Katie Elevitch

In January 2018, Elevitch was a recipient of a ArtsWestchester/NYSCA Community Arts Grant Award for her 2018-2019 multi-media Women’s Storytelling Project, a series of workshops, events & exhibits featuring the oral storytelling of local area women which culminated in a weekend long multi-media exhibit at Garner Art Center.

The techniques and healing justice work of the WSP originated in early 2017 when Elevitch organized, hosted & curated several Women's Storytelling Events called “Nevertheless, She...” in response to the election of President Trump and his misogynist, homophobic and racist commentary, and policies, and the #MeToo movement.

This work was directly a result of the community members who met with Elevitch in low cost or free circles, workshops, and open mics, to learn how to more deeply connect to their stories, share their stories, and help build and impact community in the process.

More questions than answers were unearthed: How can we be heard? How can we be believed? How can we support one another in real physical spaces beyond the internet? How can we make art more accessible? How can art directly impact our community? How can the community – and its stories – lead us to authentic arts programming that genuinely reflects the needs of the community? How can we inspire one another and restore a sense of personal and collective healing, empowerment, and agency despite the difficult political climate?

In response to this process, Elevitch founded StorySpace Arts, a volunteer run multi-generational artist collaborative that prioritizes, amplifies, supports and celebrates the stories and creative works/processes of Black people, LGBTQ+ people, women and allies in and around Rockland County.

Saturday May 19th & Sunday May 20th, 2018
The 15th Anniversary Garner Arts Festival
Garner Arts Center, Garnerville, NY
11AM - 6PM

with FREE Intro to Storytelling Mini-Workshops
for Women & Teens:

Sun. 5/20, 1PM & 3PM - No Experience Needed
& Live Performance Sun. 5/20: 2PM

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Please join Katie Elevitch at Garner Arts Center this weekend for the launch of the first public installment of the Women's Storytelling Project, a year-long collaborative, community-based, and interactive series of Workshops, Circles, Events and Multi-Media Exhibitions. directed, and conceived of, by artist, musician, educator, curator and owner of 95 1/2 Main, Katie Elevitch.

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*The Women's Storytelling Project is supported in part by a Rockland County DEC Community Arts Grant via ArtsWestchester/NYSCA. Additional sponsors include 95 1/2 MAIN, The Nerdy Duo Productions, RiverRiver Writer's Circle and Donations from the Community.