Little Big Show #15 Show Preview

By Kriston McConnell on April 8, 2016@Kristonisms

Santigold

EDIT: Per Seattle Theatre Group’s recent Facebook update, due to an illness, tonight’s Little Big Show with Santigold has been postponed. A new date will be announced once confirmed. Ticket holders are encouraged to hold on to their tickets and refunds will be available for anyone who cannot attend the new date.

This Saturday, April 9, the latest installment of STG, KEXP, and Starbucks’ Little Big Show will take place at The Neptune Theatre. Little Big Show #15 catches Santigold on her current headlining tour, and will feature performances by Leikeli47 and Seattle’s DoNormaal. 100% of the ticket sales for this show will be donated to EMP’s Youth Programs. The activities, events and camps offered by EMP are aimed at youth within the local community with the goal of inspiring them through art and music.

We had the pleasure of getting in touch with Anita Woo at EMP to discuss what the Youth Programs have to offer the local community and what it means for the programs to be the beneficiary of this event.

Let’s start with your name, and what it is you do for EMP.

Anita Woo, Senior Manager Media and Communications, EMP Museum

What are the EMP Youth Programs, and how do they impact the local community?

EMP Youth Programs support the development of emerging artists in our region by making artistic literacy an integral experience for kids. Programs range from arts leadership development through EMP’s Youth Advisory Board, to teen artist workshops, and hands-on creativity camps that provide instruction in various pop culture disciplines ranging from video game design and creative writing to rock music instrumentation.

EMP also offers a multitude of coaching and performance opportunities through Students Training in Artistic Reach (STAR), Hip Hop Artist Residency, and Sound Off!, the northwest’s premier band competition for musicians 21 and under. EMP is also committed to making the arts more readily inclusive, removing barriers for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals through programs that offer on-site museum experiences and field studies as well as in-school teaching artist residencies.

Why do you feel the EMP Youth Programs are important?

EMP firmly believes that creative opportunities should be accessible and available to everyone.
With funding for school and community arts programs on the decline for years, we are committed to ensuring kids have access to high quality arts education at all levels of development because it is key to fostering imagination, teamwork, critical thinking, persistence, and is essential to academic, career and lifelong learning success. From arts camps to creative career guidance, even getting a chance to perform in a world-class venue, EMP’s Youth Programs offer a diverse range of learning experiences to champion the next generation of cultural creators and leaders.

What does it mean for EMP to be the beneficiary of the upcoming Little Big Show?

EMP is excited and honored to be the beneficiary of the upcoming Little Big Show. This is a fantastic program in our community and by supporting local arts initiatives like EMP’s youth programs it creates awareness of the myriad artistic opportunities available for kids and also allows us to serve and engage youth more effectively.

Can you give us some details for some upcoming events that you are looking forward to? Why should local residents be interested in them as well?

EMP has several exciting programs coming up for audiences of all ages and pop culture interests:

EMP’s annual Pop Conference returns April 14-17. More than 140 presenters from all over the U.S. will convene for this annual event showcasing ambitious music writing of every kind in an attempt to bring musicians, fans, academics, and critics into a collective conversation. This year’s theme is “From a Whisper to a Scream: the Voice in Music” and we’re excited to feature keynote panelists k.d. lang, Martha Wash, Merrill Garbus, and Valerie June. This event is free and open to the public. To register, visit EMPmuseum.org/popconference

EMP Museum is also excited to introduce REVEAL: Northwest Innovation in Fashion, a benefit event on April 29 highlighting the role of fashion in our popular culture. Inspired by the power of self-expression, our curated showcase of runway fashion from local artists/designers explores the influence creativity has in our community, and tells the story about what inspires these artists. For tickets or more info visit EMPmuseum.org/reveal.

On May 21, EMP will open Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds. As part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebrations, this exhibition presents the phenomenon, its enduring impact on our culture, and how Star Trek has inspired people to imagine, explore, and create. For more info, visit EMPmuseum.org/startrek.

Kriston began her writing career as a passionate music fan. She attended dozens of shows, purchased CDs, vinyl and even cassette tapes of artists she barely even heard of. Shortly after joining a band's street team she happened to meet blogger Jacob Tender (now with Alternative Press) who asked her to write for his blog. After a couple of months he joined the staff of Under The Gun Review, and brought her along for the ride. After spending four years as a major contributor to the publication she moved on to be a web content contributor for New Noise Magazine, whose print magazines have a national reach.