, 2024. Following the residency, fellows will tour to Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine where they will engage with diverse arts organizations, schools, and cultural centers to lead youth workshops, community gatherings, and discussions. From the vibrant bustle of a college campus to the intimate gathering of a neighborhood barn, fellows will explore the stories surrounding these community hubs and dive deeper into the simple but central human need to gather.
Following the residency, the OneBeat 14 tour kicks off in Florence, Massachusetts with a performance at Bombyx on October 9th, a multifaceted space that serves as a performance venue, art exhibition space, community center, synagogue, and church. Fellows will then continue north to a performance at Next Stage Arts in Brattleboro, Vermont on October 10th. The tour will culminate in Maine, with a final show at SPACE Gallery in Portland, ME on October 12th.
OneBeat is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, & produced by Found Sound Nation.