The Sanctuary for Independent Media

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The Sanctuary for Independent Media

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts.

We use art, science, and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice, and freedom of creative expression. The Sanctuary for Independent Media is part of Media Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in upstate New York. Our mission is to use art and participatory action to promote social and environmental justice and freedom of creative expression. Everything we do

is made possible with the generous support of people like you. Since 2005 we have been building an arts and environmental campus in North Central Troy. We operate indoor and outdoor presenting and production facilities (the Sanctuary and Freedom Square), a radio station (WOOC 105.3 FM), community gardens (Collard City Growers), a STEAM learning center (NATURE Lab), and youth programs (Uptown Summer and Youth Media Sanctuary). None of this would be possible without the support of countless volunteers, thousands of individual donations, scores of local partners and grant funding from generous foundations.

06/05/2026

Tomorrow 6/6, Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir return to the Sanctuary! For more than 20 years, they have campaigned against consumerism, militarism, racism, extractive industry, and the overwhelming threat of monocultural capitalism to the life systems of the Earth.

**The Reverend Billy character isn’t so much a parody of a preacher, as a preacher motif used to blur the lines between performance and religious experience. “It’s definitely a church service,” Talen explained but, he added, it’s “a political rally, it’s theater, it’s all three, it’s none of them.”** RevBilly.com

Come enjoy the spectacular experience of Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir during this year’s Be The Dance Party! event.

Sat. June 6, beginning at 1pm, Savitri D and William Talen () will host a workshop on Performance as Movement Building and Activism. At 2pm the will perform on the Sanctuary stage before leading a parade around the block. At 3pm everyone will land at Freedom Square for a dance party— showcasing the importance of joy, dance, and performance in the resistance!

At 4pm you can join a group of folks biking over to Bike Fest at Oakwood Community Center, celebrating celebrating 25 years of .

Image description: a photo of a group of people who make up a choir move and sing energetically. One singer has their hand raised like a church praise.

06/03/2026

Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir return to the Sanctuary this Saturday June 6, 1-4pm, to headline this year’s Be The Dance Party! Using performance and music to address climate catastrophe, consumerism, injustice and more, the Church of Stop Shopping is made up of , Savitri D, and the

This event will begin with the workshop “Performance as Movement Building and Activism” by Savitri D and William Talen (Reverend Billy) followed by a performance by Rev. Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir. The performers and audience will then collectively parade around the block and land in Freedom Square for a dance party!

Learn more and register at MediaSanctuary.org

Video description: Rev Billy on stage with a four background singers, drummer, guitarist, and keyboardist.

06/02/2026

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
Sat., June 6, 1PM-4PM Be The Dance Party! featuring Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir
Be The Dance Party! showcases how body movement and joyful expressions can be acts of resistance. Rev. Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir are a radical performance community focused on justice issues. This event will begin with the workshop “Performance as Movement Building and Activism” followed by a performance by the choir and Rev. Billy, then we will parade around the block and end with a dance party in Freedom Square!

*regularly on Wednesdays, May 20 – October 21 4PM-7PM,* Collard City Growers garden open hours at 3337 6th Avenue. Join us to help out in the garden, harvest food to take home, or just relax amongst the greenery!  *regularly on Fridays. 4pm-7pm* Gina Mauro, L.Ac of is offering walk-in and registration community acupuncture on the 2nd Floor of NATURE Lab – 3319 6th Ave, (requires use of stairs)

Here are some photos from happenings last week:
A photo of pink and while columbine flowers by the Sanctuary back steps.

05/28/2026

Join us for Be The Dance Party! featuring Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir on Sat., June 6 from 1-4PM.

and are a performance community based in New York City whose work lies at the intersection of art, activism, and spirit. They previously performed at the Sanctuary in 2009, 2012, and 2014.

Be The Dance Party! showcases how body movement and joyful expressions can be acts of resistance. This year’s event will begin with the workshop “Performance as Movement Building and Activism” by Savitri D and William Talen (Reverend Billy) followed by a performance by Rev. Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir. The performers and audience will then collectively parade around the block and land in Freedom Square for a dance party!

Register and learn more at www.MediaSanctuary.org

Image description: a graphic for the event with an image of Rev. Billy, Savitri, and the choir on a stage with a moon background.

