Alternative Education
Tickets available soon!
Alternative Education is a resource-sharing initiative including multiple workshops, tech camps, fairs, and events designed to uplift and empower artists, technicians, curators, and art workers at various stages of their careers. Spearheaded by Performance Space New York’s Production Manager Sarai Frazier, this series emphasizes community, collaboration, and professional development, with a particular focus on supporting QTBIPOC community. Throughout the season, Performance Space New York will host events, fostering connections and enhancing skills within our community of art workers at the organization and around the city at large.
Throughout September 2025, Performance Space New York will lead and host a series of workshops and resource sharing sessions across Technical Production policies, Tools and Production Skills for Beginners, Artist Storytelling through a Production Lens, Front of House info sessions, resources for production freelancers, and a portfolio review and resource fair in partnership with Queer|Art in May 2026.
Facilitated by Sarai Frazier
Sunday, September 7th , 2025 | 12pm-2pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Participants will learn about their various technical production roles and skills & tools needed in those roles. Participants will also explore the various routes & places that these roles live.
Facilitated by Adrienne Swan
Sunday, September 7th , 2025 | 3pm – 6pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
In this 3 hour workshop, young emerging technicians will learn about the basic tools & skills needed to work as a beginner stagehand in carpentry, lighting, audio & video. Breakfast will be provided.
Facilitated by Kimiko Tanabe
Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 | 10am-12pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Participants will learn about their various front of house roles and skills & tools needed in those roles.
Facilitated by Barnet Cohen featuring Patricia Margarita Hernández (Associate Curator, Amant), Sheldon Gooch (Curatorial Assistant, MoMA PS1), Jeff Lee (Partner, Ryan Lee Gallery) & Taja Cheek (Artistic Director, Performance Space New York)
Tuesday, September 9th , 2025 | 2pm – 5pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Codes of Conduct is a workshop for artists and performers led by artist Barnett Cohen about the practice of advocating for your practice. If you experience impostor syndrome, social anxiety at work events, awkwardness in talking about your practice, dread around sending emails/messages, and fear in asking for what you want, this workshop is for you. In Codes of Conduct, we will explore why we experience these uncomfortable emotions and we will overcome them through intimate group discussions, role-playing exercises, writing prompts, and a conversation with established curators, programmers, and gallerists.
Facilitated by Joy Norton
Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 | 7pm-9pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Joy Norton & Sika Bonsu exploring the use & importance of gossip.
Facilitated by X Arriaga Cuellar
Thursday, September 11th , 2025 | 2pm – 5pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Curator and archivist X Arriaga Cuellar shares the importance of preservation and storytelling through the use of archival work.
Facilitated by Angelique Rosales Salgado
Monday, September 16th, 2025 | 3pm-5pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre & Online
CV & Resume Workshop tailored specifically for arts workers seeking to enhance their professional presence. Whether you’re an emerging artist, technician, or curator, this workshop will equip you with tools and insights to refine your CV and effectively market yourself within the arts
Facilitated by David Thomson
Saturday, September 20th, 2025 | 10am-1pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Participants will learn about financial literacy as freelancers.
September 30th, 2025
Tech: 3pm -6pm
Reading: 7pm
Facilitated by David Thomson
Saturday, October 4th, 2025 | 10am-1pm | Neilma Sidney Theatre
Participants will learn about financial literacy as freelancers.