Black musicians in the Hudson River Valley have played a significant role in music history, especially when 500,000 people descended upon the small farm town of Bethel, NY for the Woodstock Music & Art Festival in 1969. But since Jimi Hendrix exited the stage after closing out the iconic festival, spaces and platforms for black musicians have ceased to exist in the region. As we re-imagine the Hudson River Valley for black communities, I propose a sanctuary for black musicians to live and record music and a festival for black artists to be the voices of a changing cultural, political, and ecological landscape in upstate New York.

Located on 77 acres in Guilderland, NY, the Sanctuary for Black Musicians offers hospitality for black musicians to live and record music in a secluded natural landscape. 15 villas house up to 30 musicians and 6 recording studios of varying layouts are available for the musicians to use on site.

28 acres of land are dedicated to performance venues and festival grounds. A 40,000 sq ft outdoor stage, built as a monolithic earth mound, offers a unique 360 degree outdoor concert experience for thousands of audience members.