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. 

The unique beauty of our region, its mountains, valleys, rivers and streams, and abundant creativity, has attracted artists of all types for generations. ShoutOut’s mission is to showcase a range of dedicated artists in programs that are accessible to all.

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 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

  • Sharon Penz, Managing Director

  • Christa Huffman Mattia, Associate Manager

  • Alec Cafaro, Sound Designer/Composer

  • Loren Black, Marketing and Social Media

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: Katie Cokinos

  • Music: Pamela Pentony

  • Literary: Jan Alexander, Will Nixon, Dan Gallant

  • Theatre: Jessica Bauman, Lisa Nickolas

Visionaries

Brittany Barnard, Paul Clarke, Dan Gallant, Kris Garnier, Sari Grandstaff, Celeste Graves, Beth Glick, Teresa Giordano, Josepha Gutelius, Mikhail Horowitz, Laura Huron, Cheri Magid, Wayne Martelli, Chloe Saban-Mayor, Linda Montano, Susan Murphy, Will Nixon, Drake Page, Sondra Page, Deborah Mangrum-Price, Michael Nelson, Joan Reinmuth, Benno Schmidbaur, Rae Stang, Mary McNamara Tashjian, Elisa Tucci

Photography

  • Christa Hoffman Mattia

    • Supplemented by photos from Margarita Asian, Will Nixon and unidentified contributors

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.