SIENNA FEKETE

smfekete@gmail.com

About:

Sienna Fekete is a multi-disciplinary curator, producer, and educator. Her skills span from public programming and arts administration to radio and podcast production to creative project management, and beyond. She hopes to actively create a more inclusive, visionary, and sustainable world that considers folks across all backgrounds and allows for more dynamic perspectives and leadership to the forefront.

Education:
‍
2020 Museum Education Practicum, The Studio Museum in Harlem

2020 MA Art & Public Policy, NYU Tisch School of the Arts

New York, NY
Concentration: Curation, Arts Programming

2016 BA Liberal Arts, The New School

New York, NY
Major: Literary Studies Minor: Culture & Media

August 2017 - Current
Founder of Chroma Studio LLC, New York

A cross-disciplinary creative studio founded by Ladin Awad, June Canedo & Sienna Fekete. As a collective, we are intentional in our efforts to diversify our industries and nurture a cultural consciousness that centers womxn of color. Chroma offers strategies for innovative programming, visual content, immersive experiences, effective partnerships, and community empowerment.

SIENNA
FEKETE

Projects:

Music Fundraising Initiative, Bandcamp
June 2020 - "Source of Nurture"

• Source of Nurture is a music fundraising initiative curated and presented by Chroma bringing together womxn of color artists to amplify each other and bring some much needed support to the organizations, folks and funds doing the work to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Undocumented and Immigrant communities, and Essential Workers. 100% of the proceeds from this mixtape are going directly to Equality for Flatbush, Undocu Workers Fund, The Movement for Black Lives Fund, and Black Trans Femmes in the Arts.

Community Cookbook, Gloval Digitally
May 2020 - "Community Cookbook"

• This community cookbook is meant to bring together cherished recipes, the memories, traditions and family legacies we carry with them, and make folks feel a little more connected to one another. Inspired by the history of community cookbooks as a tool for community reciprocity and skill-sharing, I know food to be a great unifier. I grew up with an immense love for food, discovering new tastes and textures, and the creative possibility of food—without an extensive knowledge of the practice of cooking itself nor a way around the kitchen. This is my way of learning and exploring food together with my community and creating a community-generated resource that hopefully will inspire us all to learn from each other and try out some new things.

Digital Sustainability Programming, Ethel's Club
April 2020 - “An Ode to the Earth: Sustainability As Sustenance”

• This project takes the form of a curated week of digital sustainability programming for Ethel’s Club, a social and wellness club for people of color. From April 20-24 at 6pm EST each day and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, there was a series of Zoom sessions facilitated by artists from around the world. These artists conducted workshops on themes such as food sustainability, self-archiving, sound healing, podcasting, herbal medicinal practices, community organizing and the art of mask making. Participating artists included Kimberly Drew, Jenna Wortham, Suhaly Bautista-Carolina, Angela Dimayuga, Cassandra Mayela, and Helen Peña.

T-shirt Fundraiser Campaign, Awake NY
August 2019 - “Protect People Not Borders”

• Chroma directed a project in collaboration with the band Awake NY in order to raise funds for two organizations working at the US-MX border. In English & Spanish, the t-shirts communicate a message that we should protect people over borders and lists the rights of undocumented people should they encounter I.C.E. The first round of t-shirts sold out within the first 5 minutes, while the second round within 24hrs. We raised 30K in three days. The only outlet used to promote the t-shirts was Instagram. This initiative was featured in iD Magazine, Paper Magazine, Essential Homme, Vice and Hypebeast.

Climate Crisis Incubator, CultureHub NYC
November 2019 - “Chroma Climate Crisis Incubator”

• Chroma’s first Climate Crisis Incubator was a day of programming held at CultureHub where womxn of color exchanged ideas and personal stories, proposed strategies, identified challenges, and shared resources and information on the climate crisis. The intention of this first incubator was to create a space where folks from our community could enter into a collaborative dialogue that was accessible but also stresses urgency.

Art Installation, Art Basel Miami Beach
December 2018 - “Chroma, the Miami Tapes”

• During Art Basel, Chroma curated and facilitated one day of programming in collaboration with Miami-based collective (F)empower entitled Chroma, the Miami Tapes. This space served as an intimate space for creative thinking and skill sharing as we consider concepts of sanctuary for womxn of color during times of turbulence. Artists and curators were invited to engage in 30 to 45 minute conversations regarding their work while also centering (F)empower’s theme of 2040, a program exploring the conditions of a post-apocalyptic, inundated Miami. These conversations were recorded and will later be distributed through our podcast, Chroma Radio. Participating artists included Kennedy Yanko, Angela Dimayuga, Leilah Weinraub, Meriem Bennani, GeoVanna Gonzalez and (F)empower.

Conference, Knockdown Center
April 2018 - “Continuity”

• Continuity, the Conference is the second iteration of a conference series curated by Chroma, a collaborative project which employs self-actualization as an organizing principle to think, construct and shape powerful narratives of mobility by womxn of color. Continuity, which centered self-preservation as its theme, exhibited a moving-image installation, lectures, and panels.
• Continuity, the Installation is a moving image exhibit which opened during our conference series at Knockdown Center. The installation addresses the influence and practice of self-preservation in the lives of womxn of color through the presentation of four visual works by Damali Abrams, Ayqa Khan, Martine Gutierrez, and Alima Lee. Our exhibiting artists explored themes of gender, identity, intimacy, and revenge fantasy through imaginative and personal narratives. In a dark room an abundance of silk fabrics hung from ceiling to floor, while the videos were muted and projected onto the fabrics, initiating a dialogue for the viewer to immerse and engage with on their own maze-like terms. Essential oils, designed specifically for the exhibit by Olear Scents, burned within this maze and activating a sense of clarity, self-expression and grounding.
• Continuity debuted at the Knockdown Center over a two-day weekend. Chroma is collaborative labor of love with Ladin Awad and June Canedo.

