About ShoutOut Saugerties

 

ShoutOut Saugerties began in 2017 as an annual month-long festival celebrating local artists and artisans. Responding to the sea change of Covid, ShoutOut’s mission evolved into providing year-round programming celebrating quality artistic talent in the Hudson Valley. 

ShoutOut’s mission is to showcase a range of diversified quality work to engage and nourish audiences of all ages with free or low-cost programs.

History

ShoutOut Saugerties was born in 2017 when Suzanne Bennett, Jeremy Russell and Kevin Freeman formed a committee to address budget cuts threatening the national foundations for the arts and humanities (NEA, NEH). All agreed that one of the best ways to keep the arts and humanities alive is to ensure that they’re an essential part of community life. The idea of a festival was born. The late Susana Meyer joined to help find ways to bring the town’s rich trove of talent into the places where people gather. 

The festival launched in October ‘17 with 35 events stemming from a public bulletin board asking “Wouldn’t it be Cool if Saugerties . . . “ Experiences filled the Village: a pop-up gallery; outdoor concerts featuring local HS bands, rockers, and Cuban blues; an interview with celebrity cartoon artist Joe Sinnott; a performance by esteemed performance artist Linda Montano; a discussion of food-growing by Farmers Market farmers; a series of workshops in writing, ink transfers, jewelry-making, belly dancing and yoga. The festival concluded with a moderated discussion among townspeople about ways the arts can enhance the community.  

Before expanding to year-round events, ShoutOut featured programming each October since 2020 that coincided with National Arts & Humanities Month (NAHM), a coast-to-coast collective recognition of the importance of culture in America.

LEADERSHIP

  • Suzanne Bennett, Executive Artistic Director

  • Bethany Tipping, General Manager

  • Alec Cafaro, Sound Designer/Composer

  • Loren Black, Marketing Consultant

ADVISORY Board

  • Michelle Aizenstat

  • Sina Clarke

  • Katie Cokinos

  • Angela Gaffney-Smith

  • Jen Kavanagh

  • Robert Langdon

  • Susan McManigal

  • Christy Rupp

  • Peter Vinogradov

Program Planners

  • Film & Community Conversations: Katie Cokinos

  • Music: Pamela Pentony

  • Literary: Jan Alexander

  • Theatre/Books Alive: Rebecca Guy, Robert Laurence

Visionaries and consultants

Stephanie Bassler, Bill Barr, Kym Chambers, Paul Clarke, Anne Crowley, Kris Garnier, Sari Grandstaff, Celeste Graves, Beth Glick, Teresa Giordano, Josepha Gutelius, Mikhail Horowitz, Laura Huron, Monique Luchetti, Cheri Magid, Wayne Martelli, Chloe Saban-Mayor, Elin Menzies, Linda Montano, Emily Morse, Susan Murphy, Lisa Nicholas, Drake Page, Sondra Page, Deborah Mangrum-Price, Michael Nelson, Joan Reinmuth, Benno Schmidbaur, Mary McNamara Tashjian, Randall Harris, Christa Hoffman Mattia, Ariane Hunter

Equality Statement

To support a full creative life for all peoples, ShoutOut Saugerties commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive community. The organization does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status in any of its activities or operations.

Want to Volunteer? We welcome people with ideas and energy to contribute to the planning and execution of events and activities.

Give us a shout, tell us your ideas, suggest arts activities you believe would enrich the community. Making a contribution to ShoutOut doesn't have to be monetary; we need people to set up spaces, greet audiences, run sound, help paint murals, design a flyer, and spread the word about what we do.

For more information contact: info@shoutoutsaugerties.org