News Briefs: April 2026

“News Briefs” articles report on recent local arts and culture news stories in bite-sized pieces to keep readers informed of new local arts developments.

ArtsWestchester Receives Grant from Guru Krupa for May South Indian Festival

ArtsWestchester received a grant from Guru Krupa Foundation to support a its May 1-2 festival of South Indian arts and culture at its White Plains arts venue.  Guru Krupa Foundation is a private foundation that funds charitable causes based on the principles and philosophy derived from the value system of Hinduism. 

The $8,000 grant to ArtsWestchester was intended to support projects that “promote cultural integration” and “raise awareness of India’s traditional art forms and culture.” These funds will contribute to artists fees and production costs for the two-day Kala Samaagam program.

The two-day event will underscore the assurance that ArtsWestchester’s programming reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. According to ArtsWestchester CEO Kathleen Reckling: “By highlighting South Indian arts and culture, the program creates new and meaningful opportunities for connection between local heritage bearers, families, and audiences across the region.”

A May 1 concert features unparalleled talent, bringing together outstanding musicians from South Indian classical music under one roof. The intimate gallery setting will provide a humble platform for well recognized talent, including flute maestro Shashank Subramanyam and powerhouse vocalist Abhishek Raghuram. 

The festivities continue on Saturday, May 2, with a community celebration featuring family-friendly arts and crafts activities, rhythmic drum syllables, dance, food and more. 

The two-day program is part of ArtsWestchester’s Westchester Roots series, which demonstrates cultural traditions throughout Westchester.

Kyle Abraham ’00 Named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow

SUNY Purchase graduate Kyle Abraham has been named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow in the field of choreography, joining a cohort of 223 individuals selected across 55 disciplines. Fellows are chosen through a competitive application and peer review process recognizing prior achievement and future promise.

Abraham, who graduated Purchase in 2000, is a choreographer and the founder of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, a contemporary dance company approaching its 20th anniversary. His work has been commissioned and performed by companies including New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and American Ballet Theatre.

He has received a range of honors for his work, including a MacArthur Fellowship, a Doris Duke Award and a Princess Grace Statue Award. His choreography has been presented widely in the United States and internationally.

The Guggenheim Fellowship is awarded annually to artists, scholars and scientists in recognition of distinguished achievement and exceptional capacity for future work.

Hudson River Museum Launches Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects

Hudson River Museum has launched a new digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, a free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Designed to support both in-person and remote engagement, the guide offers multimedia access to the Museum’s collections and exhibitions.

The guide spans works from the nineteenth century to the present, with audio commentary from Director and CEO Masha Turchinsky, Curatorial Chair Laura Vookles and Assistant Curator Shilpi Chandra. Featured pieces include The Bookstoreby Red Grooms, along with paintings by John White Alexander, Hermann Fuechsel, Fitz Henry Lane and Winfred Rembert. Additional content will be introduced over time, allowing the guide to evolve alongside the Museum’s programming.

Set on a site overlooking the Hudson River in Yonkers, the Museum brings together art, science and history across its campus. Turchinsky notes that the platform offers new ways for visitors to navigate that breadth of material and engage more deeply with the collection.

HRM joins more than 1,250 cultural institutions worldwide on Bloomberg Connects. The app includes accessibility features such as audio transcripts, translations, image zoom and adjustable text size, supporting a range of visitor experiences both on-site and beyond.

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Westchester Cultural Sites Reopen for the Season

Several historic sites and cultural landscapes across Westchester have reopened for the season, offering renewed access to gardens, grounds and historic properties.

Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown has resumed guided tours of its Gothic Revival home, along with access to its expansive riverfront grounds. Seasonal programming includes specialty tours, exhibitions and outdoor events that draw on the site’s architecture and history.

In North Salem, the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden has also reopened, inviting visitors back to its gardens, galleries and cultural programs. The site pairs rotating exhibitions with a stroll garden designed around traditional Japanese landscape principles, alongside seasonal workshops and events.

Historic Hudson Valley has begun reopening several of its sites, including Washington Irving’s Sunnyside in Irvington and Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow. These properties offer guided tours, demonstrations and outdoor experiences that interpret the region’s literary and colonial history.

Together, these reopenings mark the start of the spring and summer season for several of Westchester’s outdoor cultural destinations.

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Recently Announced Directors:

Taryn Sacramone Appointed as Executive Director of Emelin Theatre

Emelin Theatre recently announced Taryn Sacramone as its new Executive Director. According to the announcement, Sacramone will lead the theater’s strategic direction and oversee operations, including programming, fundraising and community engagement.

Sacramone brings more than two decades of experience in New York City’s cultural sector. She previously served as Executive Director of Queens Theatre from 2013 to 2025, where she oversaw growth in programming, accessibility and community partnerships. During her tenure, she launched Theatre for All, an initiative advancing the inclusion of Deaf and Disabled artists and audiences.

She has also held leadership roles within the city’s cultural sector, including serving as Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group and later on its Executive Committee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded and co-led Culture@3, a daily convening that connected more than 1,000 cultural leaders, government officials and funders.

Earlier in her career, Sacramone led Astoria Performing Arts Center, expanding its programming and community role.

Sacramone points to the opportunity to build on Emelin Theatre’s role as a regional cultural hub, with a focus on deepening community engagement and expanding access to the performing arts.

Beth Whitaker Appointed as Executive Director of Hudson Valley Writers Center

Hudson Valley Writers Center (HVWC) recently announced Beth Whitaker as its new Executive Director. According to the announcement, Whitaker will lead the organization’s strategic vision and oversee operations, including marketing, fundraising and community engagement.

Whitaker brings 25 years of experience working with writers. Most recently, she was on the faculty of The Juilliard School’s Drama Division and previously served in senior leadership at Signature Theatre in New York, where she helped launch programs and institutional initiatives.

HVWC Board Chair Michael Quattrone noted that Whitaker will guide the center toward its 40th anniversary, citing her experience supporting writers, building community and leading mission-driven arts organizations.

Whitaker points to opportunities to expand programming and partnerships that can broaden the center’s reach. She highlights HVWC’s evolution—from its early focus on poetry and Slapering Hol Press to its preservation of Philipse Manor Station and development of online programming—as a foundation for engaging new audiences.

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• Manhattanville Launches Jazz Series in Historic Castle

_{Photos: Kyle Abraham (photo source: purchase.edu); Taryn Sacramone (photo courtesy of Emelin Theatre); Beth Whitaker (photo courtesy of Hudson Valley Writers Center)}