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Stories   >   Co-Presented by WNYC's New Sounds, National Sawdust's Fall 2023 season presents: Kavita Shah - Cape Verdean Blues

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Co-Presented by WNYC's New Sounds, National Sawdust's Fall 2023 season presents: Kavita Shah - Cape Verdean Blues

Posted: July 13, 2023

Having Established Itself as an Internationally Influential Hub of Artistic Innovation, National Sawdust Is Now, with the Purchase of its Home, Positioned to Grow Further and Meet the Evolving Needs of 21st Century Artists

Programming Exemplifies the Institution’s Unwavering Commitment to Mentoring and Empowering Diverse Artists and Developing and Presenting Innovative Multidisciplinary Works

National Sawdust, the acclaimed non-profit that commissions, produces, and presents genre-spanning new music and interdisciplinary works, today announces that it has purchased its building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and reveals the programming that will animate the venue this fall.

National Sawdust has acquired its $21 million building located at 80 North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, renovated and opened in 2015 through an innovative “philanthropic investor” model, making major donors co-owners of the venue in return for their financial investment. The purchase has been shepherded by National Sawdust’s recently appointed Managing Director, Ana De Archuleta; its Co-Founder and Artistic Director, the composer Paola Prestini; and the board and staff; and made possible through generous donations by founding board members.

Housed in a century-old former sawdust factory, National Sawdust’s 13,000-square-foot venue is one of the few remaining arts spaces in gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and occupies a vital place in the city’s—and the country’s—cultural landscape. The women-led organization, driven by the core values of curiosity, experimentation, innovation, and inclusivity, provides composers, musicians, and other artists a home for the creation of new work and for artist-to-artist mentorship, and gives audiences a place to discover wide-ranging music at accessible ticket prices.

National Sawdust Managing Director Ana De Archuleta said, “Today marks a monumental milestone in National Sawdust's journey of artistic excellence and inclusivity. This strategic acquisition not only cements our unwavering dedication to innovation but also opens avenues for alignment with artists and organizations in our community . Our commitment extends beyond just advocating for a diverse range of artists and nurturing innovative creations, to ensuring the development of both physical and creative space for all. We are grateful for our dedicated staff, visionary board members, and generous supporters who made this achievement possible. Together, we will continue curating transformative experiences that resonate with audiences, and empower artists through our mentorship work.”

National Sawdust Co-Founder and Artistic Director composer Paola Prestini said, “I am immensely grateful to these incredible supporters for their invaluable contributions to this remarkable milestone and for their unwavering belief in our shared vision. Achieving such a feat in less than a decade, especially amidst the challenges we've faced, is a true accomplishment. This exciting new chapter for National Sawdust fills me with joy, as we embark on a journey to foster stronger connections, create more opportunities, and cultivate innovative future-leaning solutions that will enhance the vibrancy and inclusivity of New York City and the international arts ecosystem, benefiting both composers and musicians alike.”

National Sawdust’s Fall 2023 season explores the idea of the sound of connection, the concept of agency, and the sensation of awe. In countless musical form-expanding events, the organization demonstrates its long-standing commitment to nurturing the careers of curious and groundbreaking artists—especially those who have historically been marginalized in the performing arts—through mentorship and the development and presentation of bold new multidisciplinary works. Having established itself, in its first nine years, as an internationally influential hub of artistic innovation, National Sawdust continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of artists.

On September 27, WNYC’s New Sounds will co-present the award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, and educator Kavita Shah brings her latest album, Cape Verdean Blues to National Sawdust. Cape Verdean Blues is a 12-song album of mainly traditional Cape Verdean music, carefully curated as a tribute to morna singer Cesária Évora, the archipelago of Cape Verde, and its welcoming people. Kavita Shah blends a jazz approach with tradition to convey a sense of “sodade,” the Kriolu word for a melancholy sense of transience that encapsulates both the Cape Verdean experience and that of modern global migrants. Cape Verdean Blues is the culmination of a diaspora’s quest to find a spiritual home, a gift from Shah to the Cape Verdean people for providing that sense of home that has eluded her as the daughter of immigrants. Join us as Kavita Shah celebrates the music and warm-spirited people of Cape Verde, alongside master musicians from the islands: guitarist Bau (Cesária's former musical director), guitarist Jorge Almeida, percussionist Miroca Paris, and special guest vocalist Fantcha. This concert is a co-presentation with WNYC’s New Sounds, hosted by John Schaefer, and will be recorded for broadcast on a future episode of the show.