By Adrienne Boudreau:
The University at Buffalo Technē Institute for Arts and Emerging Technologies will host the Performing Economies Colloquium April 4 – 6 at UB.
The free and open to the public event will investigate alternate economic models and urban revitalization in Buffalo from the three locations: the UB Equal Opportunity Center, UB Center for the Arts and The Foundry.
The first ever Performing Economies Colloquium will allow a cross-dialogue between scholars and the community rather than the scholarly or formal tone a conference or symposium invites. The three day event schedule includes discussions, performances, bus tours, improvisation and shared meals to encourage discussion.
Co-organizer Stephanie Rothenberg, Professor in the Department of Visual Studies, has been teaching and living in Buffalo for 10 years and has steadily been watching the city’s progress.
“There’s been a large visual shift in the city especially downtown not just through development but through grass roots organizations, not for profit groups and we want to highlight these groups that have changed the landscape,” said Rothenberg.
The colloquium will focus on alternate economic models, Rothenberg gave the recent BreadHive worker co-operative as an example.
“We want to help put in practice these alternate business models because obviously traditional ones aren’t cutting it. We may not have an immediate effect on the city with our north campus in Amherst, but we do have our South Campus in the city and this is a way for us to stay involved,” she said.
The schedule is still growing and includes many groups and individuals responsive for different types of development including cultural, jobs building and real estate. A sample of those involved in speaking include PUSH Buffalo, GobikeBUffalo and Miriam Paeslack, UB professor and author of “Ineffably Urban: Imaging Buffalo.”
Though the events are free many, such as the bus tours or Sunday brunch, require registration due to limited space and food orders.
“People need to know that if they don’t register it’s first come, first serve…there’s only roughly 35 seats on the bus tour,” she said.
performingeconomies.org | Register here