FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A New Line-up of Local Artists, Makers, and Community Partners Take Over TPT
Saint Paul, Minn. (Monday, Feb. 29, 2016) – Twin Cities PBS (TPT) announces the second season of the popular event and live-broadcast experiment, “TV Takeover.” “TV Takeover” is an entirely unique artist-driven, cross-platform, television program, and live event; debuting April 9 on air, online, and in TPT’s newly renovated facility.
The first season of “TV Takeover,” in Spring 2014, was the first major broadcast undertaking of TPT Rewire. The series allowed partner organizations to “take over” TPT and broadcast an hour of live programming that they helped produce.
“Last year, ‘TV Takeover’ was a true experiment for public television and it turned out amazingly well. This year, we weren’t sure if organizations around the Twin Cities had noticed that success and would be interested in participating. We had nothing to worry about. The response from the local creative community was incredible with 26 organizations applying to be part of season two. It was hard to narrow the list down to the final four!” Said producer, Maria Bartholdi.
This second season of “TV Takeover” is a four-part live TV and event series that will air (on TPT 2 and streaming online) the last four Saturdays in April at 9:00 p.m. starting April 9. This season’s partners include:
Season Two:
- APRIL 9: Independent Filmmaker Project Minnesota (IFP MN) – seeks to advance a vibrant and diverse community of independent film and media artists through networking, education, funding, and opportunities for showcasing their work.
- IFP MN’s episode will spotlight local female filmmakers through a variety of in-studio and pre-recorded material. In-studio guests will experience: screenings of short films by female filmmakers, the creation of a short film over the duration of the broadcast, live scoring of a silent film by a string quartet, and more.
- APRIL 16: Circus Juventas – is a non-profit performing arts circus school for youth dedicated to inspiring artistry and self-confidence through a multicultural circus arts experience.
- Circus Juventas’ episode–fittingly landing on World Circus Day–will explore the notion of what the future of circus looks like through live performances and explorations of the different elements of dance, theatre, puppetry, and costumes that make up contemporary circus. In-studio guests will experience: hand balancing performances, juggling, unicycling, contortionists, a fashion show of circus costumes, aerial performances, and more.
- APRIL 23: American Craft Council – works to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft, and celebrates the remarkable achievements of the many gifted artists today who are working with a variety of materials.
- American Craft Council’s episode will celebrate what it means to be a craft maker in Minnesota through the idea of a “Craft Cage Match.” In-studio guests will experience: Craft Cage Match activities such as blindfolded pot throwing, a craft fair with artisans’ work for sale as part of the Saint Paul Art Crawl, “Let’s Make” Inspiration Stations, craft trivia, and more.
- APRIL 30: Black Label Movement – a dance theater dedicated to creating wildly-physical, naturally-virtuosic, intellectually and emotionally engaging art.
- Black Label Movements’ episode will use the light rail to explore collaborations with a range of performance groups off the light rail stops ending at TPT’s studios. In-studio guests will experience: a black & white affair themed prom (black and/or white prom attire encouraged), live dance performances by Black Label Movement, Hmong Breakers Leadership Council, and Contempo Physical Dance, live musical performances by Michelle Kinney, Jacqueline Ultan, Andrea Reynolds, and more.
“Circus Juventas is thrilled to partner with TPT on an episode of TV Takeover this Spring!” Said Rhiannon Fiskradatz, Artistic Production Coordinator for Circus Juventas (CJ). “CJ has a long history of collaborating with artists and arts organizations in order to create wildly inventive performances, and we anticipate a truly one-of-a-kind experience for viewers on April 16th, 2016 – World Circus Day! The episode will be a celebration of local contemporary youth circus and the entire creative community that Circus Juventas has proudly cultivated for twenty-two years. Thank you to TPT for this opportunity!”
Tickets for this event are $15 for adults, $10 for those under 21, and free for children 3 and under. A complimentary drink comes with each ticket.
“TV Takeover” is supported in part through an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and by the State Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota. Additional funding is provided by the Lowertown Future Fund (LRC Fund).
Learn more about “TV Takeover” at www.tvtakeover.net or follow along on Twitter (#tvtakeover).
About TPT Rewire
TPT Rewire is a programming and engagement initiative from TPT that uses digital content, live events and smart programming to engage a new generation of public television consumers. Championing collaboration, authenticity, play and humor, TPT Rewire is an innovative approach to both the challenging new world of digital media and the redefinition of “TV.”
For more information about TPT Rewire, visit us online at www.rewire.tpt.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.
About TPT
The mission of TPT is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.”
As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) uses television, interactive media and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its nearly 60-year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys.
Based in St. Paul, MN, TPT is the most highly-viewed public TV station in the nation, reaching over 1.7 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels. The organization’s particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America’s aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community.
For more information about TPT, visit our website at www.tpt.org or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Contact: Elle Lyons – 651-229-1491 – [email protected]
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2016. All rights reserved.
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