Arts and Culture

A sign featuring an image of Matthew Shepard hangs in the vestibule of Westminster Presbyterian Church

Choral work performance honors the life of Matthew Shepard

Jay Moran

The choral work "Considering Matthew Shepard" will be performed in Buffalo for the first time Friday night at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Karl Smith is standing in his workshop and holding a large compass that he invented called the Truest North Compass

Compass produced in Buffalo follows the heart's direction

Jay Moran

Inventor Karl Smith discusses his Truest North Compass, a device that always points to the owner's special place.

12 MO' ANGRY MEN continues at Ujima Theatre.jpg

Local

State funding to aid 49 local arts and cultural groups

Jim Fink

Ujima Theater on Buffalo’s West Side is receiving a $49,000 allocation from the $2.3 million pool of New York State Council on the Arts funds.The funds went to 49 local and community arts and cultural groups with the money secured by the efforts of State Sen. Sean Ryan and Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera.

A woman with black hair stands in front of a large black poster with artwork on it.

Arts & Culture

Jamestown artist honors Native traditions

Jay Moran

The arts and culture center KayCo is the professional home of Kaycee Colburn, a young artist who is very much connected to history, though it's a history that dates well before the 1900's.

Members of the Koollulam mass-singing group direct audience members through a recent performance in Buffalo.

Local

Achievements through group-thought: Discussing the impact of mass-singing performances

Alex Simone

Mass-singing events are becoming increasingly popular, but one local expert says the power people hold when united behind a common purpose isn’t limited to singing.

(from left to right) Buffalo Historian Lindsey Lauren Visser, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo Poet Laureate Aitina Fareed-Cooke and former Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello

Arts & Culture

New poet laureate, historian appointed by City of Buffalo

Thomas O'Neil-White

Buffalo Mayor Brown appointed Aitina Fareed-Cooke and Lindsey Lauren Visser to the positions of poet laureate and historian, respectively.

Local

New accessibility features added to Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival

Emyle Watkins

Concerts are supposed to be a fun space for everyone, but for people with disabilities, accessibility of these events often isn't well communicated or executed, leaving people out of the fun. This weekend, local braille clothing company Aille Design is sponsoring and coordinating Cobblestone Live's accessibility features, including a new ADA hotline, in hopes more disabled people will be able to access the festival.

Local

Naila Ansari on creating Black joy through movement

Two photos appear as a header image on this web story. (Left image) Keah Brown a black woman with shoulder length black hair smiles to camera wearing a cream colored sweater and black pants. She stands in front of a brick building. (Right image) The book is a blue background with multiple people in muted shadings in the background. In front of the muted shadings of people is a green leafy plant and a brown bench in front of a pink colored brick. On the bench, sits Sam, center, a little black girl smiling with a gap wearing a blue and white polkadot skirt a pink shirt pink shoes and white socks. Her brown hair is curled and into two space buns with pink barrettes. To the left of her is Sarah, a little girl of Asian descent who is wearing a white headband atop her long back length black hair, a orange and black striped shirt, brown pants and white shoes; and Sydney, a little white girl, is to the right of Sam wearing a yellow shirt with a purple and green flower on it, green shorts and purple shoes. Her curly brown hair is also back length. In front of the girls are empty shopping bags two blue shopping bags, one yellow shopping bag and one orange shopping bag.

Arts & Culture

Lockport author Keah Brown on rest, representation, and her new book, 'Sam's Super Seats'

Emyle Watkins

WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins spoke with Brown on Monday about the message of her book, representation in publishing, and her advice for future authors.

'Desus & Mero' On How Their Bronx Roots Paved The Way To Comedy Success

Terry Gross

Desus Nice and The Kid Mero started out doing comedy together on Twitter, then created the Bodega Boys podcast. Their comedy series on Showtime is now in its third season.