HPAC Performance Explores Black History and Race in America

A multimedia performance coming to the region is using music and storytelling to explore Black history and the state of race relations in the United States today.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Maria Hernandez, Special Projects Coordinator at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre (HPAC), about the upcoming Black Legacy Project — a national initiative created by the nonprofit Music in Common, which uses music-driven collaboration to strengthen communities and address social issues.

Hernandez said the project aligns closely with HPAC’s mission to offer culturally enriching programming and create welcoming spaces where people feel connected. She added that hosting the program during Black History Month was a natural fit for the venue, which has previously presented related programming, including a collaboration with local artist G. Oliver King honoring the Harlem Renaissance.

The Black Legacy Project performance blends live music, film, and storytelling, and invites audiences to take part in conversations around lived experiences, race, and identity. Hernandez described it as more than a concert — a “journey” designed to build bridges and advance racial harmony through shared stories and familiar songs reimagined by participating artists.

The performance is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at HPAC in Hurleyville. Admission is free, supported by sponsors including the STEAM Fund and Arc of Greater Hudson Valley.

Hernandez also previewed another upcoming HPAC event in March for Women’s History Month: Women in Jazz Night, featuring the Hudson Valley Jazz Women, with tickets priced at $20 at HPAC’s Tango Café venue.