05/27/2026

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

*regularly on Wednesdays, May 20 – October 21* Wed., May 20, 4PM-7PM, Collard City Growers garden open hours at 3337 6th Avenue. Join us to help out in the garden, harvest food to take home, or just relax amongst the greenery!  *regularly on Fridays* 4pm-7pm: Gina Mauro, L.Ac of is offering walk-in and registration community acupuncture on the 2nd Floor of NATURE Lab – 3319 6th Ave, (requires use of stairs)

Here are some photos from happenings last week:
From last week's garden hours: kids made Ruby the dragon a nest of grass. This stuffed animal sits between tall grasses and milkweed and flowers.

05/20/2026

open hours start today at 4 pm, and the first pea blossoms have opened! Join us every Wednesday 4-7 pm at 3337 6th Avenue to care for the garden, relax amongst the greenery, and take home some garden nourishment!
Image description: a green vine with rounded leaves & bright white blossoms climbs a metal fence.

05/18/2026

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
Thu., May 21, 6PM-8PM Mask Chain Workshop. Air Justice Lab presents Mask Jewelry Workshop with The Crafty Q***r , Alister (Alister/They)! Whether you’re an avid mask wearer or are interested in masking again, join us for this workshop in the Sanctuary main space cafe. Masking in public spaces helps make them more accessible and safer for everyone! Make a statement piece with your personal protection equipment (PPE)!!

*regularly on Wednesdays, May 20 – October 21* Wed., May 20, 4PM-7PM, Collard City Growers garden open hours at 3337 6th Avenue. Join us to help out in the garden, harvest food to take home, or just relax amongst the greenery!

*regularly on Fridays* Fri., May 22, 4pm-7pm: Gina Mauro, L.Ac of is offering walk-in and registration community acupuncture on the 2nd Floor of NATURE Lab – 3319 6th Ave, (requires use of stairs)

Here are some photos from happenings last week:

1-2: Natu Camara brought the audience to their feet! Throughout the concert, more and more people joined in to dance. In the first video we see folks dancing in the front and back of the main space. The second video was earlier before folks started dancing in the front. The photo on the second slide is in appreciation of the team that it takes to put on an event such as this, including the film, sound, and light crew, cooks, greeters, runners, and other volunteers. Natu’s team was wonderful to work with.

3-4: Saturday was a warm and sunny day for our annual plant swap! There was a lot of sharing of trees, flowers, veggie starters, houseplants, and more! This marks the beginning of our open garden hours.

05/14/2026

This FRIDAY May 15, we are so excited to dance to Guinean musician Natu Camara and her Afro rock.

began her journey in music with Ideal Black Girls, West Africa's first all-female hip-hop group, before going solo and moving to NYC (she now splits her time between Conakry, Guinea and Harlem). Natu's last album DIMEDI was recorded in Salif Keita's recording studio in Bamako, Mali and is "mellow, sweet, and also easy to change on stage. I can play that soft album [as a] fire album on stage."

Join us on Friday, May 15 at 7pm. Register at MediaSanctuary.org
** Plant Swap on Saturday at 12pm **

Image description: a photo of Natu Camara on stage, playing guitar and singing into a mic, wearing a dress with red, yellow, and green and with shoulder flair.

05/11/2026

COMING UP THIS WEEK:
Fri., May 15, 7PM-9PM Natu Camara in concert!
Join us for an energetic live music experience with Natu Camara who blends West African rock and soul into her music. Guinean singer and songwriter Natu Camara connects with her audiences during mesmerizing performances, infused with commentary about her life experiences and her unwavering commitment to social justice.

Sat., May 16, 12PM-2PM Our annual Plant Swap at Collard City Growers!
This is a free event for the community to get together and exchange plants for the spring season. Stop by to pick up some plants, drop off any extras that you don’t have room for, or just come on by to say “Hi”!

*regularly on Fridays* Fri., May 1, 4pm-7pm: Gina Mauro, L.Ac of Albany Community Acupuncture (ACA) is offering walk-in and registration community acupuncture on the 2nd Floor of NATURE Lab – 3319 6th Ave, (requires use of stairs)

Here are some photos from happenings last week:
Last week held one of their conference break out sessions at the Sanctuary. This conversation focused on the workers making these museums run!

Address

3361 6th Avenue
Troy, NY
12180

Telephone

+15182722390

Website

https://linktr.ee/MediaSanctuary

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