#CreateInPlace Staff Edition: Cory Baker
POSTED ON APRIL 21, 2020 BY LONG
This week’s Mid-Week Intermission features our President & CEO, Cory Baker. Hear about her love for this city, its community, and what she’s tuning in to this week.
I love Austin. I know that sounds cliché but ever since I visited my sister here as a teenager, I’ve been trying to move here. And now, as part of this incredibly talented team, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with extraordinary, passionate artists, leaders, and community members and had a front-row seat to watch Austin evolve while sustaining the cultural values that shape us. Because Austin, much like the Long Center, has had a few growing pains amidst a rapidly changing environment, and my love has grown as we’ve weathered those challenges by staying true to the soul that makes this city so special.
Today, amid the worst global crisis of our lifetimes, I find strength in remembering why I came here and why my love for my home continues to grow. Knowing the character of Austin as a community that values artists and musicians and takes pride in taking care of each other is what gives me unyielding faith that we will come out of this both stronger and more unified than we’ve ever been. “Crisis doesn’t create character, it reveals it.” This quote came up in my interview with the brilliant Austin musician Gina Chavez, as we recognized that Austin doesn’t need to change to get through this crisis, we just need to remain true to who we’ve always been.
We feel the support of our community around us as we look to #CreateInPlace to keep us connecting with our artists and with each other. And as ATX goes virtual, I’ve added my picks-for-the-week to the growing list of creative surprises happening at this very moment. Long Live Love.
FUSEBOX FESTIVAL
April 24 – 26 / @fuseboxfestival & YouTube TV
Fusebox Festival has been a highlight of my year even before I moved to Austin. Ron Berry and his team do a fabulous job curating an eclectic, thought-provoking and entertaining lineup and this year they are going virtual. Check out my #LongStoryShort interview with Ron, premiering tonight at 8pm on our Facebook page, and enjoy this internationally-beloved Festival from the comfort of your home.
SUZANNA CHOFFEL / GINA CHAVEZ / JACKIE VENSON
@suzannachoffelmusic / @ginachavezmusic / @jackievenson
It’s no secret that Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World but I think there is also a strong case that we have the greatest female artists in the country. Exhibits one, two, and three: Suzanna Choffel, Gina Chavez, and Jackie Venson, all of whom have been streaming live on a consistent basis throughout the crisis. I highly recommend checking them out virtually for inspiration now and rushing out to see them live as soon as we’re able.
NIGHT SHIFT
April 22 at 7pm / Weekly
Night Shift was a weekly event created by our good friends Nakia Reynoso and Patrick Buchta, co-founders of Austin Texas Musicians, a group that used to connect & network at Beerland. The event has now moved to a weekly, online, live talk show discussing what’s happening with music in ATX. This week (4/22) features special guests Natashe Harper-Madison (District 2 Council Member), Mitch Ballard (Creative Director, BMI Texas), Velissa Chapa (Legal Counsel for Texas Workforce Commission), and musical guest Zach Person. Keep an eye out for Nakia on #LongStoryShort soon.
THE THINKERY
Weekly activity schedule / @TheThinkery
My boys are 3 and 5 so I’m always looking for fun ways to entertain (and hopefully educate) them. We love The Thinkery, but since we can’t go in person, we’ve had fun following their “Thinkery at Home” projects.
DJ D-NICE’S CLUB QUARANTINE
Daily / Instagram Live @dnice
Does anyone else remember DJ D-NICE? Boogie Down Productions? “They Call Me D-Nice?” …ring any bells? He has become an unlikely hero experiencing a resurgence with old-school fans like me (and now ones) with his surprise-hit “Club Quarantine” on Instagram. Besides being just fund to dance with a few thousand strangers, there is a slew of incredible surprise guest-revelers that pop up including Oprah, Bernie Sanders, and Rihanna to name a few.
There is much too much going on in this city (in the best way) to list everything here, but our team is dedicated to bringing as much as we can to as many as we can during this time. The pandemic has changed the way we gather, but this is only an intermission and the Long Center’s mission remains unchanged. So as we look forward to gathering again, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to continue your support for our nonprofit and our talented team that makes sure the show goes on.
Thank you, Austin, for making us part of your lives!
You can always check on #CreateInPlace for the latest Austin finds and fun-filled gems to keep you entertained.
