2023 Art Beneficiaries
Premier Beneficiaries this year are the Albany Barn, Capital Repertory Theatre, Capitaland Chorus, and Park Playhouse. Spotlight Beneficiaries this year are the Albany Center Gallery, Capital Cinema and Electronic Body Art, Inc. Total distribution will be based on the final net proceeds at the conclusion of the 2023 Festival.

Premier Beneficiaries
Albany Barn
albanybarn.org
Albany Barn was founded to provide a hand up for entrepreneurial artists translating their craft into career and to deploy those artists in turn as community change agents. In 2014, Albany Barn opened a 40,000 square foot incubator for creative economy-based enterprise and community art center called “The Barn” by partnering with the Albany Housing Authority to repurpose a long vacant school building in the City of Albany’s historic but distressed Arbor Hill neighborhood. The Barn consists of 22 affordable live-work apartments and over 13,000 square feet of low cost private and collaborative “maker” suites as well as ample exhibition, performance and programming space.
Capitaland Chorus
capitalandchorus.org
Capitaland Chorus was chartered in October, 1977 as a Chapter of Sweet Adelines International, with only 20 members. Over the years, membership has increased from a handful of local women to a diverse group of women of all ages with varying interests, backgrounds, and occupations. Due to this expansion, the chorus changed its name to Capitaland Chorus. Education is of prime importance and this goal is achieved through international-level coaches and faculty who train the group in vocal production, choreography, and showmanship ensuring success at national competitions.
Park Playhouse
parkplayhouse.com
Park Playhouse augments the quality of life for a diverse audience by producing theater in an outdoor setting, and providing arts education programs to young people in the community. Their education programs teach valuable life lessons about collaboration and teamwork, while helping to the next generation of theatre artists. Since 1989, over one million audience members have enjoyed a performance free of charge in Park Playhouse’s 2,000-seat amphitheater in Albany’s Washington Park. Park Playhouse takes a leadership role in enhancing the cultural landscape of New York’s Capital Region and making the arts accessible to both residents and guests of our community.
Capital Repertory Theatre
capitalrep.org
Capital Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre whose mission is to create meaningful theatre with an authentic connection to the community they serve. They offer extraordinary experiences to young people of the region that support NY State’s education goals and standards and help young people to increase critical thinking, self-esteem, courage and personal skills for lifelong success. Capital Rep works to be a strategic player in the important dialogue about the significant role of the arts in our schools, community, region and nation.
Spotlight Beneficiaries
Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange
cinemaexchange.org
Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange empowers emerging filmmakers to complete and present their projects in a rapidly changing media landscape. It succeeds by leveraging world-class industry expertise, in a lab setting, namely, the intensive Northeast Filmmakers Lab, held annually. Through interaction with audiences, industry experts and peers, participating filmmakers acquire a greater understanding of the language and best practices needed in order for their projects to achieve completion and reach wide audiences. Now entering its 10th year, CCCE aims to become a year-round international filmmakers resource, providing professional mentoring, educational workshops, one-on-one consultation, cultural exchange and professional networking.
Albany Center Gallery
albanycentergallery.org
Albany Center Gallery (ACG), a local non-profit art gallery and creative space, promotes and exhibits art produced by the region’s emerging and established artists and engages, enriches, and inspires the community to appreciate the importance of art. For 45 years, ACG has showcased the work of contemporary artists, created countless paid artist opportunities, and advocated for the necessity of creative placemaking. Albany Center Gallery’s vision is a community shaped and enhanced by the region’s artists, who reflect and influence our evolving, inclusive, and multifaceted culture. Annually, ACG presents 8+ exhibitions, youth art workshops, public art projects (i.e. #CapitalWalls), creative events, pop-up exhibits, and many other artistic endeavors.
eba Arts
eba-arts.org
Eba is dedicated to cultivating, promoting, and developing an understanding of and public interest in the performing, visual and technological arts; through creation, performance, training, touring and idea sharing. Of equal importance, we endeavor to cultivate an understanding of the inherent creative potential within each of us and to integrate these creative aims with daily life. Eba began as an artist collective in 1973. From its simple beginnings, Eba has grown into a multifaceted arts organization that is intrinsically woven into the artistic fabric of the Capital Region Community.
© 2022 Albany Food & Wine Festival, Inc. The Albany Food & Wine Festival, Inc. is an approved NY 501C3.
Empire Merchants North is the exclusive wine and spirits sponsor of the Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival. Please drink responsibly.