Conference, 8 Ball Community Space
December 2017 - “The Working Womxn of Color”

• The Working Womxn of Color conference is the first iteration of a conference series curated by Chroma, a collaborative project which employs self-actualization as an organizing principle to think, construct and shape powerful narratives of mobility by womxn of color.
• TWWOC Conference debuted at 8 Ball Community gathering over 300 womxn over a two-day weekend.

Reading + Performance, POWRPLNT
December 2017 - “Talk Therapy: a Reading on Self-actualization”

• Talk Therapy was an intimate night of readings and performances hosted in collaboration with digital art collaboratory POWRPLNT. The program was inspired by the oral traditions of our ancestors. Talk Therapy centered intimacy, accountability, personal histories, and responsibility. Ahead of our first conference series, we hosted this iteration as an event where members of our community were invited to read and share personal work pertaining to the theme of self-actualization. This evening of intimate creative exchange featured readings by Gabrielle Rucker, Muna Mire, Aisha Mirza, Shireen Alia Ahmed, and a performance piece by Renata Pereira Lima.

Other work:

Producer at On Air Fest, Wythe Hotel
November 2018 - Current

• On Air Fest takes inspiration from creative conferences, performance art and music festivals—hyphenating worlds and providing a magical space to advance the culture of audio. It exists as a rallying point for leading voices, new movements and curious listeners inspired by the art of sound.
• Previous program partners range from The New York Times and WNYC to Laurie Anderson, The Moth, Marvel, HotPod, Stitcher, DJ Stretch Armstrong and musician Meshell Ndegeocello. 100+ presenters, 11M social impressions, 150K listens, with thousands of attendees onsite.
• Produce social media strategy and insight to all work x work projects, including managing all social media platforms, design, newsletter, marketing, outreach and audience engagement.
• Active in programming, curation and production for On Air Fest 2019-20. This includes talent booking, installation, developing program language, documentation and overall execution of the event.

Producer at Top Rank Podcast, Red Bull Arts
June 2016 - June 2018

• Top Rank Podcast is a Brooklyn-based platform that profiles women of diverse backgrounds who are driving, shaping, and challenging the world around them. Top Rank women are leaders in the arts, academia, social justice, technology, and fashion worlds.
• Produce, pitch and edit original Top Rank podcast episodes recorded at Red Bull Arts.
• Organize live events and tapings throughout New York City.
• Book guests and prepare press kits for social media distribution.
• Work creatively and collaboratively with the Top Rank and Red Bull Arts teams.

Producer at SiriusXM, New York
August 2016 - September 2018

• Produce various original audio projects for SiriusXM Spoke podcasting platform including brand partnerships with Well-Read Black Girl and The Wing.
• Creative content curation and thematic podcast playlists including music, social justice, and race + identity.
• Audio production, scripting, editing, and mixing.
• Provide marketing strategy for SiriusXM content and original Spoke content.
• Build out language model, metadata optimization and categorical tagging system for a variety of audio content.
• Social media strategy, weekly newsletters, network partnerships, and RSS outreach.
• Pitch and produce live podcast events and collaborations with a multitude of brands, networks, and cultural tastemakers.

Apprentice at BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra, London
July 2015 - September 2015

• Worked throughout multiple departments including audio engineering, on-air production, community outreach, playlist committee, and marketing.
• Edited audio including interviews, mixes, and other music features. Researched and fact-checked information on various artists for live shows.
• Organized a visual arts collaboration between UK youth and Radio 1Xtra as part of their outreach initiative.
• Pitched and presented original marketing ideas to the Controller of both R1 & 1Xtra.

Arts Fellow at Public Art Fund, New York
August 2014 - December 2014

• Researched, fact-checked and reached out to artists and potential collaborators.
• Created PowerPoint presentations for various projects throughout New York City, including site-specific research.
• Digitally archived artworks and organized archives in the database.
• Worked closely with the Exhibitions Department on research and curation, from ideation to execution.
• Conducted grant and fundraising research for a multitude of public projects.
• Assisted in facilitating Public Art Fund talks and events with the community and cultivating engagement with attendees.

Editorial Intern, NYLON Magazine, New York
June 2013 - August 2013

• Researched, fact-checked and edited articles for the NYLON team across all departments.
• Conducted and transcribed interviews on a daily basis.
• Pitched and wrote features and advertorials in Fashion News and Music sections within the publication’s tone.
• Worked closely with the editorial staff in a fast-paced magazine environment to consistently reach both print and digital deadlines.

Administrative Assistant at Parsons School of Design, New York
August 2012 - May 2016

• Managed emails, phone calls, and letters from prospective students inquiring about the application process and scholarship opportunities.
• Assisted Parsons admissions counselors with various projects regarding social engagement and outreach.
• Engaged in overseeing portfolio reviews for prospective students.
• Helped organize and facilitate annual National Portfolio Day and Parsons Open House events.

Apprentice, MOCA The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
September 2011 - June 2012

• Worked within the Education Department primarily with youth, families and the local arts community.
• Participated in studio visits with various artists in the Downtown and East L.A. areas.
• Helped facilitate family art days, moderate panel discussions, and organized MOCA Teen Night featuring music, arts, crafts, and a larger community dialogue.
• Researched and reviewed MOCA's archives for future art projects and endeavors.